Last week I asked what should fill the suburb's empty shopfronts, and you voted and wrote in with plenty of ideas. A good roast chook shop edged out in front, with a proper deli hot on its heels, and the rest split between bars, restaurants and a long wishlist of everything from record shops to a decent fish and chippery. Nick made the sharper point that the empty shops are less about ideas and more about the conditions that let a business survive in the first place. I've put all the great comments and answers in Letters to the Editor at the bottom of the email.

A local dad got in touch after taking his youngest out for her first driving lessons - only to find Greater Sydney Parklands staff now warning L-platers off Callan Park, with a $150 fine flagged once the grace period ends. He reckons the park's quiet roads, gentle hills and empty car parks make it the perfect spot to learn before hitting real traffic. Others would rather keep cars out of the park altogether. So where do you land?

We'll share how the neighbourhood voted next week.

Norton St keeps filling back up. Both of these spots have opened in the last few months, and both have a local singing their praises. First, the new Whisky Gallery and Bar - a local dropped in and came away sold on a knowledgeable owner and a deep shelf of drops. The wall does a fair bit of the talking too: a big riff on Michelangelo's Creation of Adam, where God reaches down to hand Adam a bottle instead of a spark, with a rack of several dozen bottles lined up beneath. A few doors on, Ahgora Taverna has set up fresh digs after building its name in Glebe, and an early diner reckons the food, the room and the welcome were all spot on. Good signs for the strip. (Source: Leichhardt Community Group)

Our Granatazzuri have done it, again. APIA Leichhardt wrapped up the 2026 NPL Men's football premiership with a game to spare, then played out the season at Lambert Park last Sunday to a home crowd. It has been a cracking run from the club that has been the football heart of the neighbourhood for generations. Forza APIA - here is to next season. The squad looks the goods. (Source: Viva Leichhardt)

Council has released a transport blueprint pushing the state government for a permanent rapid transit run down Parramatta Road, either fast buses or light rail, along with an upgrade to the L1 light rail. The case rests on the roughly 8,000 new homes slated for the corridor, with mayor Darcy Byrne arguing the transport has to arrive alongside them. For now it's advocacy rather than funding, and some locals want to see firm commitments before the population climbs. (Source: Inner West Council FB Page, Inner West Council news)

Ten thousand people have already grabbed tickets to One Last Roar, the concert farewelling Leichhardt Oval before it shuts for its big rebuild. Turns out that wasn't enough, so mayor Darcy Byrne says another batch is coming, with word to watch for the release later this week. A footy hill turned over to a stage and a crowd feels like the right way to send the old ground off. Keep an eye out or join the waitlist here. (Source: Darcy Byrne FB Page)

A local put it to the neighbourhood: “who's a mechanic that won't take you for a ride if you know nothing about cars”? The replies rolled in, and the same names kept coming up. Sam at Rodd Point Motors led the pack, with love too for Harvey on Crystal St, Max at Annandale and Tony at Leichhardt Automotive. Honest, fair, no upselling. I love moments like this where the community comes together to put together a good list you can actually trust. (Source: Leichhardt Community Group)

Two critical bodies of water re-opened this week, and just in time. 1) the kids' mushroom pool at LPAC and 2) the spring opening of Fanny Durack over at Petersham. Please note the rest of LPAC's pools won't open till 2028, when the pool will be renamed Richard Scolyer Aquatic Centre. This is nature healing and the first sign spring's properly arrived. (Source: Inner West Council FB Page)

Sincerely,

The Hardt