PICTURESQUE Harley Street in Highgate is set to become Vincent’s newest “character retention and heritage area”. The scheme was introduced in 2015—after many years of debate and failed protoversions—to protect the theme and aesthetics of heritage areas around town. It doesn’t prevent development, but means any new buildings should fit in with the area, be…

THE annual Carols by Candlelight for Variety in picturesque Langley Park will be free again this year. With the singing to be led by Australian Idol contestant and platinum album seller Damien Leith, it’ll be huge evening with Harrison Craig, Georgia Caceres, Susie Mathers, Chris and Courtney Murphy and the Variety Youth Choir also on…

A BEAUTIFUL, 15-metre Christmas tree looms over Elizabeth Quay, bringing joy to visitors to Perth’s new entertainment precinct. But it’s also a reminder that for many people, the festive season can be a time of increased anxiety, depression and loneliness. The tree was decorated with thousands of sparkling lights by Lifeline WA to represent the people…

TRADITIONAL Chinese culture isn’t where’d you normally go looking for Santa Claus. However, thanks to a Chinese government initiative aimed at preserving the country’s ancient arts, kids in Perth will get to hang out with Santa, his helpers and a favourite fairytale character at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, December 16 – 22. Bringing…

PERTH’S music and entertainment venues have a widespread harassment problem. Two thirds of respondents to a Safer Venues WA survey reported that they experiencd nonconsensual touching and a third that they were assaulted at a gig. The survey of 550 artists, venue staff, promoters and punters found female and non-binary/trans respondents were far more likely…

SEVENTIES Perth punk pioneers The Victims have reformed to record a lost song about Charles Manson—40 years after it was written. When Manson died on November 19, something weird happened: on every news story about his death, a few strange people would react with crying emojis. It was a digital extension of an eerie admiration…

A NEW group of city residents, traders and property owners have banded together to breathe life into Perth’s inner city. Activate Perth was borne out of the City Summit, held by Perth Labor MP John Carey in August. Two of the summit’s top recommendations were to form an organisation to help get pop ups and…

FUNDAMENTALIST Bible comics printed by a controversial US publisher have been delivered to West Perth mailboxes. The micro-comics, known as “tracts”, were written by the anti-Catholic, anti-Islam, anti-homosexual American fundamentalist Jack Chick, who died last year. The Southern Poverty Law Centre, a US not-for-profit legal advocacy group which keeps track of extremist organisations, has designated…

VOICELAND venues cleaned up at the Australian Hotels Association awards, snagging 15 gongs. AHA judges were impressed by a couple of newcomers: • Mt Lawley’s new dessert and cocktail bar Measure picked up the award for best new venue • Best cocktail bartender went to Bjorn Karason, at the newly opened Tiki as FK in…

LOCAL musicians will gather at the Royal Perth Hospital overpass to put on free shows for another season of Music on the Bridge. Launched in November 2015, the lunchtime shows give patients, hospital staff, and lucky pedestrians walking by, a musical treat. The shows were the brainchild of junior doctors Stephanie Sim, James Chen, Thomas…