Rachel Burke: Nearly Midnight

Fairy-tale fever has hit Brisbane Quarter, complete with a two-metre-high slipper covered with a million-plus miniature glass tiles, fairy floss-topped cocktails and egg-shaped waffles.
Sarah Ward
Published on January 19, 2024
Updated on January 24, 2024

Overview

One of the best things to do in Brisbane right now is to get lost in the Gallery of Modern Art's Fairy Tales exhibition, which is as spellbinding as it sounds. But, sadly, we can't all spend every day inside the showcase until autumn. Also, it closes at night. So after you've ventured into those woods, you might want to hop over the river to Brisbane Quarter to check out how it's getting in on the action.

The main attraction, which is free to see: Nearly Midnight by Rachel Burke, with the local artist taking her cues from magical stories. Accordingly, 300 George Street is now temporarily home to a forest of blue and silver tinsel, a tinsel and tulle dress that lights up, and a giant two-metre-high slipper that features more than a million miniature glass tiles.

Entranced by the larger-than-life shoe? You can even climb into it to sit (and, yes, take photos). You'll just need to head to podium one before Wednesday, March 27, when everything will disappear like an enchanted pumpkin carriage.

As happens whenever Brisbane Quarter embraces a theme, a heap of the site's bars and eateries are also joining in. W Brisbane's Living Room Bar is doing an Ever After high tea from $79, Persone has fairy floss-topped cocktails for $25 and Brisbane Phoenix is pouring Blue Sand boozy sips that are sprinkled with gold sugar dust for $28 — and serving up wagyu with scampi caviar for $128.

Phat Boy's pink-hued Will You Marry Me cocktail will set you back $18, and Tenya's yuzu and bergamot liqueur tipple is $25.

And over at Meet Tea & Coffee, you can tuck into egg-shaped waffles with cheese, chocolate and sweet red bean paste fillings. Per box, they cost $15 with just one flavour and $18 for two flavours.

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