Rave reviews for Starbird

By Madeleine Murray

AFTER A series of setbacks over almost two years, the Starbird Cafe is now open and already receiving rave reviews.

“My father passed three days before the land settled,” owner Allira Cornell told The Weekly.

“I couldn’t even go over there for ages as I was grieving, I wasn’t going out in public for quite some time.”

Work eventually started on the site, but little problems kept cropping up.

“It was just one thing after another. We got through it all and formed up the garden. We were due to open in mid-March 2022 and then the floods came,” Allira said.

“Thankfully the formwork in the garden held, but the water came inside and damaged the floor, we had to realign the cool room, and replace the roof.

“We were pretty much ready to go in October but then had trouble finding staff.

“There were more unexpected and unfortunate events over those months too, but each time we just picked ourselves up, and held the vision knowing it’s such a sweet spot by the river. It’ll rise like a phoenix in the end.

“She’s a sweet little star, that bird. Hence the name.”

The Weekly visited the bright pink cafe with the happy facade and upbeat interior on February 1, the second day of opening.

People were busy working in the open kitchen and customers were trying to decide what to order from the appealing drinks menu that includes fresh juices, interesting smoothies, teas, and Bastion Lane Espresso.

The setting is beautiful, with lawn chairs under big trees, right on the Tweed River, overlooking the mountains.

You can relax by the river and enjoy filled savoury croissants, sourdough sandwiches, wraps, brownies, banana bread, muffins, pork and fennel sausage rolls, pies, quiches, salads, chia cups, fruit salad and amazing burgers. Everything is freshly baked each morning.

“We’re absolutely overwhelmed with joy at all the people who have some to show us support,” Starbird manager Roxane Carbery told The Weekly.

“The staff have been amazing, we are feeling really excited about what lies ahead for the Starbird Cafe.”

The Starbird Cafe is at 237 Tweed Valley Way, on the roundabout to Quarry Road and is open from 6am to 2pm Monday to Friday.

There’s a loud hum of activity at The Regent – the buzz of a booming music program. March stars align to showcase some of my all-time favourite artists! Dreams manifest as we welcome the magnificent Mama Kin Spender on Friday 3rd. Festival favourites and long-time collaborators, the ARIA nominees Mama Kin (Danielle Caruana) and Dingo Spender present a powerful duo show. Expect drums played standing centre stage, in Danielle’s distinctive way, and Dingo’s scorching guitar, weaving love stories with dexterity and tenderness. The chemistry between these two on stage is palpable! I had the pleasure of catching them as they first burst onto the scene in 2018, utterly captivating me at the Mullum Music Festival. They scooped worthy awards and a wealth of nominations that year. The lyrics instantly embedded in my mind, held close to my heart, and their debut album “Golden Magnetic” is absolute perfection, in my opinion! It quickly became a family favourite in the car, with songs requested as lullabies at bedtime, downplayed for my acapella pre-sleep style. “There is a future in the air between us…” I had similarly transcendental experiences seeing them at WOMADelaide that year, again, and last year at Byron Bay Blues Fest. It was then I planned to invite them for our audience, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude that they agreed to give us an exclusive gig for the region! Wild Thyme bring their “Between Worlds” album launch tour on Friday 17th, joined by specialguest percussion maestro, Greg Sheehan. Lior & Domini perform on the 23rd March. These two artists are exceptional in their own solo careers, and I can’t wait to witness what this Covid collaboration has created. Last, but certainly not least, William Crighton (whom I missed last year due to Covid!!) is returning, this time cobilling with the stunning Liz Stringer to wrap up the March music extravaganza on the 31st. Live music sets my soul afire, and it’s a true privilege to be able to share my passion with you. Please book ahead and show these artists you love them as much as I do!

Thursday 16th come one, come all, to celebrate Vaginas through a vast array of conversations about lived experiences of this most powerfully intimate of private parts. Examine the roles we play due to our gendered world with MC, Zenith Virago, holding space for 10 brave souls to bare all. Ticket proceeds go to Tweed DVIRC Impact Fund, helping women and children escape Domestic Violence in the Tweed Shire and across the Northern Rivers. Dinner by KHANTHALY’S KITCHEN available from 6pm

NEW FILMS THIS WEEK: THE WHALE – see why Brendan Fraser earned 6-minute standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival, and is a hot contender for this year’s Best Actor Oscar. Cate Blanchett stars in TÁR with her Oscar-nominated role, also commencing this week.

FINALS: CORSAGE (Fri 17th) + BABYLON (Sun 26th)

Feel fantastic for FREE with our new Friday Balcony Sessions curated by the multi-talented, Mohini Cox, featuring an array of exceptional guests, plus our regular Saturday Sunset Soirées, with a sensational selection of super-talented local artists. Any end-of-week winddown is a welcome reason to rock up to The Regent for a sunset cocktail, and a rich menu of talent on our beautiful Balcony. Wheelchair accessible.

On Saturday 18th the ethereal beauty of Nina-Rae Saunders will light up our Balcony for the first time. Then Saturday 25th Elena B. Williams is back, solo style, to improvise with impromptu songs inspired by you, the audience! Sounds like fun!

***CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR ALL THE AMAZING LIVE EVENTS COMING UP & BOOK AHEAD TO SECURE YOUR SEATS… MARCH IS FAST APPROACHING!!***