Good morning, welcome back to the Newcastle Digest.

Thank you to all of those who showed interest and joined the waitlist for the Newcastle Digest Dinner Club. I definitely feel that we can proceed to the next stages with this and I am looking into finding a venue and locking in a date, I will keep you posted.

Have a good rest of your week!

Anotijitos, a Newcastle favourite, has recently opened up its Mayfield location, and I was overdue for a visit. Antojitos is a casual California/Mexican street food restaurant specialising in burritos, tacos, nachos and more.

I have gone to their Newcastle store multiple times, and the quality is always great. Mayfield definitely doesn't disappoint either. I got the beef super tacos, which are great, miles ahead of the fast-food Mexican stores. What makes it stand out are the fresh tortillas and high-quality meats. To wash down my tacos, I had a horchata drink, which was delicious.

Antojitos is definitely worth the visit if you are after delicious, reliable food and Mexican done the right way.

Le Café Champs-Élysées - 7/50 Glebe Rd, The Junction

The French-themed cafe is now open at The Junction, where Habesha Ethiopian used to be. They are open for breakfast, brunch and lunch, with dinner soon to launch.

Charred Takeaway - 9 Darby St, Newcastle

The team behind MEET, as well as Alfie's Italian + Wine Bar and Frenchie, have opened a new spot on Darby Street. The venue opened last week, and I am excited to try. I have been told to expect flavour-packed rolls with BBQ meats and your fave sauces.

Last week I announced the launch Newcastle Digest Experiences, a new extension of Newcastle Digest designed to get locals out from behind the screen and into some of the region’s best venues.

A large number of you signed up for the waitlist, so I will definitely pursue this and have already started communicating with some venues.

The likely first date for the Dinner Club will be early April, as I will be on holiday for the majority of March.

If you missed last week and are interested in joining the Dinner Club waitlist, click the link below.

👉 Join the Dinner Club waitlist

Music in the Podium – Warners Bay Foreshore | 20 February 6pm – 9pm
A free Friday evening live music series on the foreshore featuring popular local musicians, hosted by Lake Macquarie City Council. Family-friendly and relaxed by the lake. More info.

Friday Chill – Pacific Park, Newcastle East | 20 February 6:30pm – 8:30pm
A free, family-friendly summer series with chilled local music, food trucks, kids activities and picnic vibes. BYO picnic or grab a bite from local vendors. More info.

Cessnock Show – Cessnock Showground | 20–21 February
Two big days of circus acts, FMX thrills, demo derby, camel races, fireworks and more. Tickets from $10. More info.

Foreshore Park Kiosk Opening – Foreshore Park | 21 February 10am – 12pm
Celebrate the opening of the new kiosk and amenities building with craft activities, face painting, half-price coffee and a live DJ. Free event. More info.

Newcastle Jets v Macarthur FC – McDonald Jones Stadium | 22 February 6pm
The Jets take on Macarthur FC in A-League action at home. More info.

Wallsend Toastmasters Club - Wallsend Diggers | Thursdays 7.15pm
Do you fear public speaking? Worried about making a speech or presentation? At Toastmasters they turn shaky knees into strong voices no matter your starting point.  You can even learn to love public speaking and have fun. The first 3 meetings are free! More Info.

Solo Exhibition – Margo Humphries – Windale Hub, bilyabayi | 19 February – 1 May
Original paintings by Lake Macquarie artist Margo Humphries on display at Windale Hub. More info.

Coffee and Claytime Workshop – Grounded By Designs, Carrington | 19, 22, 28 February 10am – 12:30pm
Slow down with a coffee and create your own hand-built pottery in a relaxed, supportive workshop. All tools and materials provided. More info.

Baby Animals – Shoal Bay Country Club | 20 February 8pm
Baby Animals bring their Keep It Together Tour to the Bay for a night of iconic Aussie rock. Tickets $55. More info.

An Evening with Yotam Ottolenghi – NEX Arena | 20 February
World-renowned chef Yotam Ottolenghi shares stories, flavours and culinary inspiration in this special live event. More info.

RAW Comedy – Civic Theatre Playhouse | 20 February 7:30pm
A high-energy showcase of emerging Australian comedians as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Tickets from $25. More info.

Folk At The Cathedral – Christ Church Cathedral | 21 February
An intimate evening of folk music at the cathedral on the hill, featuring two local singer-songwriters. Tickets $20–$30. More info.

Club Y2K 2000’s Party – The Exchange | 21 February
Flip phones, iPods and peak 2000s nostalgia as The Exchange throws it back for a full Y2K dance party. More info.

The Darkness – Bar on the Hill, Callaghan | 22 February
UK rock legends The Darkness return to Australia for an epic summer show. More info.

Artspace: Free Family Artmaking – MAC yapang, Booragul | 22 February
A free creative session encouraging families to explore art together in a welcoming, inclusive environment. More info.

Sea Shepherd Day for the Ocean – Dixon Park Beach | 22 February 9am
Community beach clean-up and ocean celebration marking 10 years of the Marine Debris Campaign. BYO gloves and closed shoes. More info.

Beef Week & The Pingers – The Stag & Hunter | 20 February 8pm
A free night of gronk rock chaos as Beefweek return with The Pingers for a high-energy show. More info.

Hunter Rugby Summer 7s – Dangar Park | 20 February 6pm
Round 1 of the Hunter Rugby Summer 7s Women’s Comp with BBQ, cold drinks and Friday night vibes. More info.

Summer Block Party – Hamilton Station Hotel & Slingtown Espresso | 22 February from 1pm
An all-ages afternoon of live music, BBQ, coffee, beers and DJs across Slingtown (1–4pm) and The Hamo (4–late). More info.

Etoile Cinema Club Screening - Tower Cinema, 183-185 King St, Newcastle | 24 February
Our first gathering is for a screening of Emerald Fennell’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ For the social and the shy, our cinema club is created for those seeking community with no pressure or commitment and those who love the movies. More info.

Homegrown Markets – The Station Newcastle | 21 February 9am – 1pm
Handmade, design and gourmet stalls, street food, live music and kids activities at Newy’s first Homegrown market of 2026. More info.

Seasons Thrift Market – MOA & Co, Carrington | 22 February
A curated pop-up thrift market packed with vintage and second-hand gems. Free entry. More info.

Newcastle City Farmers Markets – Broadmeadow Showground, Griffiths Rd, Broadmeadow | 22 February
Shop direct from local farmers and makers in a classic community farmers market.

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

Jacob Ure is bringing a little-known chapter of Newcastle’s history back into focus with his new documentary, Operation Seagull: The Stockton Bight Disaster.

The 42-minute film looks at the events of 8 March 1954, when a large military training exercise off Stockton Bight went wrong in rough seas, leading to the deaths of servicemen and leaving a lasting impact on survivors. Despite the scale of the incident, it has largely faded from public memory.

Produced through his online history platform Our Past, Jacob’s documentary combines archival footage, interviews with survivors, and original research to piece together what happened and why the story wasn’t widely discussed at the time. The project was supported by a City of Newcastle Arts, Culture and History Grant, helping bring the film to life.

Operation Seagull: The Stockton Bight Disaster will be released on 20 February and will be free to watch on YouTube, with a second instalment already in development. A strong reminder that some of Newcastle’s most significant stories are still waiting to be told.

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Kyle