Good morning Newcastle, welcome back to the Newcastle Digest.

There’s a chance last week’s email didn’t land in your Primary inbox, thanks to the flood of sales promos over the weekend (and, admittedly, because I mentioned it in the newsletter itself!). Hopefully, this edition arrived where it should, but if you missed last week’s, take a quick look in your Promotions folder. If you find it there, please open it and move it to Primary. It really helps ensure these emails land in your inbox each week, that’s all I ask!

This week, I’m kicking off a new topic I’m genuinely excited about. I plan to feature this at least once a month, so if you or anyone you know is doing interesting things across the region, I’d love to hear about it. I’d be thrilled to feature your work.

This week’s stop was Bolton Street Pantry, a long-time brunch staple in the city. The menu has a mix of Asian-inspired dishes and café classics, and everything coming out of the kitchen looked solid. We just grabbed coffees this time, buying breakfast every week would destroy my bank account, but the coffee was excellent. They serve Unison, a local roaster, and they do it well.

There’s plenty of seating inside and out, and it’s an easy spot to settle in, whether you’re grabbing a quick coffee or planning a longer brunch. Definitely worth a visit.

📍 45 Bolton Street, Newcastle

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Pevan & Sarah in Concert – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | 4 December
Pevan & Sarah are back on the road with a 50-minute, action-packed performance full of favourite hits, as Pevan the tiger and his energetic sidekick Sarah bring the house down with music, laughter and learning. More info.

Animal Farm – Young People’s Theatre, Hamilton | 4–7 December
Presented by YPT’s 2025 Think Beyond Drama cohort, Animal Farm tells the story of a rebellion on Manor Farm against the cruel farmer Mr Jones, where a new order soon descends into fear as Napoleon and his pig class rule with an iron fist. More info.

Christmas in the Park – Harold Gregson Park, Maitland | 5 December
Free family-friendly evening hosted by the Hunter Veteran & Family Hub with Christmas photo spots, live music, free sausage sizzle, slushies, drinks, games, prizes and festive activities in the “Reindeer Games” zone. More info.

Hunter Drama presents Museum Heist – Civic Theatre Playhouse | 6–13 December (Various times)
Step into the shadows of the Museum of Questionable Antiquities, where a band of misfits are plotting the ultimate score. But when egos clash, secrets surface, and alarms threaten to shatter the silence, the line between mastermind and mistake gets thinner by the second. More info.

Toronto Workers Club Free Christmas – Toronto Workers Club, Toronto | 6 December 11am
Free entry Christmas event with kids activities, DJ disco, face painting, Lego, balloon twisting, jewellery making, magic show, photo booth, Santa visits and a Toy & Tech raffle with 100 prizes. More info.

Bikers for Kids Newcastle Toy Run & Family Day – Connolly Park, Carrington | 7 December
10,000 motorbikes riding from Stockton to Connolly Park loaded with toys. Free face painting, kids rides, stalls, food trucks and live music. More info.

Hamlet – Live at Fort Scratchley (until 7 December)
Guided walking performance of curated Hamlet scenes across atmospheric locations of Fort Scratchley. More info

Newcastle Permanent Carols in the Park – Cessnock Sportsground | 5 December from 5.30pm
14-piece band and six vocalists performing classic and contemporary carols, with fireworks at 9pm. Cost: Free

Carols at Closebourne – Morpeth House, Closebourne Village, Morpeth | 5 December 6pm–8pm
Christmas carols on the lawn presented by the Combined Churches of Morpeth. Bring a picnic. Cost: Free

Mayfield Carols – Webb Park, Mayfield | 7 December 4pm–8pm
Family afternoon and evening carols under the stars. Cost: Free

Santa Photos at The Beach Hotel – The Beach Hotel, 99 Frederick St, Merewether | 3–5 December
Santa is on his way to The Beach Hotel. Skip the mall and round up your mates, groms and fur-babies for a Chrissy photo. Cost: $50

Hamlet – Fort Scratchley, Newcastle East | 4–7 December
Actors from Whale Chorus Theatre Company's 2025 Shakespeare Ensemble perform a bold reimagining of Hamlet at Fort Scratchley. Cost: Full Price $45, Concession $39

Carnival of Cups Race Night – Newcastle Harness Club, Broadmeadow | 5 December 4.30pm
Carnival of Cups race night featuring The Steel City Cup, the Hunter Final of the TAB Regional Championships and five bands headlined by The Screaming Jets, Alex Lloyd and Max Jackson, plus family friendly entertainment off track. More info.

Opening Drinks: Go Figure Group Exhibition – Wester Gallery, 39 Bolton St, Newcastle | 5 December
Season-end opening at Wester Gallery for GO FIGURE, a group exhibition exploring body, memory and identity. More info.

Soap Factory Open Studio and Design Market – The Soap Factory, 1/1b George St, Mayfield East | 5–6 December
Open studio and design market to see the workings of the Soap Factory, meet makers and designers, and make a ceramic decoration. More info.

Civic Cinema: NT Live – Inter Alia – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | 5 December
National Theatre Live screening of Inter Alia starring Rosamund Pike in Suzie Miller’s new drama. More info.

Wallsend Comes Alive – Council St Precinct, Wallsend | 6 December
Clothes swaps, handmade markets, live music, a Repair Café and an Op Shop Trail with a focus on creativity and sustainability. More info.

Super Terrific Fun Beer Time – Method Brewing, Newcastle | 6 December
Bridge Road Brewers and Moorebeer Brewing Co join Method Brewing for a beer-themed game show-style event with challenges, prizes, Smoky Sues BBQ and music from Benny and the Decks. More info.

Christmas Wreath Flower Workshop – Picture Point Studio Gallery, 311 Hillsborough Rd, Warners Bay | 6 & 13 December
Christmas wreath workshop using fresh Australian native flowers and foliages. Cost: $170–$180

Wallsend Clothes Swap December – AMS Art Studio, 12 Council Street, Wallsend | 6 December 10.30am
Clothes swap where you can exchange up to 10 freshly laundered clothing items, shoes or accessories for tokens to “shop” with, with change rooms available, nearby markets and Repair Café, limited spaces, $10 tickets and a free option for those who need it. More info.

The 3 Rivers Hinterland Treasure Trail – Port Stephens Hinterland & Surrounds | 6–7 December
Self-drive event showcasing producers, growers and artisans with farm tours, tastings, workshops and pick-your-own experiences. Cost: $20 per car

The Xmas Takeaway – 57 Bull St, Cooks Hill | 5–21 December
Two showrooms of handcrafted pottery and ceramic works by Newcastle Studio Potters for nine shopping days. More info.

A Grounded Gathering – MOA & Co, 16 Gipps St, Carrington | 7 December
Paint a ceramic piece, enjoy natural wine tastings and optional charcuterie boards. Cost: From $35–$75

Sell All Salon – Hamilton Community Hive, 152 Beaumont St, Hamilton | 7 December
Local and emerging artists presenting affordable art, paintings, photos and unique pieces.

Crumb Run Club – The Autumn Rooms, Darby St | 7 December
Sunrise coastal run with coffee, music and community, plus Crumb pop-up and free matcha or iced lattes post-run. More info.

Sooshi Mango: Home Made Encore – Civic Theatre, Newcastle | 5 December from 7pm
Comedy trio Sooshi Mango return with skits, characters and musical numbers inspired by family life. Cost: From $74.90

Jimmy Barnes – Working Class Man 40th Anniversary Tour – Bimbadgen, Pokolbin | 6 December from 2.30pm
Jimmy Barnes performs the iconic album in full plus hits, with Kate Ceberano, Ian Moss and Icehouse also performing. More info.

Hunter Lavender Farm – 125 Adams Peak Rd, Broke (until January)
Walk through lavender fields with views and photo opportunities. More info.

Christmas Movie Night – Maitland Regional Sportsground | 6 December 5pm–9pm
Screening of The Grinch, Santa visit, lawn games and kids crafts including wreath making. Free popcorn; food available. More info.

Bloom with MOA Christmas Extravaganza – MOA & Co, 16 Gipps St, Carrington | 5–6 December
Christmas market collaboration with food trucks, retail shopping, fresh produce, Santa and Christmas craft workshops including wreath making.

Olive Tree Market – Civic Park, Newcastle | 6 December 9am–2pm
Contemporary artists and designers with handmade and ethically created goods.

Poppin’ Tags: Summer Edition – Greenroof Hotel Carpark, Hamilton | 7 December from 2pm
Browse pre-loved clothes and goods while enjoying cocktails and live music by Velvet Moon at Greenroof’s final flea market for 2025.

Speers Point Park Christmas Markets – Speers Point Park, Speers Point | 7 December 9am – 1pm
Lake Mac’s largest Christmas market with a huge lineup of local makers, street food, coffee, kids entertainment and more in a lakeside setting. More info.

Do you want me to share an event in the Newcastle Digest?

If you walk into almost any health-conscious home, you will find the same thing these two mates found in their own cupboards: half-used tubs of supplements that were meant to change everything and make life easier but never did.

The two grew up in Maitland, spending their time on the field, in the gym, on the bike and at the track. They wanted to build something local and practical that would make healthy habits easier for everyone. Both admit they have a soft spot for sweet treats, so turning supplements into something that felt more like a small snack than a chore made sense. It was not about reinventing health. It was simply about making the things they were already trying to take a bit more enjoyable, to better support habit formation.

The name Project Aretê refers to excellence, the fullest realisation of one’s potential, and also the ridge of a tall mountain. The idea of gradually moving toward a higher point rather than making giant leaps felt like the right description of what they were trying to build and how they approached their own lives.

The last two years have been a quiet grind of development, testing, delays and repeats of all of the above. The moment the finished gummies arrived was the first time their project felt real. Friends in the running and triathlon community helped along the way, giving honest feedback on flavours and textures and keeping the process grounded.

They started with creatine and magnesium because many people fall short on them through diet alone, often showing up as low energy, poor recovery or ordinary sleep. Instead of trying to make a grand statement about fixing health, they focused on the basics.

Now they and many others use the gummies daily. They are easy to remember and fit into a routine without any effort. People who once never finished a tub of powder now take their gummies every single day.

Looking ahead, they would like to support more community events and get their products into a few Newy shops. They are also working on new flavours and products.

Instagram: @project.arete
Website: www.projectarete.com.au

Know someone in Newcastle building something cool? Or working on something yourself? Send it through. I’m putting together a line-up of locals to feature in upcoming editions. Either reply to this or email me directly at [email protected]