New Mexican helps transform Scarbs

El Grotto's opening on Friday follows the State Government putting a call-out to developers to submit designs for a new beachfront retail, food and beverage precinct in the area.

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Fremantle's top five foodie hot spots

Gail Williams Longtime Freophiles had only had one question to ask when Lonely Planet named their favourite city one of the world's top 10 places to visit in 2016.

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Scorchers star Brad Hogg joins radio ranks

Chloe Spence Perth is set to get an extra dose of Brad Hogg this summer - with the effervescent Perth Scorchers spinner and WA cricket legend signed up to present a new weekday show on 96 FM.

Def Leppard 'still rollin', rock and rollin'

PIP DOYLE It was about big sounds, big hair and big boobs.

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Ahoy-hoy from Rodney's Bait 'n Tackle

PIP DOYLE It felt welcoming and fun. It felt like Lancelin. It felt like Alby Mangles was going to walk in at any moment.

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Trendy small Perth bars take out top gongs

Jon Solmundson Competition in Perth's bar scene is heating up, with Varnish on King and The Classroom among WA's top spots to enjoy a drink or three.

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The top 4 best coffee shops in Midland

LIZ SHEEHAN When you think of the suburbs in Perth you can go to for great coffee, where comes to mind? Leederville? Mt Lawley? Fremantle?

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Fleetwood Mac gets off the chain

Tim Carrier The pouring rain didn't dampen the enthusiasm of Fleetwood Mac fans who turned out in droves to Domain Stadium on Friday night to celebrate the band's return to Perth and Christine McVie's return to the band.

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Fremantle a top tourist mecca?

BRENDAN FOSTER It took me 30 minutes to stop laughing before I could put my fingers to the keyboard after hearing Fremantle was named by Lonely Planet in the top 10 cities to visit in 2016.

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399 Bar the real gritty deal

BRENDAN FOSTER It's no surprise that half the city is cramming into small bars on rooftops, laneways, old warehouses and rundown buildings to swill craft beers, cocktails and wines.

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Eddie Murphy to be dad for ninth time

Eddie Murphy is preparing to become a father for the ninth time at the age of 54.

Where food and wine meets chicken derbies

DAVID PRESTIPINO A meaty medley of decadence and delight hits Beaufort Street this weekend as Perth's latest food and art festival makes its debut.

Russell Brand bags 'bogan West Coast fans'

Heather McNeil 'Perthlings, that's what you are called. Perthverts?' he said - Brand may want to check his sources on that call.

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Northbridge's community hub opens doors

Emma Young A West Australian couple have launched a new 'social enterprise' in Northbridge: a place in which the people of Perth can hear and tell stories.

Perth fashionistas spend $2000 on browgame

CANDICE BARNES Some Perth women are willing to spend a sum equal to their first car to achieve superior supercilia – and that's how Sydney-based "eyebrow queen" Sharon-Lee Hamilton Clarke has made her name.

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Perth beaches emoji quiz – the answers!

CANDICE BARNES Once again, WAtoday readers put their grey matter to the test with a quirky quiz to start the working week.

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Star Trek fans to 'prosper' with new Perth Mint coin paying tribute to Spock

Leonard Nimoy fans could "live long and prosper" with a limited edition coin that pays tribute to his iconic character Spock from Star Trek: The Original Series.

Emoji quiz! Can you match the Perth beaches?

CANDICE BARNES The best beach weather might be a few months away, but a trip along our picturesque coast might be in order for those hoping to master our next emoji quiz.

Cirque du Soleil's Totem, and a human mirror ball, shine in Perth

CANDICE BARNES The opening night of a Cirque du Soleil show is usually the hottest ticket in town and judging by the throng of sports stars, models, radio hosts and reality TV stars on Friday night, nobody turned down the chance to enter the "grand chapiteau".

Go West to go west for 80s extravaganza

CANDICE BARNES Whether you think we're in the midst of a revival, or that the 80s never really ended, fans of the daggy decade will soon have a chance to dust off the acid wash jeans.

Robbie Williams hints at third child on radio

CANDICE BARNES They say the third time's a charm and it appears that way for music superstar Robbie Williams, who has suggested another child could soon be on the way.

Blur review: Reliving the sounds of the 90s

DAVID BAKER Taking to a Perth stage for the first time in 18 years, Blur frontman Damon Albarn said 'it's been awhile. Just a generation or so.'

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Perth wine lovers' heaven at City Farm

DAVID PRESTIPINO Nothing stirs the senses, drives debate and divides palates among winos like pinot noir.

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Losing touch with reality at Restaurant Revolution's La Linea

Gail Williams It's not every day you have to queue with hordes of over-excited, reality television fans just to get through a restaurant door where the bare brick walls are actually wallpaper.

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Warring factions carve up WA in Google game

CANDICE BARNES Forget the north and south of the river divide, there's another rivalry unfolding in Perth... and you might not have even heard of it.

Perth mountaineer conquered Europe's tallest peak... then he cracked a beer

Cody Hudson Perth mountaineer Cody Hudson is on a mission to travel from our flat coastal plain to seven of the world's tallest peaks - what he calls the Seven Summits - and he is taking WAtoday along for the journey.

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Last Cab to Darwin: WA director Jeremy Sims on his morbid masterpiece

CANDICE BARNES When we first meet Rex, the sickly lead character in Last Cab to Darwin, he's chowing down on a polony and tomato sauce sandwich.

Winning conditions for Swan River Run

CANDICE BARNES For those who rose early for the WAtoday Swan River Run, presented by Westpac, conditions could not have been more idyllic.

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Mark Ronson slams 'fake' Perth gig

CANDICE BARNES Musician and DJ Mark Ronson launched a social media tirade at the "shady" promoters of a winter-themed event in Perth on Saturday night.

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Swan River Run: Chopper crew hit the ground

The sun will be shining, the music will be pumping and thousands of people will be flocking to the city this Sunday morning to pound the pavement.

Uber sweetens Perth punters with ice cream

CANDICE BARNES Temperatures may have plunged close to the freezing point on Friday morning, but that didn't stop people in Perth's inner suburbs from clamouring for a tub of ice cream.

Tough gig: Inside Perth's food truck revolution

Sandra Bahbah After five years as a journo and another five in social media, Sandra Bahbah took a giant leap into Perth's growing food truck service - challenges have been plentiful but so have the rewards.

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Swallow Bar: Brunch worth getting out of bed

LIZ SHEEHAN When this 2014 Small Bar of the Year was first opening, I remember my friends and I being so excited about a "trendy bar" in our shire.

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'Don't drink and pluck': Eyebrow queen Sharon-Lee reveals top mistakes

CANDICE BARNES There aren't too many people who can say they 'have done two Prime Ministers on [their] dining table]', but it's a statement Sharon-Lee Hamilton Clarke made with great pride.

Budburst Small Bar a gem in Mount Hawthorn

Gail Williams One can only begin to imagine the garage sale that Rachael Niall had when she took over the old Wee Bar from former owner, a self-confessed human jackdaw.

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Perth commuters sing along in viral video

Aaron Bunch and Candice Barnes For those familiar with the work of social movement The Liberators International – the Monday morning commute was far from ordinary.

An Evening with Oprah: Perth tickets top $2500

Emma Young Fans determined to soak up all the Oprah-time they can when her show An Evening With Oprah visits Perth in December should brace themselves – tickets could reach $2548.

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Perth Mint coins top collectors' wish lists

CANDICE BARNES There are people around the world with a deep, and expensive, interest in the Perth Mint – without ever having seen it in the flesh.

Nova's Dave McClung: My top running tunes

Nova host Dave McClung has revealed his 'ultimate running soundtrack' to help you find your training groove.

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Trip down a memory lane at Dominion League

Gail Williams Oh, if only the rustic brick walls and pressed tin ceilings of The Dominion League could speak. They'd be spinning more page-turning yarns than Stephen King.

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House Rules: Carole and Russell reveal business name inspired by WAtoday readers

Some entries were quirky, some amusing, while others were a tad confusing, but reality TV stars Carole and Russell Bramston picked a simple, professional name for their new room design business.

Perth train station emoji quiz – the answers!

CANDICE BARNES Inspired by similar quizzes in London and Melbourne, WAtoday put together a list of emoji puzzles and asked you to match them to the names of train stations in metropolitan Perth.

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Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May meet and greet Perth fans

CANDICE BARNES In true Top Gear style, former hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May perched on sleek sports cars during a brief public appearance.

Spiegelworld's Absinthe insults and entertains

CANDICE BARNES Throw political correctness out the door, but whatever you do, don't sit in the front row if you're planning to head along to Spiegelworld's latest show Absinthe.

Kids get hands on at Mister Maker show

NICOLE COX It was an "arty party" for a band of crafty children this week as Mister Maker lobbed in to town.

Emoji quiz! Can you match the train stations?

CANDICE BARNES It helped London commuters waste time last week and inspired a copycat quiz by a Melbourne university student. Now, it's Perth's turn!

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Former Top Gear hosts bound for Australia

CANDICE BARNES Cricket fans might be all about The Ashes, but fans of popular TV show Top Gear are champing at the bit for "The CrAshes" – with former hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond to stage a number of live shows in Australia starting this weekend.

Vika Bull stars in Marvin Gaye tribute

CANDICE BARNES Soul singer Vika Bull was but a twinkle in her parents' eye when Motown Records signed 20-year-old Tammi Terrell, a woman who achieved a glimpse of stardom before her life was cut tragically short.

Frenzal Rhomb drummer injured at Perth gig

CANDICE BARNES 5SOS guitarist Michael Clifford burned his face, Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl broke his leg and now Frenzal Rhomb drummer Gordy Forman is the latest to come a cropper during a live performance.

Absinthe takes aim in circus showdown

CANDICE BARNES A circus showdown is brewing in Perth with Cirque du Soleil's hotly-anticipated season of Totem to debut within a few weeks of Spiegelworld's sexy Absinthe show.

Free on Gumtree: Gumption and gall galore as bargain hunters scour classifieds

CANDICE BARNES If the weekend taught me one thing, it's that I really underestimated the lengths people will go to for cheap, or free, stuff.

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Southbound to become three-day event

CANDICE BARNES There'll be more time for greasy kebabs, boozy hook-ups and a sweaty jaunt into the moshpit at next year's Southbound Festival, after organisers announced the event would become a three-day affair.

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Lior looks back on Autumn Flow for tour

CANDICE BARNES A little over ten years ago, Lior was putting the finishing touches to Autumn Flow, the album which kick-started his career. Looking back now, he realised how far he has come.

Dylan Moran reveals the misery of middle age

DAVID BAKER Spending two hours listening to a man whinge about his middle-aged reluctance to enjoy architecture, golf and the great british bake off may sound like a difficult afternoon with your father in law.

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Will ARN give 96FM's brand a KIIS goodbye?

CANDICE BARNES Rumours are swirling in the local radio scene that 96FM could soon be rebranded, as the Australian Radio Network seeks to stamp its presence on the Perth market.

Perth gets a frosting of snow on city buildings

Perth's cold snap hasn't been chilly enough for snow on the ground, but there was snow on walls of Brookfield Place in the city on Thursday night.

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Gucce in Applecross didn't float my barchetta

Gail Williams If your enjoyment barometer stretches to eating uninspired food in a characterless setting where – despite the dearth of customers - you feel like you have to wave both arms to get the solo waiter's attention, then go ahead and shout it out from the rooftops of Applecross.

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Perth barrister receives Japanese honour

CANDICE BARNES It's an honour shared by rock stars, actors and politicians alike, and now Perth lawyer Patrick Whight is among their company after he was awarded one of Japan's highest civilian honours on Thursday night.

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Bathers Beach House: Eat, drink and be merry

LIZ SHEEHAN Bathers Beach House opened late last year and has offered Freo goers a place you to eat where you can even get your feet sandy by heading down to the beach and taking up a possie on the sun beds.

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Mum's tough decision leads to miracle triplets

CANDICE BARNES It's a story of boy meets girl, their three kids... and the miracle triplets who rocked their world.

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Social divas swap daiquiris for downward dogs

CANDICE BARNES Turn back the clock a few years and Sarcha Thurston and Gigi Mok were in charge of the hottest parties and gigs in town.Now, both have put the brakes on their fast-paced lives and poured their time and energy into a new yoga studio to open in Mount Hawthorn next week.

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Perth stargazers submit Noongar name for celestial exoplanet competition

CANDICE BARNES It might be nearly 38 light years away, but a distant planet could soon be given a distinctly West Australian name, if local skywatchers get their way.

Five-year-old Perth girl enters Archibald Prize

CANDICE BARNES Forget art school, Rose Vassiliou hasn't even started primary school yet, but that hasn't stopped her from entering Australia's most prestigious portraiture prize.

Radio ratings: Local content is king... for now

CANDICE BARNES Mix94.5 has kept its comfortable lead as Perth's favourite station in the latest radio survey as listeners continue to favour local personalities.

Soft crowds as second Krispy Kreme opens

CANDICE BARNES The nearest place selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts was less then two kilometres away, but that didn't stop two young men from braving the cold to be the first in line at a new store in the southern suburb of Myaree.

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Vans not the Mother Teresa of cafe culture

Gail Williams Criticising Vans in Cottesloe can be a little like making a politically-incorrect joke about Mother Teresa.

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What's on in Perth these school holidays for kids... and grown ups

CANDICE BARNES As they say, forewarned is forearmed – and with the WA school holidays officially underway as of this weekend, it doesn't hurt to have a few ideas up one's sleeve.

Meet Perth's 'royal family', knights bringing medieval history to life in Aneala

RAY SPARVELL Once upon a time, across many trembling, tempestuous oceans, the magical southern land of Lochac was ruled by a king and queen inspired by their great and terrible ancestor, Genghis Khan.

Radio 6PR's Adam Shand: Out of excuses, onto running track for Swan River Run

Adam Shand 6PR drive host Adam Shand has waded through the excuses and emerged out the other side ready to complete the Swan River Run.

TropVine: Filmmakers shine... in six seconds

CANDICE BARNES Don't have a big movie budget to work with? A smartphone and a wild imagination is all that's needed to make it in the emerging world of the ultra-short film.

Perth writer's LA tale: De Niro, Pitt and porn

RAY SPARVELL It you want to make it in Hollywood, a good first step is learning how to make the perfect martini for acting great, Robert De Niro, while being carefully watched by his Goodfellas chum, Ray Liotta.

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Bomb shelters

Bullsbrook bomb shelter sells

Rebecca Harvey How much would you pay for an old bomb shelter?

Former Masterchef contestant sets up an umbrella business... in Perth?

CANDICE BARNES It's a city with weather so lovely it spawned its own hashtag, so why would anyone choose to start an umbrella business in Perth?

Get your skates on... ice rink opens in Perth

Rangi Hirini It takes six days to build the rink, three days to freeze the water, but will the mammoth exercise be worth it for the 40,000 expected to take to the ice in the Perth Cultural Centre this year?

Love-sick radio listeners live on in cabaret

CANDICE BARNES Like many young Perth actors, John O'Hara headed east to find work. Now, he's looking for any excuse to come back.

How a boozy night inspired a quirky business

Rangi Hirini Most of us struggle to form coherent sentences when hungover, but for Perth man James Hookway, it led to a light bulb moment.

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All-you-can eat at Sizzler... as an adult

SIMON WHITE With Sizzler seemingly on borrowed time, it seems to revisit the all-you-can-eat delight of our childhoods...through adult eyes.

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Supreme caffeine: Iced coffee put to the (taste) test

CANDICE BARNES It's the beverage which divides Australians unlike any other. But does your choice of iced coffee stand up to our blind taste test?

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5SOS: Bras, tweens and bowel movements

CANDICE BARNES Screams reminiscent of Beatlemania greeted 5 Seconds of Summer as they finished their Australian tour in Perth on Monday night.

Music rags X-Press and The Music to merge

CANDICE BARNES There will soon be only one dedicated music publication on the streets of Perth, with The Music announcing it will publish its final print issue this week.

Mother-in-law 'from hell' inspires Perth woman's survival guide

CANDICE BARNES Nicola Milan was a woman in love, newly engaged and preparing to marry her childhood friend. But the happily ever after she had imagined wasn't to be – and she blames her mother-in-law.

All the action from Supanova 2015!

Python a perfect patient for Murdoch vets

CANDICE BARNES A CT scan might be a fairly routine procedure for humans, but when the patient is a five-metre python, things get a little more complicated.

WA wineries produce another top vintage

DAVID PRESTIPINO West Australian wine lovers can again toast to good tasting wine after winemakers wrapped up another outstanding vintage, continuing a stellar trend in the west.

Perth filmmakers' tribute to Planet Video

CANDICE BARNES In mid-May, Planet Video shut its doors for good – around the same time a group of film students were looking to produce a short documentary.

It's all about the ramen at Lucky Chan's

Gail Williams Oh, I love the smell of ramen in the morning. I love the smell of ramen in the evening. And I particularly love the smell of ramen on a cold, rainy night.

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The magic of the Swan Valley at Oakover

LIZ SHEEHAN Imagine sitting there for breakfast with the sun shining through the vines onto the verandah of the restaurant.

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Guildford Hotel: Owner threatens to walk

BRENDAN FOSTER The Guildford Hotel could be left to rot after the owner of the pub said he "would walk away" from sprucing it up after the City of Swan kyboshed his plans to build high-rise apartments behind it.

No TV? Dad's decision inspired WA brothers

CANDICE BARNES There's a nine year age gap between Perth brothers Abdul-Rahman Abdullah and Abdul Abdullah, but when it comes to their art, they are worlds apart.

Dodgy Perth: Digging up our historical past

Perth's past is as outrageous as any soap opera. There are stories of the weird, disreputable and the outright scandalous. We have never been Dullsville.

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King Neptune rises in Two Rocks

Emma Young King Neptune of Two Rocks has reclaimed his former glory after years of vandalism and neglect.

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Food app battle as Zomato challenges Yelp

CANDICE BARNES Indian review site Zomato has thrown down the gauntlet here in the west, challenging American-based site Yelp in a battle to capture the attentions of Perth foodies.

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Ky Hurst ready to compete in Swan River Run

CANDICE BARNES With superhero films flooding the cinemas this year, the term ironman might conjure images of Robert Downey jr in a futuristic armoured suit. But there's no armour for real life ironman Ky Hurst – there's just a pair of Speedos.

What makes the cut in Perth's best eateries?

Gail Williams What's your dining style? Shabby chic? Hip? Or suit pocket? Our resident Foodie Gail Williams delves into three different eating pockets of Perth.

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Fun run a 'circle of love' for cancer survivors

CANDICE BARNES Cancer is a disease Janine Le Febour knows intimately – 10 years after the passing of her sister, the mum-of-two received her own dreaded news.

It's a pearler! Ancient gem on display in Freo

CANDICE BARNES Broome pearls can be worth hundreds, even thousands of dollars, but wind back the clock a few millennia and the precious gems were more likely to be found in the hands of children.

Skating around at the Perth Ice Hockey Classic

BRENDAN FOSTER My total knowledge of ice hockey extends to former Canadian great Wayne Gretzky. (And I just had to Google his name in the fear I might spell it incorrectly.)

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