Good morning Newcastle,

Hope you've had a great week, and happy Father's Day to all the dads out there for Sunday.

No pie review this week, but we've got a new Newcastle History, a Father's Day guide and plenty happening around Newcastle this weekend.

Enjoy!

Kerbside has been making noise across Western Sydney for a while now with four locations, and their newest store in Glendale only opened a couple of months ago. We went on a Thursday night and the place was absolutely packed, both dine-in and takeaway. Good sign for a venue that's barely been open.

The concept is American-style fried chicken, burgers, subs, sandos and desserts. There’s a lot on the menu that I'd happily try next time. The Big K Burger, the Beef Brisket Sando, the Philly Steak Sub and the Cookie Dough Pie all caught my eye. On this visit we both went for the tenders boxes, one regular and one Nashville style. Really good quality, well seasoned and the Nashville had a solid kick to it.

Honest verdict, it lives up to the hype and is a welcome addition to the area. If I had to rank it, Newy Fried Chicken still edges it out for me personally, but Kerbside is well worth a visit, particularly if you're on that side of town.

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A shoutout to all the dads out there this Sunday. Hope you get a good one.

If you're still figuring out what to do, we've put together a guide to some of the best Father's Day options across Newcastle and the Hunter this weekend.

There was too much to squeeze into the newsletter, so we've pulled it all together in one place, from restaurants and pub lunches to activities and things to do with Dad.

👉 Father's Day Guide - Newcastle and the Hunter

Newcastle Medieval Festival – Foreshore Park | Sat 5–Sun 6 Sep, gates 10am Third year. Living-history camps, midday cannon, BUHURT Cup. Under 10s free. Adult from $30. More info.

NEUROAUTHENTIC BEINGS opening – MAP mima, Speers Point | Sat 5 Sep, 12–2pm Immersive 360° cube. Exhibition from 5 Sep. Free. Get tickets.

Mr Squiggle and Friends – Newcastle Museum | until 1 Nov Puppets, props, interactive squiggle table. Free (closed Mon–Tue outside school holidays). More info.

NRLW: Knights v Bulldogs – McDonald Jones Stadium | Sat 5 Sep, 5:15pm Home fixture. Ticketed. More info.

Storytime for kids - 4/10-16 Medcalf Street, Warners Bay | Sat 5 Sep 11am
Bring the little ones along for a cosy, joy-filled Storytime made especially for families. More info.

NEWRL Grand Final Day – McDonald Jones Stadium | Sun 6 Sep, from 9am Grand final at the ground. VIP $165. GA is Ticketmaster. Get tickets.

Father’s Day Lunch Cruise – Queens Wharf Terminal | Sun 6 Sep, 12:30–3pm MV Calmer. Buffet. $79 / kids 2–12 $49. No prams or wheelchairs. Get tickets.

Father’s Day Lunch Cruise – NOVA Cruises | Sun 6 Sep Harbour from Lee Wharf or Lake Mac from Booragul. BBQ buffet, free drink for dad. Adults $85, child 3–14 $60. More info.

Father’s Day Memorial Service – Newcastle Memorial Park, Beresfield | Sat 5 Sep, 10am–12pm North Chapel, then sausage sizzle. Free. Get tickets.

Father’s Day Feast at Martha – Belmont 16s | Sun 6 Sep, 11:30am–2pm Three-course shared lunch. $90 / $60 child. Acoustic from 2pm. More info.

Loca Vida – Spiegeltent, Civic Park | Fri 4 Sep 7pm; Sat 5 Sep 5pm & 7:45pm; Sun 6 Sep 5:30pm Strut & Fret. 18+. Season to 4 Oct. More info.

Em Rusciano – Addicted To Love – Civic Theatre | Fri 4 Sep, 8pm Cabaret. 16+. $59.90. More info.

Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase – Civic Theatre | Sat 5 Sep, 8pm 15+. $65. More info.

A Taste of Ireland – Civic Theatre | Sun 6 Sep, 4pm Irish music and dance. All ages. From $64.50 / under 12 from $49.90. More info.

SING OUT, SISTER! – Flamingos Live, Lambton | Fri 4 Sep, doors 6pm, show 8:30pm Ladies-only. Show from $45, dinner and show from $89. Get tickets.

Tide Together – The Beach Hotel, Merewether | Fri 4 Sep, 12–3pm Charity lunch. Two courses, three hours of drinks. $129. Get tickets.

NGS Father’s Night – Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club | Fri 4 Sep, 6:30pm Newcastle Grammar dads. Ticketed. More info.

Women’s Adventure Film Tour – Tower Cinemas | Fri 4 Sep, 7pm 10-year anniversary program. Get tickets.

Newcastle True Crime Tour – Scott St & Watt St | Fri 4 Sep, 7:30pm 90-minute walk. From $27.78. Get tickets.

High Tea on the Harbour – Queens Wharf Terminal | Sat 5 Sep, 12–2:30pm MV Calmer. Check-in from 11:30am. Get tickets.

Hola Margarita! – QT Hotel pickup, then Newcastle bars | Sat 5 Sep, 1–5pm Bar trail. From $65. Get tickets.

Sip, Sing & Sail – Queens Wharf Terminal | Sat 5 Sep, 7–10pm Karaoke cruise. 18+. Get tickets.

Upcycled Jeans Cross-body Bag Workshop – Newcastle Museum | Sat 5 Sep, 1–4pm Materials supplied. $10. More info.

Wendy Sharpe: Into the Dark – The Lock-Up, 90 Hunter St | until 13 Sep Major solo. Free. More info.

September Drag Music Bingo – Carrington Bowling Club | Sun 6 Sep, 12–3pm Movies and power ballads. Newcastle Pride. Get tickets.

yART Sale – Hamilton Station Hotel | Sun 6 Sep, 11am–3pm About 30 artists. Free. More info.

Raiders of the Lost Ark 45th – Tower Cinemas | Sun 6 Sep, 12pm Father’s Day screening. More info.

Top Gun + Maverick – Tower Cinemas | Sun 6 Sep, 2pm & 4:30pm Father’s Day double. More info.

Miss Porter’s House Sunday Session – 434 King St | Sun 6 Sep, 6:30–8:30pm Ghost hunt. 17+. $65 + GST. Cap of 8. Get tickets.

IncludingYOU Art Program – MAC yapang, Booragul | 3 September
An inclusive, welcoming workshop for people of all abilities to explore art, connect and learn new skills. Free. More info.

Don't Change: Ultimate INXS Tribute – Shoal Bay Country Club, Shoal Bay | 4 September
Relive your favourite INXS hits live on stage at Shoal Bay. Tickets $43.04. More info.

Michael Hing Live – Newcastle Comedy Club, Islington | 5 September
Michael Hing develops a brand-new hour of comedy about the increasingly insane state of everything. Tickets $35. More info.

Bao Brothers One Night Stand – Croatian Club, Wickham | 5 September, from 3pm
A one-off block party fundraiser for cancer research with the Bao Trio, House of Roast Coffee Truck, live DJs, prizes and raffles. Ticketed. More info.

Tribute to Dolly Parton – The Exchange, Hamilton | 5 September, from 8pm
DJs spin Dolly from 8pm, Victoria McGee and her band from 9pm, plus DJ Dugo from 9:30pm across two levels. Free entry. More info.

CWA Fundraising Stall – Bunnings Warehouse, Maitland | 5 September, 8:30am – 1pm
Homemade baked goods, sweets, jams, pickles and Father's Day gift ideas, raising funds for local community causes. More info.

Father's Day at SBCC – Shoal Bay Country Club, Shoal Bay | 6 September
Food specials, free kids activities 12–2pm, live music from 2:30pm and a Karma Keg schooner supporting Salamander Bay Men's Shed. More info.

Father's Day Lunch – The Nags Head Hotel, Adamstown | 6 September
A Food Dude menu, Father's Day drinks specials and a special gift for every dad. More info.

Father's Day Lunch – The Shorty Hotel, Shortland | 6 September
Food and drink specials, a free giveaway for every dad and a raffle drawn at 2pm. More info.

Father's Day at The Lucky Hotel – The Lucky Hotel, Newcastle | 6 September
Mini golf in the bar, a free beer on arrival and every booking goes in the draw to win a Father's Day hamper. More info.

Father's Day at Nonna Bizzarro – Nonna Bizzarro, Hamilton | 6 September
Book a table and a schooner of Birra Moretti for dad is on Nonna. More info.

Drag Music Bingo: 70s Classics Disco Edition – Carrington Bowling Club | 6 September, 12pm – 3pm
70s classics, disco favourites, drag, music bingo and fabulous prizes. Tickets $20. More info.

Gwandalan Lions Father’s Day Village Market – Cnr Koowong Rd & Winbin Cres, Gwandalan | Sat 5 Sep, 7:30am–12pm Stalls, food, live entertainment. Near the Scout Hall.

The Olive Tree Market – Civic Park | Sat 5 Sep, 9am–2pm Artists, designers, makers, street food. Free. More info.

Pelican Foreshore Markets – Lakeview Parade, Pelican | Sat 5 Sep, 9am–1pm First Saturday of the month. Free.

Homegrown Markets – Speers Point Park | Sun 6 Sep, 10am–2pm Handmade, street food, kids’ area. Free. More info.

Adamstown Lions Sunday Markets – Cnr Brunker & Glebe Rds | Sun 6 Sep, 7am–12pm Bric-a-brac, produce, sausage sizzle. Free. More info.

Newcastle City Farmers Markets – Broadmeadow Showground | Sun 6 Sep, 7am–1pm Back after the Outdoor Expo skip. Griffiths Rd entry. Free. More info.

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

Last week's trivia answer was 1883, and the full story of how Newcastle's most recognisable building came to be is worth knowing.

The site on Church Street has held a place of worship since 1817, when the original Christ Church was built as one of the first structures in the European settlement. That building served the colonial staff, the military and the convicts working in the coal mines below The Hill.

Plans for a grand cathedral to replace it were drawn up by Sydney-based architect John Horbury Hunt as far back as 1868, but it took another 15 years before construction actually began. Work started in 1883, though the project was plagued by delays, disputes and funding problems. The foundation stone of the present cathedral wasn't even laid until 1892.

The building was dedicated in 1902, but the cathedral remained unfinished. It wasn't finally consecrated until 20 November 1983, exactly 100 years after construction began.

The Gothic Revival structure now dominates the Newcastle skyline and can be seen from miles around. The 1989 earthquake caused significant damage, adding yet another chapter to a building that has never had a straightforward story.

Most locals drive past it every day. Very few know it took a full century to finish.

The Newcastle Northstars have ended a ten year drought, defeating the Canberra Brave 2-1 in the AIHL Goodall Cup Grand Final at O'Brien Icehouse in Melbourne. Goals to Liam Ryan and Evgeni Skachkov secured the win. Congratulations to the Northstars, 2026 Goodall Cup Champions.

Newcastle finished the regular season with a 46-32 loss to the Warriors in Auckland. The Knights started well but the afternoon unravelled when Jacob Saifiti was sent off for a shoulder charge. They fought bravely with 12 men but were always going to struggle. Francis Manuleleua also left the field with a suspected serious elbow injury. The Knights now await Saifiti's Match Review Committee hearing before heading into an elimination final this week.

A hat-trick to Mercedez Taulelei-Siala highlighted a 40-6 win over North Queensland, with Georgia Roche, Lucy Spain, Charley Lahmert and Tenika Willison also crossing. The Knights are now in the top six heading into the final rounds.

South Newcastle defeated Central Newcastle 40-20 to book their spot in the grand final. They will face Maitland at McDonald Jones Stadium next Sunday.

Merewether Carlton will face University in the men's grand final after a 59-29 win over Wanderers. In the women's, Wanderers beat Maitland 20-17 and will face Merewether Carlton in the decider.