What’s on: Tasty Territory surprises and AFL grand final tips

In the Territory, we do things a little differently – down to the way we run our grocery stores. You may find more than you bargained for, writes Kate Dinning.

Porkin in Darwin. Picture: Kate Dinning

This week I got to check out some really cool things happening in the Territory, as always.

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the new project that is about to be launched by Northern Territory powerhouse Nina Fitzgerald – a commercial screen printing and textile manufacturing facility.

PrintShop NT will fill a huge gap for locally produced textiles and offer enormous support to art centres to create unique textiles and fashion garments on-site.

It’s the result of a massive 18-month effort from Nina and her team, that deserves to be celebrated – and one I am sure you will hear more of soon.

I also went out for a cheeky mid-week beer and small plate tasting at Porkin this week – which, if you’re not familiar, is a mini-supermarket, smallgoods store and bottle shop on Aralia St, with a small wine bar in the back corner!

Because, why be one thing when you can be them all?

So, we spent our Thursday listening to Conor Cartwright playing live tunes – from the back of the wine bar – at the back of the Supermarket.

Porkin in Darwin. Picture: Kate Dinning

What a pleasant surprise – going to the shops and discovering that there’s also a free beer tasting, a great live musician, and some fresh and tasty small plates on the menu … It’s like a Darwin version of the supermarket in Adelaide that won Best Supermarket in the world.

I spoke to Ryan, the owner of Porkin and learnt that this smorgasbord of good things is a semi-regular Thursday night occurrence, and Friday they do Paella in the corridor outside. How fun.

And what about this weekend?

Where are you watching the AFL Grand Final?

A lot of places that take bookings are already booked out, but if you’re yet to pick a location – check out a few venues that have space and take walk-ins.

Of course, it is best to get in early for good seats.

Take in all Grand Final action at Silks from 10am, live on the big screen and the screens throughout the venue, it’s free entry and walk-ups are welcome – but bookings are still available if you’re quick.

Or pop into the new Mitchell St venue Sweethearts, where the game will be showing on the big screen, with food served from 11.30am – and stay for the duelling pianos afterwards.

If you’re not too keen on cramming into a venue and want to be outside, you can watch Sydney take on Brisbane on the big screen on the Precinct Tavern lawns, down at the Darwin Waterfront.

There will also be a huge TV screen under the shade at the Darwin Ski Club, with BBQ food, drink specials and even prizes for the best dressed in team colours – and the best cheer squad.

For me?

I’ll be at a good old-fashioned Grand Final Day BBQ in a friend’s backyard, and then it’s off to Kakadu on Sunday to catch the final day of Kakadu Bird Week … more on that soon.

Originally published as What’s on: Tasty Territory surprises and AFL grand final tips