Subi Street Festival 2012

Rewinding life backwards to 2 months ago, I was working hard at twiddling my thumbs at work when I looked up and saw a few chaps wheeling a couple of skilltesters (well known as "those claw machines") across the busy Rokeby Road.

While my colleague assumed that a new arcade games store was opening down the road, this happy sight reminded me that there was a festival to get to that night!

Subiaco; the lively, hip and trendy suburb more affectionately known as Subi, is the latest to jump aboard the festival bandwagon. They held their first Subi Street Festival, which was a grand extension of the Sunset Food Markets already in place at Subi Square over a few balmy Summer nights. 

It was a completely rare sight to not see vehicles in the very commercialised street of Subiaco, as it was only open to pedestrian traffic for the evening. This includes paws! Lots and lots of paws.

I loved seeing so many furry friends join in the celebrations - big, small, long, fat, clean, dirty, groomed and way too furry - trotting along and being hustled about by human legs everywhere.

Fancy a climb?

 Intent on being a very family and community oriented festival, there were several "zones" dotted over the festival with a load of activities that kept the needs of super active (read: hyperactive) kids in mind.

This was evidently a popular attraction, with several kids all over it and another several in queue who couldn't wait to be all over it.

I had a childish giggle in my moment of immaturity when I realised this giant sculpture looked so much like a giant...sculpture.

Other family-fun zones included this immensely popular activity that I've seen at every other festival - umbrella painting.

Paint: Getting into it, getting it on themselves

 This very interactive kids' play area unleashes artistic creativity with blank umbrella canvases and real paint, and not just the type of Paint you find under the Accessories tab on your computer.

Behind the paint station is a display of some spectacular finished creations, worthy of admiration. I never managed to establish a trustworthy partnership with my paintbrush!

Amanda's African Sauces attracted a good crowd with their free samples of sauces and breads to passer-bys. The stall sold a wide range of exotic and unique sauce and dips that you probably wouldn't see on a supermarket shelf.

I spied names like banana jam, roast eggplant, chilli mussel, cashew pesta, kassundy, mango pickle, chilli mint...and wanted to try them all. I didn't. Can't look too greedy in front of strangers!

Pop up Cards

3D pop-up cards are every bit gorgeous and attractive, handmade by very creative hands at Unique 4 U. I spied intricately detailed cards for every occasion, with cute designs popping up.

My very talented friend M has been keeping alive the tradition of sending cards through the mail, and I love seeing her handmade goodies. She posted a picture of pop-up cards she came across on her holiday recently, and really, the art of 3D cards can get pretty crazy!

Nova

The Youth Zone featured a very chilled out relaxation area amidst the festival, pumping out tunes and complete with astro turf, sofas and beanbags sprawled on the street. With the Nova radio station crew present, one of the highlights offered was a guided tour of their building, a live radio station in action.

And just in case you were not blown away by fascination by the sheer size of that inflated red Nova mascot, I will attempt to by alluding you to the actual size of it compared to a child (if you even noticed her in the first place).

Free Photobooth. Score!

They say the best things in life are free, so this free photobooth made PERFECT sense. There was a constant queue for this small photobooth from Wink Peace Pout that instantly prints out all your cringeworthy shots.

Photobooths are immensely popular especially at weddings, and usually come with all the props needed to see formally dressed, elegant, reserved ladies transform into pimped out, streetwise grannies.

Street performers, buskers & entertainers

This mischievous stiltwalker had a great time ghosting unsuspecting individuals :)

Main stage providing free live entertainment

Street stalls; one of which offered Ping Pong matches!

2 peacocks, clearly not attracted to each other :P

Peacocks are a normal everyday sight for me, watching them casually roam the grounds of my university and chase anyone holding a sandwich within chasing distance.

The small animal petting farm at the festival attracted many pairs of eyes and hands, eager to pat and feed.

The Absolute Wurst hot dog van, selling many variations of the humble wiener.

The very busy Crepes van, selling both sweet and savoury crepes within the $7-$10 range.

Savoury options included ham, cheese and tomato; ham, cheese and pineapple; and ricotta, baby spinach, salsa and feta; while the sweet side entices with a maple syrup crepe; a nutella crepe; banana and nutella; and an indulgent, one-time-only maple syrup, banana and cream crepe.

The familiar La Paleta, selling Mexican ice treats made with real fruit and recipes from Mexico.

Nuts for You sell a lot of nuts for you, spiced with different flavours like honey roasted and chilli sea salt, as well as popcorn and a honey or chilli sunflower and pumpkin seed mix.

I've got a fierce and stubborn cough from a nut overdose, as I finished a 200g bag of mixed nuts and about 7 nut bars in 2 days. Too much of a good thing IS a bad thing.

Go easy on nuts.

Flippin' pastries

The Murtabak stall had a loooooong line of flaky, crispy paratha bread cravers. For $10, you can get a serve of a piping hot flatbread parcel with your choice of meat (beef mince, carrot, spinach onion and cheese) or vegetable (potato, lentils, carrot, spinach and onion) fillings.

Cooking for carnivores

You'd think these chunky beef ribs were going for free judging by the queue that was waiting for them, fresh hot off the supersized coal barbeque. El Asador (translation: the barbequer) lured in the crowds with their Tira de Asado - a seasoned then slow-cooked Argentinean style rib cut served with chimichurri.

Smell = delicious.
Delicious smell = Ridiculously unappetising crazy long line.

La Latina casted delicious smells from their 3 cauldrons, bubbling away with an aromatic chicken and seafood paella.

Maison Saint-Honore had a range of small cakes, and their complete rainbow of macarons; with flavours like mocha, pistachio, coconut, mango and honey & thyme.

Shak Shuka brought a taste and smell of Morocco to Subiaco, serving up shakshouka to the hoards. Usually eaten as a breakfast dish, the all familiar 2 poached eggs are cooked in a spiced tomato sauce with herbs, garlic and chorizo, served with crusty baguette and a chilli harissa dip.

Also on the menu is Chicken Tajin with Couscous, a traditional slow-cooked chicken stew with dry fruits on couscous or a vegetarian version with chickpeas.

Strung with lights, the Snags and Sons stall dished up a Latino Chorizo with chipotle mayo, apple & fennel slaw, balsamic onions and smoked cheese combination.

Takoyaki in the making

The Japanese Savoury Pastries stall let out a warm glow and warm scent of freshly cooked, golden balls of takoyaki. These were tossed and turned in their indents with precision and speed, their crunchy vegetable interior a variation to the usual chewy octopus texture.

Other stalls that joined the party were:

• A stall selling hawker style Asian meals, including Penang fried Kuey Teow, Hokkein Char Mein (stir fry noodles), Hainan Chicken Rice, Roti Paratha with Curry Chicken and Tofu Goreng (Tofu stuffed with veges and peanut sauce);
• Another crepes and paella stall; and
• A gozleme stall, with fillings like lamb, spinach and feta; Med style with spinach, feta, sundried tomatoes and olives; Breakfast gozleme with spinach, feta, eggs and tomato and an Eggplant Moussaka.

Dj on the decks

Kids Zone

I was puzzled when I tredded through the street, littered with torn telephone directory pages from the Yellow Pages. I later found out this was the aftermath from a muscular, skin-hugging leopard leotard wearing strongman who entertained the crowd with his phonebook ripping acts!

Suitcase Circus was a play space with circus and carnival themed entertainment for the kids, showcasing circus performances, balloonists, clowns, magicians and workshops that taught very vital life skills of juggling and plate spinning :)

With the entire street coming alive with fire breathers, aerial shows and pyromaniacs, along with more food stalls than you can throw a hungry person at, I'll be gatecrashing this big annual party that Subiaco throws, every single year without fail.