James St Journal April

In a world where the curated and the correct reign supreme, there is a radical kind of freedom in playing the fool. Though stumbling and bumbling this is not. For this does not call to enact 'foolishness' in the pejorative sense, but rather to return to a longstanding tradition of the theatre.

You see, to playwright William Shakespeare, the fool was never a figure of meagre substance. Instead, they were the ultimate insiders: the only characters wise enough to see the profound intelligence in refusing to take oneself too seriously, and brave enough to do so.

From Feste and Touchstone to the aptly named The Fool, we’re taking a cue from great jesters before us and are stepping away from the polished veneer of perfection to instead lean into the delightful, messy vulnerability of being human.

To be a "fool" in a James St sense then is to prioritise joy over ego. It is the conscious choice to embrace what we love without irony nor apology. It’s about letting go of the fear of looking silly to make room for genuine connection and creativity.

And so, in this April edition of the James St Journal, we’re proudly fools for the things that make life truly rich.

Fools for Family
It may seem obvious to shout love for family time from rooftops, but with individualism on the rise, time with our loved ones often gets taken for granted.

So be they biological or chosen, go all in on family and mark your time together with equally special food. At this time of year, that can only mean one thing: Easter specials from Jocelyn’s Provisions.

Whether passing around pastel fondant cookies and chocolate-filled hot cross buns or getting stuck into spiced lamb pies and Mediterranean tarts, these shared treats act as the ultimate catalysts for connection.

Fools for Collaboration
There’s a certain wise humility to the act of collaboration; it’s a recognition that our own perspective is only one part of a larger, more soulful whole. We are fools for the crossover and the shared aesthetic, exemplified this month by the Mud Australia x Jac + Jack residency.

From 22 April to 10 May, the two brands will engage in a tactile dialogue as Jac + Jack brings a curated selection of their Autumn/Winter collection into Mud’s James St store. It is the ultimate antidote to the "perfection" of the individual, proving that when two greats come together, the result is often more vibrant than anything they could do apart.

Fools for Chocolate
It is perhaps the greatest oxymoron of them all and yet the phrase "guilty pleasure" remains entrenched in our vocabulary. So, we’re reclaiming the pleasure and ditching the guilt.

Whether it’s a dark, bitter cocoa or a nostalgic milk chocolate, celebrate the craftsmanship of the bean with a dedicated pilgrimage to The Nut Market. Think of it not just as buying snacks but as an investment in happiness by the gram.

Fools for Design
You don’t have to be an architect or an interior designer to wave the flag for good design; but if you are, then even better, because Brickworks is hosting Designers of Brisbane 2026 on Thursday 23 April, from 6PM to 9PM.

Get to know the local industry experts who aren’t afraid to take a risk or two as they engage in open and honest conversations on what it really takes to build a practice in design.

Come ready to listen, laugh and learn, and leave with the reassurance that prioritising beauty over pure utility is exactly what makes a city feel like a home, so don’t be afraid to be moved by a well-placed curve or a striking silhouette.

Find out more here.