STM Loves: Colours of Country, Juanita’s & Friends, Bon Bonbon, By Charlotte, Cranky Pants and Parmelia Hilton

By Charlotte

Growing up in Perth, Charlotte Blakeney was enamoured by Western Australia’s sweeping coastline and the slow and steady way of living. So much so that her popular jewellery brand, By Charlotte, was inspired by this relaxed lifestyle of her youth. Now, she’s bringing the brand home, with three spaces opening in Karrinyup Shopping Centre, Claremont Quarter and Westfield Booragoon. “To now bring By Charlotte home and share it with the community that first inspired me feels like a beautiful full circle moment,” Blakeney says.

Bon Bonbon

If you are looking for Easter treats with a luxurious edge, head down to Bon Bonbon in East Fremantle. This local chocolatier, founded by WAAPA and Tourism WA chair Di Bain, has a shopfront on George Street selling its elegant sweet treats, including an opulent take on a creme egg, bunnies in milk, white and dark chocolate, and a hot cross bun-inspired bonbon with cinnamon, toasted brown butter ganache and a delicate cross. You can also buy online at bonbonbon.com.au.

Juanita’s & Friends

It’s the ideal spot for a wine and chips (up there as some of the best in Perth) any night of the week, but on March 29 the friendly Subiaco spot is promising an unforgettable party. As part of Subi Spritz, the bar is holding a cocktail party hosted by Luke Foyle of Juanita’s, popular chef Blaze Young and pop-up event specialist Drew Dawson of Off Licence. The $104.45 ticket includes a night of Howard Park wines and snacks created by Young. More details at subispritz.com.au.

Parmelia Hilton

The Perth CBD hotel is rolling out the red carpet for its littlest guests these school holidays with a kids’ concierge, a complimentary movie night, a special kids’ dessert menu, breakfast for the whole family and a late checkout. The family-friendly offer is running throughout April and bookings can be made at hilton.com.

Cranky Pants

A pop art playground with dress-ups and monster energy just in time for the school holidays? Sign us up. This new interactive exhibition by UK artist Bruce Asbestos at the Art Gallery of WA gives people of all ages “permission to be expressive, imperfect and a little bit ridiculous” and to embrace all emotions, even the cranky, chaotic and disobedient parts we might usually hide. Visitors can design costumes from the design studio (entered through the wide open mouth of character Super Crank) and then unveil a new identity on a pop-up catwalk, surrounded by four big wooden sculptures. Asbestos’ practice has long explored cartoon characters with emotional nuance, moving beyond happy-sad binaries. The exhibition opens March 28 and runs for a year.

Colours of Country

A showcase of wearable art inspired by bush plants in the East Kimberley will be a highlight of a new cultural event at this year’s Boab Metals Ord Valley Muster. The fashion parade at Colours of Country will be the unveiling of the Boonkaj II Collection, made from fine linens and cottons screen-printed with designs from award-winning artists from Waringarri Aboriginal Arts, WA’s oldest Indigenous arts centre. The event, on May 17 at the festival hub in Kununurra, will also display work from artists and galleries across the region, serve local food including crocodile, barramundi and kangaroo, and feature a music program including Family Shoveller Band, Kankawa Nagarra and Saltwater Kin. It’s hosted by Balanggarra and Yolngu digital artist, animator and muralist Molly Hunt. The festival runs May 15-24. See ordvalleymuster.com.au.