In Frances Ha, Greta Gerwig became the on-screen embodiment of a predicament most twenty-somethings can relate to: knowing what you don't want out of life, rather than what you do. In Mistress America, she offered a different side of failing to achieve your dreams, this time from a slightly older perspective. Now, in Maggie's Plan, she grapples with the fact that you can't control everything, no matter how hard you try. Consider it the next phase in her ongoing examination of the idiosyncrasies of quarter-life malaise. Written and directed by Rebecca Miller (The Private Lives of Pippa Lee) based on an unpublished novel by Karen Rinaldi, the film explores two schemes hatched by the eponymous Maggie (Gerwig), a college careers advisor whose life is...well...a bit of a mess. When the film opens, she's telling her married best pal Tony (Bill Hader) about her intention to become a mother using sperm donated by their high school classmate turned pickle entrepreneur Guy (Travis Fimmel). Cut forward three years and she instead has a daughter with John (Ethan Hawke), an anthropology professor and aspiring novelist who's struggling to cut ties with his imposing ex-wife Georgette (Julianne Moore). Although it may certainly sound like one, to simply call Maggie's Plan a romantic comedy doesn't quite do the film justice. While the situations the characters find themselves in are by no means unique, there's a level of intricacy to all the major players that ensures Miller's screenplay feels as authentic as it does amusing. When Maggie tries to muster a polite response to Guy's offer to help her get pregnant "the old-fashioned way", for example, her awkwardness feels ripped from reality. That's the gift that both Gerwig and Miller bring — an understanding of how to convey life's ups and downs in a way that's equally playful and relatable. The two prove as an apt a pair as Gerwig and Frances Ha filmmaker Noah Baumbach, yet they're not the feature's only standouts. Adopting a severe Danish accent that she takes time to settle into, Moore proves both hilarious and surprisingly sympathetic. Of course, with its jaunty jazz score and New York setting, Maggie's Plan can't escape the shadow of other, similar films gone by. It's not only Baumbach that springs to mind, but Woody Allen — though any resemblance is likely by design. Miller has crafted a movie knowingly comprised of familiar parts, but cleverly filled with astute reflections that tell the tale from a fresh perspective.
Turning a novel into a play is no easy feat — the laws of written fiction can be very different to those of onstage drama. But Andrew Bovell's adaptation of Kate Grenville's hit novel, The Secret River, was so popular when it debuted in 2013 that it returned for a Sydney encore, and now heads to Brisbane. Not only did the production sell out, it won a slew of awards, including six Helpmanns — Best Play, Best Direction and Best New Australian Work among them. With Neil Armfield in the director's chair, the play tells the story of two families and one landscape. The first is that of William Thornhill. A convict from the dark, crowded, desperately poor slums of London, he thinks he has found a home for himself and his family on the Hawkesbury River. And he can't believe his luck. The other family is one of the Dharug people, who have lived in the area for thousands of years and whose survival — physical and spiritual — depends on their surroundings. Unable or unwilling to relinquish his hold on the land, Thornhill makes a horrific decision, which he carries with him for the rest of his life.
The best artwork makes audiences see things in a different way. Perhaps a piece plays with different formats. Or, it could simply shine a new light on existing elements. Maybe it makes a statement that fuses seemingly unconnected ideas, items and places. Meagan Streader's W-inter aims to do all three in an immersive, large-scale installation. In Metro Arts' first exhibition for 2016, she fashions a mesmerising field of illuminated linear structures. Her creations not only craft a futuristic vision of cyberspace, but also respond to the gallery's heritage-listed building in a way that has never been seen before. Basically, Streader's latest show aims to embody a term that gets bandied about all-too-often in the art world: sensory experience. Given that W-inter combines light, geometric lines and architecture, the Brisbane creative is certainly doing her best to earn that description — and, you can hear chat about all that and more at an artist talk on March 2.
With Supanova in town this weekend, pop culture enthusiasts can be forgiven for being all a-flutter. That's your daylight hours taken care of, but what's an avid fan to do after a day spent strolling around a convention? The Motor Room has the answer. Yes, the West End hangout is throwing a video game music party — aka the perfect way to keep the geek-fuelled vibes going. Of course the evening is called Press Start to Continue. And of course it features game music maestros Boss Fight, plus Sydney's jazzy gamer outfit The Consouls in their first-ever Queensland show. Both bands will pump out a soundtrack of all the tunes that have kept your favourite game titles jumping, whether you're a dedicated arcade aficionado or prefer to keep your frenetic button-pressing to the confines of your lounge room. Expect classics and anthems from across all platforms, as well as a few dips into the more obscure. And, expect the most amount of fun you can have when you're not playing your favourite console.
Ever daydreamed about breaking out of the 9-to-5 grind by taking to the streets and throwing a lunchtime party? We all have, but such flights of fancy have stayed confined to our imaginations — until now. Between 11.30am and 2.30pm on December 4, the stretch of Albert Street running from Charlotte and Mary streets will become the kind of midday fun fair usually relegated to the realm of fantasy. Instead of road, you'll find astroturf. Instead of cars, you'll find deck chairs. Instead of inner-city hustle and bustle, you'll find live music, board games and craft workshops. Yep, it's the perfect way to celebrate a whole host of things: an hour out of the office, the end of the week and the arrival of the holiday season, for starters. It's also a great excuse to head away from the mall, put Christmas shopping out of your mind and really enjoy all things festive. Image via Kgbo.
When it comes to annual traditions, the release of a new ensemble Christmas movie is among the most reliable. That doesn’t mean that it’s good — it just means that another festive feature seems to reach screens every year, overflowing with star power as well as predictability. This year's entry is Love the Coopers, and if you've seen a holiday flick before, you can probably already guess the storyline. On Christmas Eve, a dysfunctional family has to overcome their differences and learn to appreciate each other — and yes, the film really is that routine. That's not the only dash of formula director Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam) and writer Steven Rogers (P.S. I Love You) sprinkle throughout their big screen attempt to deck cinemas with some yuletide cheer. There's nothing like a last chance at happiness, aka a potentially final Christmas together as a group, to up the stakes. And, when following a big group getting into the spirit of the season, why not flit between individual stories before weaving them all together in the manner of Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve? Indeed, on the checklist of standard elements in occasion-oriented offerings, Love the Coopers ticks all the boxes. The characters continue the trend, including bickering, long-married parents Sam and Charlotte (John Goodman and Diane Keaton), and troubled adult children Hank and Eleanor (Ed Helms and Olivia Wilde). Sam and Charlotte are about to separate, but haven't told anyone yet. Hank has just divorced from Angie (Alex Borstein), struggles with sharing custody of his three kids and can't find a job, while Eleanor is sick of being judged for being single, so she convinces Joe (Jake Lacy), a soldier she meets in an airport bar, to pretend to be her boyfriend. Throw in a few other stragglers — Charlotte's jealous sister Emma (Marisa Tomei), who spends her day dispensing amateur counselling to a closeted cop (Anthony Mackie); Aunt Fishy (June Squibb), the requisite eccentric elderly person with a failing memory; and family patriarch Bucky (Alan Arkin), who's closer to the waitress (Amanda Seyfried) at his local diner than his family — and the scene is set for the usual festive hijinks. Arguing and hugging ensue, and then more of the same. Presents and food are often in the frame. It's all as predictable as eating too much at Christmas dinner, only not at all filling. Narration links what are essentially intertwined short films; however the feature falls victim not just to cheesy clichés, but to blandness. Wilde and Lacy's segment invests a little energy into proceedings, and Arkin and Seyfried share the sweetest story, but they're the highlights of an average-at-best lot. The performances meet the same fate, with the rest of the high-profile cast largely squandered. Wasted, too, is any sincerity and good cheer, as an overdose of sentiment and contrivance leaves the bulk of the movie veering in tone and feeling forced. Sweeping camerawork can't improve matters, nor can a schmaltzy soundtrack. The end result: Love the Coopers isn't a seasonal gift, but a holiday chore.
This year, the Brightside welcomed fried chicken joint Lucky Egg to the fold; however that's not the Fortitude Valley venue's only source of edible fun. For one afternoon only, they're inviting some of the city's favourite sources of meals on wheels to stop by for a laneway party. What better way to celebrate Brisbane's obsession with street food, after all? Yep, The Bun Mobile, The Bone Lorry, Micasa, Juan More Taco and Gourmet H-Dogz will be making Warner Street their temporary home for what's certain to be a scrumptious way to end a Friday. With delicious burgers and ribs, both Tex-Mex and Mexican morsels, plus hotdogs on the menu, one thing is certain: you'd best arrive hungry. If you've been to one of Brighty's regular shindigs, no doubt you're already keen — and no doubt you already know that it's not just your stomach that'll be satisfied. At the Truck-It Street Feeds Laneway Party, a local music lineup and other funky forms of entertainment are all part of the package. An after dinner game of bag toss, horseshoe or life-sized Jenga, anyone? Image via The Bone Lorry.
Good things come in small packages, and good gigs happen in small venues. That's part of the philosophy behind the music event that's tiny in size but big in impact. The name probably gives that away though, given that it's called the Festival of Small Halls. Produced by the Woodford Folk Festival in partnership with other Australian events, the series of tours takes the best folk and contemporary acoustic artists away from the large stages and cities and out to regional locations and intimate places. At least one Australian artist and one international artist is always on the bill, whether the fest is venturing to farmland or outer coastal suburbs. In good news for Brisbanites willing to journey north of the CBD, the latter provides the latest stop as part of the summer 2015 tour, with the Sandgate Town Hall the spot to head to on December 17. There, you'll find Canada's Irish Mythen and Tim Chaisson, plus Australia's own Starboard Cannons. You'll also find a charming evening of entertainment, aka reason enough to hit the road.
Last-minute shopping, over-indulging at celebratory shindigs, and pretending not to be annoyed about receiving another pair of socks: they’re each part of every Christmas. For kids and adults alike, so is many a seasonal-themed movie. If it has Santa or Christmas in the title, it is optimal viewing at this time of year. The folks at South Bank certainly think so, and have thrown together their yearly Christmas Cinema Series brimming with festive spirit. These free films aren’t just for families. Any Yuletide movie held under Brisbane’s starry skies and on the shores of Streets Beach at this summery time of the season is perfect for, well, everyone. Pack a picnic, bring your beach towel, and enjoy everything from Jingle All the Way’s ‘90s stylings to the classic treat that is Miracle on 34th Street. That’s not all, with The Muppets Christmas Carol, Elf, It's a Wonderful Life, Home Alone and more among a positively jovial and jolly selection of childhood classics gracing the waterside big screen.
If you're lucky enough to enjoy the gift of sight, you probably take it for granted without even realising it. So many of the things you do rely upon being able to see, whether it's something mundane like getting dressed or something fun such as viewing an art exhibition. It's the latter experience Nothing to See Here is concerned with — and we're certain that you haven't seen anything like it before. In fact, locked cabinets are the only things you'll see. Inside each sits artworks by members of the blind communities of Seoul and Brisbane, but they won't be stared at by curious eyes. Instead of gazing upon the art show as you wander around Brisbane Powerhouse's Mosquito Foyer, you'll interact with descriptions of every piece, rather than the actual displayed works. Audio recordings from each artist provide further details and share insights, allowing you to form your own impressions without ever casting your peepers over their creative efforts.
Remember when you spent your time dreaming up magical places and fantastic creatures? Well, Sarah-Jayne McCreath still does that. Her art feels like childhood imaginings entering an adult world. It bursts with playfulness and recalls all things weird. It's a fascinating combination. Indeed, hers are the type of pieces likely to spawn their own mythology, and the type to get grouped together in an exhibition called Drongos, too. They're both cute and a little creepy, and they're the perfect thing to look at while you're having a coffee. Yes, really. If you head to Haven Espresso at Stafford Heights until the end of December, you can do just that, enjoying something creative with a caffeine fix or a tasty snack. McCreath — aka Beara, the name of her imagination playground — is the cafe's featured artist of the month, with her works not just adorning the walls, but available for sale as well.
Fifty years ago, the events of one night changed Dadang Christanto's life. Now, he's an Indonesian-born, internationally acclaimed artist who has exhibited around the world; then, he was an eight-year-old suddenly forced to cope when his father was taken away and his home was burned to the ground. He's still coping, as his work makes clear. Indeed, his latest collection reflects that ongoing personal process and recognises the cathartic role creativity can play in coming to terms with trauma. More than that, it renders the horrific realities that characterised his homeland from 1965 until 1998 onto canvas. If it sounds like confronting viewing, spanning a time when death and imprisonment without trial were all too commonplace, that's because it is. In the aptly named 1965, pieces old and new combine to speak not only of Christanto and others who suffered five decades ago, but of "everyone who has suffered the misfortune of systematic violence," as the artist so devastatingly puts it.
Everybody loves a good procedural. Meticulously charting the steps of an investigation can be as immersive as it is thrilling; there's a reason that serial killer flicks and cop shows prefer the approach, after all. Truth applies the style to a tale of media troubles, tracking a group of US journalists trying to cover a story of national significance. Unfortunately, while the film sticks to the formula of chasing leads and piecing together a puzzle, it does so in a standard and heavy-handed fashion. It's a disappointing outcome, and surprising for two reasons. The first is that the real-life circumstances that inform the feature — the incident that ended the careers of seasoned news producer Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett) and veteran news anchor Dan Rather (Robert Redford) — are both complicated and compelling. The second is that although filmmaker James Vanderbilt is sitting in the director's chair for the first time, he previously wrote the script for David Fincher's Zodiac, one of the best procedural efforts ever made. With Truth, he offers an account of a controversial report about then-President George W. Bush's military record, which aired on American TV's 60 Minutes in 2004. Mapes, Rather and their team (played by the likes of Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid and Elisabeth Moss) burrowed into rumours and leaked memos surrounding the President's service with the Texas Air National Guard in the 1970s and the preferential treatment he might have received, only to be subjected to accusations of factual inaccuracy and political bias in the aftermath of the broadcast. Much of the enjoyment of procedurals stems from the journey on which they take the audience, letting us watch as details are discovered and dots are joined together. Alas, in adapting Mapes' memoir Truth and Duty: The Press, the President and the Privilege of Power, Vanderbilt renders Truth an exercise in telling rather than showing. Everything of importance is spelled out multiple times, and speeches about the downfall of the media are given more weight and emphasis than the minutiae of the investigation. The underlying situation remains fascinating, as does the statement the film makes, but the former too often feels like a tool for the latter. Thank goodness for Blanchett, who channels both the vulnerability of her Oscar-winning portrayal in Blue Jasmine and the steeliness of her performance in Elizabeth. The crusading film she's in might largely go through the motions, but the same could never be said for her. Redford, too, is expectedly strong, playing Rather with weariness and wisdom. Sadly, the rest of the cast is relegated to sidekick roles and bit parts, a symptom of Vanderbilt's blunt focus. That said, Noni Hazlehurst stands out among a bunch of local talent that also includes Rachael Blake, Andrew McFarlane, Steve Bastoni, Martin Sacks and Nicholas Hope. Turns out the movie was actually shot in Sydney: the biggest surprise in a movie that lacks them otherwise.
When writer Herman Melville (Ben Whishaw) knocks on the door of retired sailor Thomas Nickerson (Brendan Gleeson), he's chasing a white whale. The year is 1850, and the author is writing a novel that he'd like to base on his own time at sea as well as another true tale. When Nickerson eventually agrees to share the story of the ship he worked on three decades earlier, he's fleeing the same beast. The Essex, a Nantucket whaler, had dallied with the giant sea creature — and Nickerson had refused to talk about it since. So starts In the Heart of the Sea, Ron Howard's account of the real-life events that inspired Moby-Dick. Based on the non-fiction book that gives the film its name, the movie both searches for and tries to escape the monstrous animal in its midst. In the narrative, it tells of men charging forward and then retreating — though as anyone familiar with Melville's epic would be aware, the whale isn't the only thing they're seeking or running from. In the feature's approach, it rises and falls in its energy and bobs and sways in its style, ensuring that the to-ing and fro-ing of story comes through in the mood and visuals. The Essex had set off in 1819 to gather barrels of oil, with melted-down whale blubber the preferred source at the time. Two men led the crew: the untested Captain George Pollard (Benjamin Walker), who received his position due to his family name, and first officer Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth), who boasted plenty of experience but lacked a wealthy pedigree. Their clashes rocked the boat figuratively and literally, leaving the likes of young Nickerson (Tom Holland) and second mate Matthew Joy (Cillian Murphy) caught in the middle. Keen to complete the job and get away from each other as soon as possible, Pollard and Chase ventured 10,000 leagues along the equator to find a pod of sperm whales, ignoring warnings about an unfriendly mammal that had terrorised other vessels. While In the Heart of the Sea is framed as a showdown between Pollard and Chase, their combined foe becomes that cinema cliché — the third character in their battle. Thankfully, Howard and screenwriter Charles Leavitt (Seventh Son) know that less is more, teasing the impact of the animal more than they show it. Though the film doesn't miss a chance to flaunt its use of 3D or the aesthetic jerkiness that stems from its watery setting, this isn't a creature feature. Instead, it’s seafaring fare that's littered with more than a few arresting moments, while remaining more concerned with the trouble the whale both causes and amplifies than it does with the whale itself. With Hemsworth playing up the drama that results, it makes for a brooding clash of egos and a blustering tale of humanity versus nature. His accent may waver, but he's a solid lead, even if he's often shouting, scowling and staring out to sea. With Gleeson, he's also an anchoring presence in a film that swims between a drunken retelling, unleashing the chaos and the fury of the ocean; and showing the kind of drifting seen in other recent seafaring films like Unbroken, All is Lost and Life of Pi. A rough but most rousing journey.
Who doesn't love a tap takeover? If you're keen on beer, bars and breweries, you're getting the best of everything: the atmosphere of your favourite haunt, the usual beverages and a limited-time-only selection of other tasty tipples. Most Tuesdays, all of the above occurs at Newstead Brewing Co, because those fine folks know how to take a good thing — aka one of the city's favourite purveyors of yeasty goodness — and make it even better. The guest brewery might change each week, but a commitment to damn fine drinks remains. To kick off 2016, the Tamborine-based farmhouse brewery that is Beard and Brau are in the spotlight. They'll be pouring their famous Miley's Mulberry Tart (aka kettle soured wheat ale), Mrs B's Spring Ale, Fox 'n' Hounds Pale Lager and Bon Chiens French Farmhouse Ale, so you'd better arrive thirsty. If you miss out, don't stress — another tap takeover is just a week away.
What's better than getting dressed up for an end-of-year party? Getting dressed up for an end-of-year masquerade ball. Yep, these kinds of shindigs don't just happen in the movies. You won't just need a new outfit — you'll need a disguise, because wearing a mask isn't optional. Not sure which one to choose? Well, why not take a few cues from the venue. Woolly Mammoth is embracing its animal side, complete with themed rooms, of course. Perhaps you'd like to take to the tropics (aka the Garden Bar), or get all cozy in a log cabin (aka the Alehouse)?
Canvas Club as become a favourite New Year's Eve haunt for a number of reasons. Firstly, if you live on Brisbane's south or east sides, you can get to the Woolloongabba bar without having to brave the CBD. Secondly, they know how to throw a mighty fine party. Or a mighty fine luau, in keeping with 2015's theme. Yes, all things Hawaiian are on offer to end the year, although we don't think means pineapple-topped pizzas. What it does mean is cocktails galore, so expect to be drinking something fruity as part of the four-hour food and beverage package.
Ben Mendelsohn stealing the show in a character-driven indie film? Now there's something you can bet on. Ryan Reynolds holding his own alongside one of Australia's greatest working actors? That probably attracts larger odds. Still, as far as casting is concerned, Mississippi Grind wins big. Their characters, Gerry (Mendelsohn) and Curtis (Reynolds), meet over a hand of poker, then bond over a glass of bourbon. Gerry is an Iowa-based real estate agent who needs a hefty payday to take care of his considerable debts, while the journeying Curtis is more concerned about the fun of playing and wagering than he is with lining his wallet. Soon, they're fast and firm gambling companions, sharing the rush of the high-stakes chase. With a lucrative game in New Orleans in their sights, they jump between bars, casinos, card tables, racetracks, pool halls and betting agencies across America's south, trying to make enough cash for the buy-in. The details of Mississippi Grind are fairly predictable: one down-and-out guy wants something more in life, and another charismatic fellow coasts along. Their pairing sparks ups and downs, all while revealing truths about themselves and the women in their past that they've each been running from. And yet, the latest offering from Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Half Nelson) mostly rises above its recognisable combination of road movie and addiction drama. The filmmakers' ambling, unhurried approach deserves credit, as does their '70s-style aesthetic dominated by browns, blues and greys. Still, the film's true source of success can be found in its stellar performances. Indeed, as the expertly deployed creases on Mendelsohn's face indicate, this is a movie that values all things lived-in. Accordingly, weariness emanates from the actor, although that's not the only trait he paints his character with. In his hands, Gerry alternates subtly between tentative, slippery, proud and thoughtful. It's a masterly display from Mendelsohn, and another highlight of his recent renaissance (though with the likes of Animal Kingdom, Killing Them Softly, The Place Beyond the Pines and Bloodline on his resume, he certainly has plenty already). Reynolds' efforts might appear more overt, yet they're ultimately no less impressive. At first, his casting as an assured, smooth-talking figure feels a little too obvious. However as the film goes on, he not only unpacks that confidence and allure, but wears it like a mask. And while his back-and-forth with Mendelsohn undoubtedly drives the movie's best moments, he offers plenty of charms of his own. In gradually revealing the sadness that lingers beneath Curtis' façade, he's never been better on screen. As it intertwines a familiar narrative with finessed portrayals, Mississippi Grind presents a case of taking the standard with the spectacular. And in a feature about wins and losses, that's quite the fitting outcome.
There’s no nice way to put it: Aloha is a mess. It's not a hot mess, despite its disorganised array of attractive actors and its scenic setting. It's not a fun mess, because it rarely entertains. Instead, it's the worst kind of cinematic clutter: an indulgent mess. Aloha is a movie that hasn't met a cliche it doesn't love — and given that its writer/director, Cameron Crowe, has met many in his past efforts (such as Jerry Maguire, Elizabethtown and We Bought a Zoo), that's saying something. It's also a feature with so little to show or say outside of its rehash of the filmmaker's usual plotline — down-and-out man is refreshed by the attention and affection of a younger woman — that it spends a fair chunk of time referencing its title in dialogue, songs and even on fridge magnets. The film's main tale focuses on former NASA worker turned defence contractor Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper), who returns to the Hawaii base where he once spent the best years of his career. He's tasked with negotiating permission from the locals to move US military operations to another site, which links in with the shady work he's doing for an eccentric billionaire (Bill Murray). While there, he also confronts old issues with his ex-flame (Rachel McAdams), who's struggling with marital problems with her strong, silent-type husband (John Krasinski). Brian's every move is shadowed by an eager fighter pilot, Allison Ng (Emma Stone), assigned as his handler — and of course, soon they're flirting with becoming more than colleagues. As overly sincere as it is sprawling, Aloha exists to trade in Crowe's usual brand of rom-com optimism and self-belief, love conquering all mid-life crises and all that. Sometimes, the filmmaker doing what he does best results in flashes of corny charm, as glimpsed in the banter between Cooper and Stone, and a dance shared by the latter with Murray. Too often, however, he's content with trifles such as featuring a rotating handheld shot around Cooper, Stone and McAdams, or making a joke out of Cooper and Krasinski communicating without words, or shoehorning in a space hacking threat as the movie's climax. This seesawing between too-cute, too-contrived and too-clumsy might have been excusable if the characters immersed in such shoddy plots and shots remotely resembled people, other than physically, that is. Alas, the figures on screen never transcend their status as the idealised imaginings of a dreamer, nor do the corresponding performances. Saying that Stone steals the show is a reflection of her natural pep and flair, not of her ability to repeat the reasoning for her playing someone with partial Hawaiian heritage. Of her co-stars, Cooper is in stock-standard mode and Murray is barely glimpsed, alongside the rest of the high-profile cast, Alec Baldwin and Danny McBride included. Even the one element that typically, reliably stands out in Crowe's films — his use of music, as seen in Say Anything and Almost Famous, for example — doesn't hit the mark. When a movie has to resort to Murray announcing "everybody wants to rule the world" moments before the track is heard, it's hard to get swept away in the emotion of the scene. It's hard to get swept away in Aloha altogether; in fact, you might just want to sweep its mess from your memory.
When is a gallery more than just a gallery? When it transforms its exhibition space into a local pop-up market. That's what's happening at Artisan, and with a name like that, there couldn't be a better place for it. The link between food and craft is what Melinda Gagen, Artisan’s emerging curatorial fellow, is really looking at in Marketplace, from idea to crafted product — or paddock to plate, as you might know it. The show looks back at the art of baking, brewing and bread-and cheese-making, while looking forward to the concerns now plaguing the industry, including waste, excessive consumption, food miles, food security and an increasing disconnect with food production. Not only can you explore food as a craft while thinking about its evolution and issues but you can also do that one thing we all love: eat it. The exhibition also connects audiences with local craft makers and food producers — they exact right people to seek out when you're feeling hungry. Image by Jaala Alex.
If you've ever found an inanimate item around the house and pretended it was a puppet — and be honest, we've all been there — then Queensland Theatre Company has something for you. That'd be Argus, the latest production from Dead Puppet Society. Using nothing but household objects and the performers’ hands, this imaginative show brings readily available materials to life to tell a tale of adventure and magic. In a whimsical land where tabletops grow grass and water bottles are transformed into a deep sea, a creature will try to find a home and audiences will find their sense of wonder. Dead Puppet Society have previously worked with The Jim Henson Foundation, so you know their brand of all-ages entertainment is going to be special. Argus also features a live music score performed by Topology, so you know it is going to sound great, too. And, let's face it, enjoying a puppet show is something that you never grow out of.
Art imitates life in Dust Covered Butterfly, but this performance work delves into deeper and darker territory than most. Here, three unlikely protagonists — the Captive, the Captor and the Bait — are locked in a basement for a morally challenging, survival-of-the-fittest ride. There's a reason it sounds a bit like something ripped out of the news — along with The Collector by John Fowles, that's partly where director Thomas Hutchins and actor Michael Whittred took their inspiration from. When they first created the piece in 2013, the Ariel Castro kidnappings were in the headlines. The horrific case sent the duo into a spiral of research through other real-life circumstances. They're not the first to have followed this path, though the end result of their efforts looks a tad bit bleaker and bolder than similarly themed TV sitcom Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Prepare for a stripped-back contemplation of love, power and freedom in experimental theatrical form, accompanied by haunting live original music. Image by Morgan Roberts Photography.
Prepare to be plunged into an unsettling world in Partisan, but prepare to be unable to look away, too. A charismatic man charms struggling single mothers into his thrall, and the film casts the same spell on its viewers. The magnetic figure at the centre of the movie is Gregori (Vincent Cassel), who wields his influence over Susanna (Florence Mezzara) when her son is born. Eleven years later, Alexander (Jeremy Chabriel) is the eldest child in Gregori's commune, secreted away on the outskirts of a rundown city and sheltered from the rest of the civilisation. His days, like those of the other kids living there, are filled with lessons and attempts to win gold stars for good behaviour. They're taught about gardening and trust, and play violent games with paintball guns — which Alexander then relives, outside the compound's walls, with a real weapon. Much of Partisan beguiles, early on, by remaining ambiguous and refusing to make plain its story — and by the time some of the pieces start to come together, you'll probably realise that you're already hooked. Just what Gregori is up to isn't the real point, nor why. Instead, the film pulls apart the bonds that a parent holds over his progeny, with Alexander's questioning nature kicking into gear when a new boy, Leo (Alex Balaganskiy), joins the fold but refuses to do what he's told. First-time director Ariel Kleiman, who also co-wrote the script with his partner Sarah Cyngler, was inspired by actual accounts of child assassins; however, their movie doesn't even pretend to reflect reality. It's not a typical killer kid flick either, for those familiar with The Professional and Hanna. Partisan toys with recognisable components such as cults and crime, but makes everything in its frames its own. That includes an ambient score that will echo around your head as it sets an eerie, uneasy tone, and lingering images that do what so many films try to: find glimpses of beauty in gritty, grimy brutality. While the narrative demands attention, doling out its details in fits and spurts, it's the way that Kleiman creates an unnerving atmosphere with both sound and vision that intrigues the most, and proves completely immersive. Well, that and the performances, particularly Cassel and newcomer Chabriel. Oscar Isaac was originally set to play the part of Gregori, and though there's no doubt he would've fit the bill (as his mesmerising menace in Ex Machina proves), Cassel is never anything less than hypnotic. There's something especially savvy about using the actor, who is so often seen as a more blatant threat, as someone with such power and allure. Plus, his rapport with his inexperienced but all-round excellent co-star is simultaneously natural and on-edge, as a father-son bond threatened by rebellion should. Watching Partisan, you'll swiftly become invested in their efforts, and in a moody, tug-of-war-like thriller that both creeps up on the audience and slaps them in the face.
Each year, Italy celebrates Festa della Repubblica — otherwise known as the country's national day. The occasion might not be a big deal in Australia, but don't tell that to the folks behind An Italian Affair. Come May 31, they're doing their best to give Brisbane a taste of the fun by throwing a free street festival. That means a sea of Italian-themed festivities will take over New Farm Park, featuring plenty of food and wine, of course. There'll also be operas, bands and other live shenanigans, with close to 100 performers getting in on the action. An Italian Affair isn't just a one-off event — it's the centerpiece of Italian Week, which celebrates Italian influence in Australia and the country's culture in general. That's right, you now have an excuse to eat all the pizza and pasta you like for seven whole days — not that you need one, of course.
The Terrace at Emporium is an impressive spot for a drink every day of the year. Being perched 21 storeys above South Bank will do that. Come Christmas, it doesn't need to do much to dazzle its patrons — but the South Bank spot is serving up festive cocktails to get you in a merry, jolly mood right through until New Year's Day. Two seasonal tipples are on offer for those who like their Christmas spirit with some actual spirits. The 'Merry Berry' Christmas cocktail combines berry gin, strawberry gum leaf syrup and lemon myrtle soda, while the '21 Palms' — which is designed for New Year's Eve — features Cocchi Americano Bianco, pineapple run, white rum, clarified pineapple juice, toasted coconut syrup and smoked lemonade. They'll both set you back $22. Whether you're doing your seasonal celebrating over lunch or after work, the cocktails are available every day of the week. If you aren't staying at the hotel, you can only reserve a table from Monday–Thursday, though — with walk-ins on offer for the general public from Friday–Sunday.
Talented pooches have been barking their way to big screen stardom since the birth of the medium, and Cannes Film Festival even gives out awards for ace pupper performances. Now, Australia has a dog-themed cinema showcase — and while it pops up around the country every year, it's heading to Moonlight Cinema in 2021. At the Top Dog Film Festival, doggos and puppers cement their status as humanity's favourite movie stars in a program of pooch-centric shorts. Viewers will watch dogs will leap across the screen in a curated selection of heartwarming flicks about humanity's best friend — think films about dog-powered sports, dogs in space, dogs hiking through the desert, senior dogs and more. The festival hits Moonlight Cinema in Brisbane's Roma Street Parklands on Saturday, January 30, and rushing after tickets the way your best four-legged friend rushes after a frisbee is recommended. Given how much we all love watching dog videos online, not to mention attending pupper-centric shindigs in general, this one-night-only under-the-stars event is certain to be popular. Also, in exceptional news for pooch-loving movie buffs, you can take your pupper along.
When Ivory Tusk decided to mark International Tequila Day with a boozy festival (and celebrate its reopening after Brisbane's lockdowns, too), the event proved a huge hit. So, it did so for a second time, which was also popular. For its next fest, though, it's favouring a different type of beverage. At Sangria Fest, you know what you'll be drinking. Taking place from 8pm on Friday, September 18, it'll feature plenty of wine- and fruit-filled punch. There'll also be Mexican-inspired canapes to help line your stomach, plus DJs and live entertainment. Two types of tickets are available, to suit both your budget and your thirst. Nab a 'single slice' ticket for $19, and you'll get a sangria on arrival and access to the food. Level up to the 'wine lover's package' package for $85, and you'll sip your way through three hours of bottomless sangria, plus tuck into more than a few bites to eat. Tickets are on sale now, but it's worth noting that capacity is limited — life isn't quite back to normal just yet. So, if you're keen to spend a night downing sangria, you'll want to get in quick smart. Sangria Fest takes place from 8pm on Friday, September 18 at Ivory Tusk.
They're words every hungry stomach likes to hear: cheap dumplings. And, much to your tummy's delight, they're words that apply at Jade Buddha on Tuesday, September 8 from 12–1pm and 6–7pm. That's when the Eagle Street spot's Fifty-Cent Dumpling Day is taking place, and it's all rather simple. Venture in for lunch or dinner between the allocated times, buy a drink and then order up to ten tasty parcels in exchange for a dodecagonal coin each. Want more? That's on offer too, but you'll have to pace yourself. Once you're done with your first serving, you can grab another beverage and another plate of dumplings. Given the location, you'll also be doing all of the above while soaking in riverside views. Obviously, arriving early is recommended — there's limited stock available, and Jade Buddha is also operating under a COVID-19 Safe plan. Jade Buddha's Fifty-Cent Dumpling Day takes place from 12–1pm and 6–7pm on Tuesday, September 8.
Forget worms — the early bird gets gourmet bites to eat, farm-fresh produce to line the cupboards, and an enjoyable morning of browsing and shopping at Milton Markets. Every Sunday morning, more than 80 stalls descend upon the corner of Cribb and Little Cribb streets in the inner western suburb to sell tasty wares. From whenever you feel like waking up until midday, you can wander through massive fig trees to join them. Once a season, the Milton Markets also celebrates the change of weather — and all of the food that goes with it. On Sunday, September 13, it's doing so with Milton Markets: Spring Seasonal Flavours, which'll showcase the tastes that make everyone think of this blossoming time of year. If fresh seasonal fruit gets your stomach grumbling, you can stock up here. If a range of snacks do as well, you're in luck again. Flowers will be blooming everywhere, naturally. Expect themed gourmet food stalls, decorations to suit the occasion and a collaboration with Love Handmade Markets, too. Milton Markets: Spring Seasonal Flavours takes place from 6am–12pm on Sunday, September 13 on the corner of Cribb and Little Cribb streets.
It's that time of year, Brisbanites — time to say goodbye to winter, cold weather and gloomy moods, and offer up a big hello spring, sunshine and blossoming flowers. If the change of season has you feeling not only extra chipper, but eager to get outside and make the most of it, Roma Street Parklands has just the event for you, too: its new weekend Blooms and Tunes series. Taking place from 1–4pm every Saturday and Sunday in September, Blooms and Tunes combines live jazz and blues, an immensely picnic-worthy spot and the Parklands' already impressive greenery. You'll sit, listen to music and have a bite to eat, and you'll also be able to check out the 15,000-plus flowers blooming in the site's aptly named Spectacle Garden. Tunes-wise, the lineup includes Andrea Kirwin and the Yamanui Social Club, Ingrid James Ensemble, Cigany Weaver, CC the Cat, Soulergy, Blues Arcadia and Mzaza, with a different artist playing each session. You can bring your own snacks along, order a $25–65 hamper from The Garden Room Cafe along with something to sip on, or opt for a VIP package that includes drinks ($90–130) and a prime seating spot. Heading along is free but, to keep the event COVID-19-safe, pre-registration is required. Blooms and Tunes takes place at Roma Street Parklands every Saturday and Sunday in September from 1–4pm.
Late in 2020, Brisbane welcomed a new arrival — and one of the most exciting things to happen in the city all year, too. That'd be Will & Flow, the overwater bar that you might've seen perched over the river on the CBD side, opposite South Bank. If you're in the area, it's hard to miss. You can stop by whenever you like to pair a bite to eat and a few drinks with the venue's view, of course. Or, you can make a visit on a Sunday between 12.30–4.30pm. That's when Will & Flow hosts Sundaze sessions — and yes, they're really just an excuse to kick back in a scenic spot over a couple of beverages. Sundaze does boast a few specialities on its menu, though, including negronis, mojitos, cosmos and spritzes — and oysters, buckets of tiger prawns and wood-fired pizzas. Entry is free, you'll pay for whatever you'd like to eat and drink, and you'll also be treated to live tunes. The music lineup changes weekly, but you might find yourself listening to Musica, Nik Conomos, Parallel Duo or Izaeah Marsh.
Already known for its bottomless vegan pizza and pasta feasts, Italian restaurant chain Salt Meats Cheese is upping its cruelty-free food game across a new food series. Called Soul Meets Cheers, the event consists of two parts: a five-course vegan banquet and a vegan cooking class. At the former, you'll tuck into en entirely plant-based menu, which'll feature vegan versions of Italian classics. Think pizzetta with butternut pumpkin and mozzarella, tagliatelle with Swiss brown mushrooms and porcini jus, and apple and ginger cake with coconut yogurt, almond crumble and a big tuft of fairy floss. The vegan dinner takes place on Tuesday, August 4 at SMC's Newstead venue, with bookings from 5pm — and your $49 ticket also includes a glass of wine upon arrival. At the latter, which is being held on Saturday, August 29 also at Newstead, you'll learn how to make your own SMC-style vegan dishes at home. In this year of lockdowns, isolation and quarantine, that's a particularly handy skill. If you're keen, tickets cost $89. Salt Meats Cheese's Soul Meets Cheers Vegan Series five-course banquet takes place from 5pm on Tuesday, August 4 at SMC's Circular Quay, Cronulla, Drummoyne and Dee Why, with the cooking class held on Saturday, August 8 at Circular Quay — and bookings are essential.
Much about 2020 has felt dystopian, but that isn't stopping one West End spot from indulging in an annual tradition. That'd be Archive Beer Boutique's signature event, Armakeggon, which returns on Saturday, October 17. Obviously, the bar will still be around long after the shindig is over. It isn't the end times on Boundary Street. Head along, though, and you'll find 45 extra special beverages being poured through the establishment's taps until your beer-loving heart is content. Expect both new and rare brews, plus old favourites, too. For those after more than an out-of-the-ordinary drop of the yeasty good stuff, there'll also be games throughout the day, a DJ spinning tunes and an area dedicated to sour beers. Entry is free from 11.30am, or you can nab a $25 VIP ticket to head in early at 10am and get sipping before the event opens to the general public. The paid option also includes four beer tokens, plus a pretzel with beer fondue dipping sauce. Images: Archive Beer Boutique.
As dairy fiends already well and truly know, adding burrata to any meal automatically takes it up several notches. Add the delicious blend of mozzarella and cream to every dish as part of a five-course dinner and, well, you've got yourself quite the cheesy, indulgent and delicious feast going on. That's what's happening at Burrata Night. Nope, that name doesn't disappoint. Salt Meats Cheese's Gasworks store is whipping up a heap of burrata-topped options on Tuesday, September 29, then letting you eat your way through them. There'll actually be seven different dishes, including truffle and porcini gnocchetti with warm burrata; burrata that's crumbed with panko and herbs, then fried; and burrata that's been hand-stuffed with pesto, then placed on top of a margherita pizza. Or, you can try some arrabbiata spicy spaghetti topped with burrata, opt for cured bresaola and burrata with rocket, or go for the pumpkin sauce-filled burrata served on a blue cheese and mozzarella base pizza. Naked burrata with your choice of filling —truffle mushroom, pumpkin, basil pesto or chilli sauce — is also available. The five-dish dinner will set you back $79, and you can choose which five of the above choices you'd prefer. Or, you can take the plate-by-plate approach and order single serves for $19 a pop. It all kicks off at 5pm, and booking in advance for this one-night-only affair is essential. Burrata Night takes place at Salt Meats Cheese Gasworks in Newstead on Tuesday, September 29.
Brisbane is home to an annual film festival focused on LGBTQI+ flicks, but there's always room for another one. So, Dendy Coorparoo has put together Rainbow Retrospective, a program that showcases the great queer movies that have reached cinemas over the years. Whether you need another excuse to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show on a big screen, you fell head over heels for Carol when it first released or you're a fan of Australian drama Holding the Man, you'll find them on the bill. Screening on various dates for over a month — between Thursday, September 24–Wednesday, October 28 — the full lineup includes 28 titles. In other words, if you're eager to relive a heap of queer cinema highlights, you have plenty of films to choose from. On the retro front, you can check out Robin Williams in The Birdcage, or watch a blistering performance from Alex Dimitriades in Head On. And, from the more recent selection, everything from A Single Man, Stranger By the Lake and Tangerine to God's Own Country, The Miseducation of Cameron Post and Sequin in a Blue Room are also on offer. Obviously, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert nabs a few sessions as well — as do stone-cold masterpieces like Brokeback Mountain, Weekend, Moonlight, Call Me By Your Name and Portrait of a Lady on Fire. If you'd prefer a doco, Bill Cunningham: New York, McQueen and Studio 54: The Documentary are getting a spin, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn_-YoG69Sw Dendy Coorparoo's Rainbow Retrospective screens on select dates between Thursday, September 24–Wednesday, October 28.
When Ivory Tusk decided to mark International Tequila Day with a very appropriate festival — and celebrate its reopening after Brisbane's lockdowns — the event proved a huge hit. So, it's doing it all over again with Margarita Fest: Take Two. Yes, you know what you'll be drinking here. Taking place from 8pm on Thursday, August 13 — the night before this year's moved Ekka public holiday — it'll feature plenty of tequila, lime and salt. Indeed, five different varieties of margs will be on offer. There'll also be canapes to help line your stomach, plus DJs and live entertainment. Two types of tickets are available, to suit both your budget and your thirst. Nab a 'lime and salt' ticket for $19, and you'll get a margarita on arrival and access to the food. Level up to the 'tuskarita' package for $85, and you'll sip your way through three hours of bottomless margs, plus tuck into more than a few bites to eat. Tickets are on sale now, but it's worth noting that capacity is limited — life isn't quite back to normal just yet. Also, the first event sold out swiftly. So, if you're keep to spend a night downing margaritas, you'll want to get in quick smart. Margarita Fest: Take Two takes place from 8pm on Thursday, August 13 at Ivory Tusk.
If we can celebrate Christmas in July, then we can also do the same for Easter. That's what's on the agenda at Portside Wharf between Monday, July 6–Sunday, July 12, with the inner-north spot breaking out the sweet treats during a week it's dubbing ChocWeek. Chocolate is a year-round treat, after all — and this particular event falls around World Chocolate Day, which takes place on Tuesday, July 7. The choc-filled lineup is hefty, and includes favourite desserts, inventive dishes and everything in-between, with the precinct's cafes and retailers thoroughly getting into the swing of things. Fancy some chocolate nachos and choc churro tacos? A white chocolate and chilli margarita to wash them down with? They're all on the menu. Keen on some chocolate cookies, cream liqueur and sambousek? Dark chocolate cheesecake, Nutella pizza and coconut rough slices? More decadent chocolate cocktails? Thanks to everywhere from the Burrito Bar, Byblos Bar and Mr & Mrs Jones to Cruisers, Gusto da Gianna and Sense of Taste, they're all on offer as well. ChocWeek runs from Monday, July 6–Sunday, July 12 at Portside Wharf. Images: Claudia Baxter.
Every year, The Wickham hosts Little Gay Day. Despite the name, it's a sizeable party — and it doubles as a fundraising event for charities that serve the LGBTQIA+ community. In 2020, however, one day just isn't enough for this sister event to the venue's Big Gay Day . Accordingly, get ready for the Little Gay Long Weekend. From Friday, October 2–Sunday, October 4, the Fortitude Valley spot will throw a huge, socially distanced three-day celebration, which includes live tunes, performances, games, raffles and lucky door prizes. And beverages, obviously, given the location. In total, more than 35 musicians and performers will strut their stuff, including local drag queen legends Vollie La Vont, Tina Bikki and Jana Michelle. Entry is via gold coin donation, with funds going to six charities: Australian Transgender Support Association Qld, Brisbane Pride Festival, Diverse Voices, LGBTI Legal Service, Queensland Aids Council and Open Doors Youth Service Inc. The Wickham's Little Gay Long Weekend runs from Friday, October 2–Sunday, October 4, with entry via gold coin donation.
Usually, a trip to Riverbar and Kitchen involves soaking in quite the watery view. The venue's ace location is referenced right there in its name, after all. But from Wednesday, October 14–Sunday, November 29, that's not the only thing to look at when you're at the Eagle Street Pier spot. That river vista isn't going anywhere, but you'll also be able to enjoy floral installations aplenty. All those flowers are part of the bar's Bramble in Bloom season, which combines fruity cocktails and blossoming great sights. You'll sip, you'll snap photos and you'll see all that spring has to offer, all in the CBD beer garden. Drinks-wise, everything will hero the new blackberry and raspberry-flavoured Bombay Bramble gin, with six different types of cocktails available for between $15–38. Opt for A British Fizz, and you'll also be drinking St Germain elderflower, lime juice, soda and blueberries, while a Wham, Bam, Bram includes strawberry jam, rose syrup, lime juice and a shiraz float. A small food menu is also available, spanning marinated beef skewers; beetroot-cured salmon with cream cheese; and buffalo curd with crispy chickpeas, dukkha and flatbread.
You can never have too much greenery in your life, both inside and outside your house. And, whether you're decking out your interiors or setting up a luxe outdoor hangout zone, you can never have too many homewares either. At least that's what you'll keep telling yourself while you're browsing around The Home Collective, which has made its post-COVID-19 lockdowns return. At its next event, the northside market will be offering up an array of plants, pots, furniture, cushions, art, ceramics, candles and other items that belong in your house or garden. If you're keen for a sneak peek, or some design inspiration, check out the event's Instagram page. That'll motivate you to head along, we're certain. Taking place at the Wavell Heights Community Hall from 8am–12pm on Sunday, October 18, the market will kit out your abode with plenty of choices, with more than 50 stalls ready for you to peruse. Sure, there's an excuse to boost your garden and homewares cred every weekend in Brissie, or so it seems, but you just can't have to much of a good thing. Entry is via gold coin donation, which'll go to the folks at Animal Welfare Queensland. And there'll also be caffeinated beverages from Mana Coffee to help perk up your Sunday morning — plus bites to eat from a range of food trucks.
Already home to an unlimited, highly affordable Saturday afternoon spritz session, The Defiant Duck has just begun slinging another weekend deal that your wallet will love. Saturdays at the Newstead hangout are also now all about $1 tacos — available all day from 11am. Need a cheap lunch? Sorted. Feel your stomach grumbling, but saving your cash for a big night out? Yep, you're sorted too. In money-saving mode while you're working towards that big trip or purchase? You know the answer. And if you're just famously frugal, well, you'll be in heaven. A deal this thrifty always comes with a few caveats, so you'll need to buy at least three tacos, as well as a drink. Of course, we can't see that being a problem for anyone. Who can stop at just one taco? Or even at two? No one, obviously.
Move over, craft beer — it's craft spirits' time to shine. Everyone's been to a day dedicated to the former, but from 1–4pm on Sunday, May 26 you can spend an afternoon with all the whisky, gin and vodka you could ever want with more than 30 exhibitors and master distillers showcasing over 100 craft spirits at 2019's Indie Spirits Tasting. For the fourth time, the Indie Tasting folks are bringing their spirit celebration to Brisbane's Lefty's Old Time Music Hall for the type of event that whiskey, gin, rum, vodka and tequila-lover's dreams are made of. We'd keep listing different kinds of spirits, but we're getting thirsty. Tickets are $55 and not only include samples of the best Aussie and international indie brands on offer, but free bar snacks (hello Leftie's burgers and fries) plus access to seminars across the afternoon too. And for those particularly eager, early bird tickets are available until May 1 for the discounted price of $35.
Variety might be the spice of life, but it seems that alcohol helps spark creativity — at least where Brisbane's art classes are involved. There's no shortage of options; however if you're keen on sketching live models with a beer in your hand, there's one place to head. Milton dive bar The Scratch regularly puts on brew-fuelled sessions, with the next taking place from 10am–12pm on Sunday, November 10 — and with local artist Aaron Micallef overseeing the class. You'll draw the human form, using nude life models as your guide. And, the $20 fee also includes a pot of beer or cider. Yes, Life Drawing and Beer is basically your high school art class, just with an alcoholic beverage. Unsurprisingly, spaces are limited. There'll be a number of art boards supplied, but it's best to bring your own supplies. The Scratch will supply the beer, obviously. Updated October 28.
At Boho Luxe Market (their words, not ours), Byron Bay comes to Brisbane. Well, the beachy New South Wales spot's general vibe does at least. Forgoing the trappings of the city for bohemian fashion, jewellery, homewares and the like is on the market's agenda, and has been in Melbourne for the past few years. In 2019, however, it's bringing a three-day version up north to see if Brisbanites respond well to dreamcatchers and flower crowns. If that sounds like your kind of thing, then block out Friday, June 28 to Sunday, June 30 in your diary. The Boho Luxe Market will head to The Old Museum for a weekend of browsing and buying, food trucks, live music and more. There'll also be a dedicated vegan section, plus a kombi display and glamping providers tempting you into booking your next holiday. Entry costs $2, with kids under 12 allowed in for free. Drop by and pretend you're somewhere quiet and coastal on Friday from 6pm to 10pm, Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
Everybody loves a countdown. Watching rage, voting in Triple J's Hottest 100: they're all Australian traditions. In Brisbane, we love all of the above — and we're also very fond of 4ZZZ's Hot 100. It's the poll voted by locals, celebrating locals and brimming with the best of everything that's hit local airwaves throughout the past year, and it's coming to The Triffid once more. See in the new year with a song (or 100) as the Newstead venue throws its first hangout of 2019. From midday, the entire 100 tracks will be blasted through the Triff with a live broadcast, as you sit, drink, recover or do whatever it is you need to on January 1. There'll be beer, ace tunes and hair-of-the-dog hangover cures aplenty — plus a dunk tank, a 4ZZZ merch stall, and activities for kids until 5pm. Doggos are also welcome until 7pm. Happy 2019 indeed.
The 90s were great. That shouldn't be a controversial opinion. Whether you lived through them or have spent the last couple of decades wishing you did — aka binging on 90s pop culture — this late-night shindig at The Foundry will indulge your retro urges. Drinks, tunes, fashion: expect all of the above at the No Scrubs: 90s and Early 00s party from midnight as Saturday, January 19 becomes Sunday, January 20. Of course, it's up to you to make sure the clothing side of thing is covered, and to get into the spirit of the party. If you want to use Mariah Carey as a style icon, it'd be fitting. Expect to unleash your inner Spice Girl and Backstreet Boy too. TLC, Destiny's Child, Savage Garden, Usher, Blink-182, No Doubt — we'd keep listing artists, but you all know what you're getting yourselves into. Entry costs $10 on the door.
If jungle vibes inside a Coorparoo warehouse sounds like your perfect outing, head along to the Jungle Collective's indoor plant sale on Saturday, February 6 and Sunday, February 7. It's the latest greenery-filled Brissie market from The Jungle Collective, a Melbourne nursery that stocks all kinds of weird and wonderful species. Yes, it is trucking its way up north again for another Queensland venture — and, after hosting plenty of online-only events over the past year, this sale is a 100-percent in-person affair. Whether you're after a hanging pot plant, some palms for the garden or a giant Bird of Paradise, chances are you'll find it here. Have a reputation for killing your cacti? Overwatering your ferns? Don't worry — there'll be horticulturalists on site on the night to give you advice and chat through any questions you might have. Get inspired by greenery aplenty and learn to incorporate plants into your home and living spaces, all while browsing and soaking up some tunes. Jungle Collective is turning this event into a bit of a maze, too, so you'll enter in one spot, wander along a designated path and leave in a completely different area. Best get in quick though — these markets are always popular, with more than 170 different species usually on offer. Due to expected demand, the sale will be held in 30-minute sessions across both days, and attendees will need to register for free tickets in advance. Plus, if you come decked out in at least two items of beach attire (think: inflatables, togs, towels, sunglasses and hats) — and spend at least $10 — you'll also get $5 off your purchase.
International travel may be off the agenda for the time being, but Brisbane's bars have been doing their part to get you in the holiday mood. The latest: Riverbar and Kitchen, which is hosting an Italian-themed pop-up until the end of February. It has also set up a big screen that's showing the Australian Open, so you can combine your cocktails and bites to eat with the latest tennis action. You'll sit beneath umbrellas, grab Peronis from the beer cart, kick back amongst the Amalfi-inspired decor and soak in the river view. And, if you're gathering the gang and pretending you're on vacation, you can sip your way through a shared punch made with beer, Aperol, orange and lemonade. The cocktail range also includes multiple types of spritzes, a new take on the negroni, and a 'Venetian Twist' featuring vodka, Aperol, grapefruit, yuzu and passionfruit. And, you can take your tastebuds to Italy with plates of mushroom arancini with tomato relish, kingfish ceviche with citrus and pink peppercorn, and skewers of prosciutto, melon, tomato and bocconcini. Entry is free, but booking a table in advance is recommended.
Pull out your loose change stash and check under the couch, because one of Paddington's favourite haunts is serving up an impressive weekend deal. Every Saturday, Kettle and Tin is slinging dumplings for $1 a piece. Head on in from 5pm and bring your appetite — and all the gold coins you can find. Choose between pork and chive or vegetable, which both come pan-fried. There is one catch — punters must purchase a full-priced drink to access the $1 dumpling extravaganza. But, given that you'll want something to wash your meal down with, that's hardly a tough or tricky caveat. No bookings are required, so just mosey on in. That said, you might want to reserve a table online anyway in case they're all snatched up when your dumpling craving hits — and because you're also very unlikely to be alone in wanting to take advantage of the $1 deal. Top image: Kettle and Tin.
There's something oh-so-relaxing about staring at the sea, even if you're feasting your eyes on the water via the big screen. That's the concept behind the Ocean Film Festival Australia. You can't always spend all your time at the beach, by the river or in a pool — but you can spend an evening peering at the next best thing in a cinema. From Wednesday, March 24–Sunday, March 27, the festival will unleash a cinematic feast of water-focused wonders onto the silver screen at Brisbane Powerhouse. Sessions screen at 7pm each night, and there's a 2pm matinee on the Saturday as well. Film-wise, viewers will spend time both above and below the ocean's surface thanks to a compilation of shorts from around the world. Expect to chase big waves, explore a range of sea life and get a hefty ocean rush, plus a heap of other sea adventures. The program is united by a love of the ocean, an appreciation of the creatures who dwell in its waters and a curiosity to explore the substance that comprises more than two-thirds of the earth. It's the next best thing to diving in, all without getting wet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo-qXf5sXAw&feature=emb_logo Image: Travis Burke.
