Whether it's turned into a rave, accompanied by plenty of booze or features music instead of numbers, bingo isn't just a game for your nan. But, even if you've been making the rounds of Brisbane's various new versions of this old-school pastime, you probably haven't given loteria a whirl. It's the traditional Mexican take on the same kind of fun, but it uses pictures.
Come Thursday, June 27 — and monthly afterwards — Bowen Hills' El Camino Cantina is the place to play, so get ready to get matching. And drinking, because margaritas are on the menu too. While the game starts at 6pm, if you arrive early (between 4–6pm), your frosty drink will only cost $7.50. Thursdays are also half-price fajita day, should you be feeling peckish.
Loteria itself is free to play, although bookings are required. If you're wondering exactly how you play, you'll be asked to mark off four pictures in a row on your card, with each corresponding to an image from a quirky Mexican deck. Once you've stamped your sheet, you need to yell "loteria", of course. As for prizes, you could nab restaurant voucher, bottle of Jose Cuervo or a t-shirt.