Good morning, Inner Westies.

From wood-smoked BBQ at Meatstock and 150+ designers at Finders Keepers to free croissant lattes in Waterloo and a new live music venue opening in Alexandria, your weekend is sorted.

Grab your morning coffee and join us as we explore the Inner West together.

Have a great weekend,
Jess

Note: Please check to confirm details are accurate with venues, event providers, restaurants and pubs by clicking through to their site. Events are occasionally cancelled at the last minute.

Plans to redevelop Rozelle Bay are progressing, with the NSW Government moving Lendlease's proposal to Stage 2 of its assessment process. Part of the broader Bays West precinct, the proposal includes up to 3,000 new homes (including affordable housing), along with a pedestrian link to the future Bays Metro Station and new public access to the harbour foreshore.

The wider Bays West plan aims to deliver up to 8,500 homes and open the waterfront to the public for the first time in over a century. No decision has been made on whether the Rozelle Bay proposal will proceed, with further assessment, planning and community consultation still to come.

👉 Read More

Planning a walk or ride on the GreenWay? Our Inner West GreenWay Guide covers the full 6km route from Earlwood to Lilyfield, with maps, entrances, precincts, public art and key stops.

Whether you’re doing a quick cycle or a longer wander, it helps you plan where to start, what you’ll see and how to use the path.

👉 Check out the Inner West GreenWay Guide

We're back in Balmain (well, Balmain East), and long-time readers will know heritage homes are my weak spot. 'Wood-Lee Villa' was designed by Edmund Blacket and built c1870 as a wedding gift from Captain Rowntree to his son. Four families in over 150 years. Tucked behind St Mary's Church on 938sqm with northerly views over Mort Bay. Inside: marble fireplaces, 3.3m ceilings and original cedar doors. The north-facing garden by Good Manors has a saltwater pool, cabana and lawn. It has a guide of $9.5M.

Built as a wedding gift in 1870. Lucky kid.

📍 5 bed / 3 bath / 2 car
👉 Listed with BresicWhitney

Newtown and Enmore are turning into a live music trail for one night only. On Saturday 16 May, venues across the precinct will host gigs from afternoon through to late, with sets happening simultaneously across the neighbourhood.

Move between venues, catch specific artists or just see where the night takes you. Bootleggers, The Duke, The Trocadero and more are all part of the trail.

👉 Check out the full Gig Trail + register for sessions

🧱 Minis LEGO Workshop: Star Wars The Mandalorian & Grogu's Speeder Bike (ages 6+)
Kids build their own Mandalorian & Grogu Speeder Bike in a guided 45-minute LEGO session.
📆 Sat 2 May / 10am, 11am & 12pm
📍 Broadway Sydney, Glebe

📚 Family Tales
Story time with songs, stories and activities for children aged 0 to 5.
📆 Sun 3 May / 10:30am – 11am
📍 Marrickville Library

🧘 Mums & Bubs Yoga
Drop-in yoga session for mums, bubs and carers, part of a limited free series run by Little Big Foundation.
📆 Mon 4 May / 10am – 10:45am
📍 Little BIG House, Summer Hill

🚀 After School: Spaceship Origami (ages 5–12)
Kids fold their own paper spaceships with origami artist Michael Clonaris to mark Star Wars Day.
📆 Mon 4 May / 4:30pm – 5:30pm
📍 Marrickville Library

👶 Burwood Babies (ages 6–18 months)
Music, rhymes and stories for babies and carers in a relaxed 30-minute library session.
📆 Tue 5 May / 10am – 10:30am
📍 Burwood Library and Community Hub

🥁 The Box Show by Junkyard Beats (ages 7 to 12)
A live percussion show where musicians create extraordinary music from ordinary cardboard boxes.
📆 Tue 5 May – Wed 6 May / 10am & 12:30pm
📍 Seymour Centre, Camperdown

🏗️ Burwood Brick Builders (Year 1 students & above)
Monthly after-school LEGO building session for kids at Burwood Library.
📆 Wed 6 May / 3:15pm – 4:15pm
📍 Burwood Library and Community Hub

🐳 After School: Humpback Highway Printmaking (ages 5–7)
Kids stamp, roll and print whale and ocean artworks to mark the start of humpback season.
📆 Wed 6 May / 3:45pm – 5:15pm
📍 Leichhardt Library

🎶 Melody Mamas (ages 3–5)
Songs, stories, dancing and movement for young children in this morning session at Burwood Library.
📆 Thu 7 May / 10am – 10:30am
📍 Burwood Library and Community Hub

🎪 Sensory Play Time
Monthly free sensory play session for young children. Hosted by Paint Inner West REaD.
📆 Thu 7 May / 10am
📍 Marrickville Metro

🎡 Ferncourt Family Fair 2026
Annual community fair with rides, live music, food stalls and handmade goods.
📆 Sat 9 May / 10am – 4pm
📍 Ferncourt Public School, Marrickville

Check out our Kids Eat Free Guide. It’s got 35+ spots where kids eat free in the Inner West, filterable by day of the week and suburb. If you missed this last week, bookmark it now.

👉 See the full list

🛍️ The Finders Keepers Sydney Design Market AW26
Browse 150+ independent designers and makers at this festival-style market featuring limited-edition goods, food and drinks, and unique finds.
📆 Fri 1 May, 4pm – 9pm / Sat 2 & Sun 3 May, 10am – 5pm
📍 Carriageworks, Eveleigh ♿️

🤠 Texas BBQ: Pitmasters by Firedoor and Let's Texas
Four days of wood-smoked BBQ, live music and cold drinks from Sydney's top pitmasters. Visit the website to see what sessions are available.
📆 Fri 1 May – Mon 4 May / All day
📍 Sydney Brewery, Rozelle

👗 Lou's Closet
Annual fundraising clothing sale for Lou's Place, with designer and preloved women's pieces and 100% of proceeds raised given to support women in need.
📆 Fri 1 May 9am – 7pm / Sat 2 May 9am – 5pm / Sun 3 May 9am – 1pm
📍 Harold Park Community Hall, Forest Lodge

🪷 Buddha's Birthday Festival
Two-day festival celebrating Buddha's Birthday with cultural performances, food stalls and community activities.
📆 Sat 2 May 10am – 7pm / Sun 3 May 10am – 4pm
📍 Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour

🖼 25th Biennale of Sydney
Major contemporary art exhibition featuring immersive installations, performances, markets, tours and special events celebrating memory, culture and storytelling.
📆 Sat 14 Mar to Sun 14 Jun / 10am – 5pm
📍 White Bay Power Station, Rozelle

🍜 Memory Lane Markets
A food market celebrating global cultures with dishes and desserts inspired by memory, heritage and identity as part of the Biennale of Sydney.
📆 Sat & Sun / 10am – 5pm
📍 White Bay Power Station, Rozelle

🎶 Convergence by Hamed Sadeghi
Multi-award-winning Persian-Australian tar player Hamed Sadeghi performs a concert redefining contemporary Australian music.
📆 Fri 1 May / 7pm – 8pm
📍 Seymour Centre, Camperdown

💃 Club De Tango: La Milonga
Sydney's longest-running milonga, held at Glebe Town Hall since 1999, with golden age tango music and social dancing for all levels.
📆 Fri 1 May / 7:30pm – 11:45pm
📍 Glebe Town Hall

🎭 Married for Six Weeks (final night)
The true story of a six-week marriage that left comedian Mandy Scotney with a broken heart, sole custody of a cat called Sam, and a collection of unpaid parking fines.
📆 Fri 1 May / 8pm – 9pm
📍 The Factory Theatre, Marrickville

🖨️ Lino Printing Workshop for Beginners
Learn to transfer, carve and print your own lino artwork in this 3-hour beginner session.
📆 Sat 2 May / 10am – 1pm
📍 Reverse Garbage, Marrickville

🍵 Tea Meet Sound
A small-group ceremony combining sacred tea and crystal sound bath for stillness and nervous system reset. Limited to five participants.
📆 Sat 2 May / 10am – 11:30am
📍 Rozelle

🔧 Repair Day May 2026
Community repair event with stations for clothes, bikes, jewellery, electrical items and small household objects.
📆 Sat 2 May / 10am – 4pm
📍 Inner West Sustainability Hub, Summer Hill

🌮 Rosa Cienfuegos “The Tamale Queen” Tamales Masterclass (ages 18+)
Learn to make authentic Mexican tamales in a hands-on workshop covering masa preparation, fillings, and traditional wrapping techniques.
📆 Sat 2 May / 10am – 2pm
📍 Centro Cultural Latinoamericano, Marrickville

⌨️ Typewriter Gathering (ages 16+)
A meet-up for typewriter lovers — bring your vintage machine or just yourself, swap tips and enjoy the joy of clacking keys. Bookings essential.
📆 Sat 2 May / 11:30am – 3:30pm
📍 Burwood Library and Community Hub

🌱 Repair Day May 2026 - Inner West Sustainability Hub Tours
Explore eco-living innovations on a guided tour featuring an edible garden, EV charging, and practical tips for reducing waste and living sustainably.
📆 Sat 2 May / 11:40am & 1:40pm
📍 Inner West Sustainability Hub, Summer Hill

✏️ Sketch Social
Weekly drop-in drawing hangout open to all skill levels — bring a piece you're working on or just come to doodle.
📆 Sat 2 May / 12:30pm – 3pm
📍 Burwood Library and Community Hub

🛍️ Homebush Village Night Markets
Opening night of the new Homebush Village Markets, with local food vendors, makers and handcrafted goods.
📆 Sat 2 May / 4pm – 9pm
📍 Rochester Street, Homebush

🎭 Echoes of the Levant
A queer Arab arts night where poetry, music, performance and film collide.
📆 Sat 2 May / 7pm – 9pm
📍 Inner West Pride Centre, Newtown

🎸 The MiTCH Launch: Live Music featuring Alice Terry Band
Opening night of Alexandria's new live music venue, The MiTCH, with a headline set from the Alice Terry Band.
📆 Sat 2 May / 8pm – 11pm
📍 The MiTCH, Alexandria

🎆 Darling Harbour Fireworks
A 10-minute fireworks display over Cockle Bay, running on select Saturdays through the year.
📆 Sat 2 May / 8:30pm
📍 Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour

🌾 Flour Mill Markets
Fresh artisan-baked goods, fresh produce, hot food and artisan products from local makers and creators. 
📆 Sun 3 May / 9am – 1pm
📍 Flour Mill of Summer Hill

🎨 Art of Homecoming: Watercolour Workshop
A mindful watercolour and storytelling workshop exploring safety, boundaries and belonging, led by artist Pitu Canessa in partnership with Women's Lantern.
📆 Sun 3 May / 10am – 2pm
📍 Marrickville Library and Pavilion

🏺 Glaze Galleria Mother's Day Makers Market
Mother's Day market showcasing ceramics, candles, glassware, wall art and baked goods from local makers.
📆 Sun 3 May / 10am – 3pm
📍 Glaze Galleria, Drummoyne

🛍️ Thrift & Thrive
Browse a curated selection of pre-loved clothing and accessories from local sellers and pick up a bargain.
📆 Sun 3 May / 10am – 3pm
📍 Wattle & Bee, Petersham

🏊 Last Laps Community Celebration at Enfield Aquatic Centre
Celebrate the legacy of the historic 50 metre pool with free entry, live music, performances, a community BBQ, and family-friendly activities.
📆 Sun 3 May / 10am – 4pm
📍 Enfield Aquatic Centre

🛍️ Mothership Garage Sale
Browse a mix of furniture, clothes, trinkets,and unique one-off items with all items priced pay what you feel (make an offer!).
📆 Sun 3 May / 12pm – 5pm
📍 Mothership Studios, Marrickville

🎵 Strum and Sing: First Songs on Ukulele (ages 12+)
Learn basic chords and strumming patterns in a relaxed, beginner-friendly session with music teacher Charlie Finn. Ukuleles provided. Free.
📆 Sun 3 May / 1pm – 3pm
📍 Haberfield Library

✂️ Community Crafternoon
Monthly drop-in craft session with activities and materials for all ages.
📆 Sun 3 May / 1pm – 3pm
📍 Little BIG House, Summer Hill

💍 Jewellery Shorts: Make a Silver Pendant with a Stone
Learn how to create a metal pendant by tab-setting a stone or found object with guidance from an expert jeweller in a beginner-friendly workshop.
📆 Sun 3 May / 1:30pm – 4pm
📍 Pine Street Creative Arts Centre, Chippendale

📸 Digital Photography Club 2026
Learn how to take great photos with guidance from the Australian Digital Photographic Associations.
📆 Sun 3 May / 2pm – 4pm
📍 Burwood Park Community Centre

🎻 The Bourbaki Ensemble: Landscapes and Spacescapes
Chamber music concert exploring works that evoke a sense of place, from folk-inspired countryside to cosmic spacescapes.
📆 Sun 3 May / 2:30pm – 4pm
📍 St George's Hall, Newtown

🎹 Ethan Lu & Kathy Piao with the SCO Quintet
Piano duo Ethan Lu and Kathy Piao perform alongside the Sydney Chamber Orchestra Quintet in an intimate afternoon concert.
📆 Sun 3 May / 4pm – 5pm
📍 Master Music Studio, Glebe

🎯 Inner West Cornhole League
A free, social session of cornhole that’s open to all skill levels and is a great way to meet new people.
📆 Wed 6 May / 6:30pm
📍 Sydney Brewery Rozelle

🎶 Sarah Blasko – Great Southern Nights
Sarah Blasko performs her new album live, supported by Maia Toakley, as part of Great Southern Nights.
📆 Wed 6 May / 7pm
📍 Darling Quarter, Sydney

🎸 Sound Sorcery #6 - Guitar Godlings: Ruby & Cicchi
A women and trans-led jazz jam night featuring a guitar-focused set and open improvisation sessions in a welcoming, inclusive space.
📆 Thu 7 May / 6:30pm – 10:30pm
📍 The Pleasure Club, Newtown ♿️

🏈 GWS Giants v Essendon Bombers
AFL Round 9 home game for the Giants.
📆 Sat 9 May
📍 ENGIE Stadium, Olympic Park

🏐 Super Netball – Swifts v Lightning
NSW Swifts host the Sunshine Coast Lightning in a home Super Netball game.
📆 Sat 9 May / 5pm
📍 Ken Rosewall Arena, Olympic Park

🏐 Super Netball – Giants v Mavericks
Giants Netball host the Adelaide Mavericks in a home Super Netball game.
📆 Sun 10 May / 2pm
📍 Ken Rosewall Arena, Olympic Park

After almost 30 years on Norton Street, Berkelouw Books Leichhardt has announced it will be closing its doors. The much-loved local bookshop is inviting the community in for one last visit over the coming weeks, whether it’s for a book, a card, or a Mother’s Day gift.
📆 Final day: Sun 10 May 2026
📍 Berkelouw Books, Leichhardt

🍓 Strawberry & Lychee Coconut Lamington @ Pantry Story

Pantry Story is putting a fruity twist on the classic lamington just in time for Mother’s Day. This Japanese-style sponge is layered with berry jam, mascarpone chantilly, fresh strawberries, lychee and coconut jelly, then finished with a strawberry-yuzu glaze and shredded coconut. Available for a limited time only. Don’t miss it.
📆 Available until Mother’s Day
📍 Pantry Story, Stanmore

☕ FREE Honey Butter Croissant Lattes @ Pastry Club
Pastry Club (from the team behind Frenchs Fair) is opening in Waterloo with its signature Honey Butter Croissant Latte. Made with oat milk infused with roasted croissants, it’s topped with salted honey cold foam and served with a croissant dipper, with your choice of coffee or matcha (iced). To celebrate opening weekend, they’re giving away 200 free drinks each day. See venue for terms & conditions.
📆 Fri 2 to Sat 3 May / From 8am
📍 Pastry Club (inside Casba), Waterloo

🤠 Texas BBQ: Pitmasters by Firedoor and Let's Texas
Four days of wood-smoked BBQ, live music and cold drinks from Sydney's top pitmasters. Visit the website to see what sessions are available.
📆 Fri 1 May – Mon 4 May / All day
📍 Sydney Brewery, Rozelle

🍷 School Nights @ Bloodwood
Bloodwood’s midweek “School Nights” menu is back with a new favourite. Think three courses featuring dishes like smoked eggplant with focaccia, polenta chips with gorgonzola, and your choice of rump steak with chorizo butter or casarecce pasta — plus a glass of wine or beer. A solid weeknight option that keeps things simple and satisfying. See venue for terms & conditions.
📆 Mondays to Thursdays
📍 Bloodwood Restaurant & Bar, Newtown

🍰 Cake & Cuvées @ Famelia x Elenti
Famelia and Elenti team up for a Mother’s Day high tea with a twist — no tea, just cake and cuvées. Expect a three-course mix of savoury and sweet bites (think gourmet sandwiches, tarts and scones) paired with a three-wine flight curated by Famelia. You can also add a slice of “that” cake and a glass of bubbles for an extra treat. 💰 Starting from $99.
📆 Sun 10 May / 12:30pm & 3:30pm
📍 Famelia, Marrickville

🍸 The Cottage Balmain | Wednesday – Sunday | 3pm – 5pm | $12 Aperol Spritz, $15 classic cocktails, $8 wines, $6 beers & $3 oysters – see venue for terms and conditions.

🍻 Forest Lodge Hotel Forest Lodge | Monday to Friday 3pm – 6pm & Saturday to Sunday 12pm – 5pm | $7.50 local beers, $8.50 house wine & spirits, plus $9 craft beer schmiddy & $9 local spirits – see venue for terms and conditions.

🍹 Ravenspur Enmore | Sunday | From 5pm | Bloody Mary specials & pints for schooner prices – see venue for terms and conditions.

Our deadline is the close of business on Wednesday for each Friday edition.

Inner West Council is inviting feedback on its draft Parking Strategy and updated Parking Policy, focused on better managing existing parking rather than increasing supply. Consultation is open until 5 May 2026, with a drop-in session on 28 April in Marrickville.

👉 Have Your Say