The Cunnamulla Bushlands are perfect for a relaxed wander that puts you amongst the region's incredible natural beauty. This site is divided into ten ecological sections, with a charming one-kilometre walk that ensures you experience each one. Right at the end, you're rewarded with a peaceful place to sit in the wetlands. Here, striking native animals also run wild. You won't have any problem finding kangaroos with Cunnamulla recognised as having one of the largest populations in Queensland. Plus, the area is also known as a great place to see emus taking a stroll. Image: Mark Gillow, Flickr
Across the first half of every year, Brisbanites are invited to descend upon two patches of the city to celebrate unique parts of town. What's better than one street festival celebrating a Brissie neighbourhood? Two, clearly. First comes Stones Corner Festival, which is happening in early May in 2024 — and then, when June hits this year, Teneriffe Festival will unleash its own jam-packed day of fun. Teneriffe Festival was born back in 2010 when the part of Brisbane that's in its moniker was officially named a suburb. A decade and a half later, it's still going strong, with around 50,000 people heading along annually. Accordingly, when 10am–9pm rolls around on Saturday, June 8, there'll be tunes, food, markets and more, all helping locals and visitors alike make the most of the bustling locale. Mark your diaries ASAP. Then, get excited about The Cat Empire and Thundamentals leading the music lineup. Who'll they'll be joined by is yet to be revealed, but this fest is serious about its tunes. 2023's event featured The Potbelleez and Screamfeeder, for instance, while 2022's welcomed Ben Lee and Resin Dogs to Vernon Terrace. "We're so excited to be bringing the Teneriffe Festival back for another year. Unfortunately, 2024 has already seen huge challenges in the festival industry across Australia and internationally," said Teneriffe Festival Chairman Michael Wilkins. "This year we are prioritising exciting acts and activations and have so much more to share in coming weeks. Our announcement today of two major Australian bands, The Cat Empire and Thundamentals, being on board for 2024 is an exciting first step." "We are a local community festival who celebrate the rich heritage and diverse culture Teneriffe has to offer, and we're so honoured to have the continuing support from our locals and partners who are working with us to ensure the legacy of the Teneriffe Festival stays true for years to come." While the rest of the lineup is yet to be unveiled, stints of dancing in the street are always joined by plenty of opportunities to eat and drink. The area's bars and restaurants get in on the action, food trucks serve up their own feasts and markets sling plenty of wares. Past years have seen a jazz-fuelled, wine-pouring riverside garden and a pop-up beer garden also on offer. Tickets are now on sale for 2024's festival, with more details set to be announced as the event gets closer. Teneriffe Festival 2024 takes place from 10am–9pm on Saturday, June 8 on Vernon Terrace, Teneriffe, with tickets on sale now. Head to the festival's website for further details.
It has been over a month since Doughnut Time opened a new store in Brisbane, if you pastry-munching fiends can believe it. Don't worry, the city's favourite source of glazed, filled sweet treats isn't slowing down what seems to be a quest to put one of their shops within walking distance of every Brissie resident. And if you don't want to take our word for it, just make your way to Everton Park on 27 August. That's when the northern suburb's own Doughnut Time outlet will unleash its doughy snacks upon the hungry masses — and offer everyone free orbs of goodness from 10am to 12pm to mark the occasion, of course. Founder Damian Griffiths chose the new location because he knows that Brisbanites everywhere want to gorge on inventive creations like the Home Alone (with milk chocolate glaze, wafers, a Kit Kat and dark chocolate glaze drizzle) or the Bling Ring (with lemon sherbet glaze, vanilla meringue and rainbow sprinkles), even those who aren't regularly in the vicinity of the CBD. The new store comes hot on the heels of recent openings in East Brisbane in July and King George Square in June, and brings the brand's total to ten in Queensland and 23 Australia-wide. Yes, more are planned in the coming months. Yes, someone really ought to make our April Fool's Day gag a reality and build a giant monument to this delicious dessert. Find Doughnut Time at Shop 1, 791 Stafford Road, Everton Park from 27 August, or check out their website and Facebook page for more information.
Listening to a song, discovering a musician for the first time and feeling like they're speaking directly to you: it's a moment that everyone can relate to. It's also the premise for Blinded by the Light, a new coming-of-age movie which wowed this year's Sundance Film Festival with its enormous love of Bruce Springsteen. The Boss' tunes don't just feature on the film's soundtrack (17 of them, in fact). They actually inspired the entire flick, jukebox musical-style. It's based on the experiences of Springsteen-obsessed journalist Sarfraz Manzoor, with the Pakistan-born British broadcaster also co-writing the script, which is set in 80s-era England at the height of Thatcherism. He's no ordinary fan, either, having seen the denim-loving singer perform live more than 150 times. Narrative-wise, Blinded by the Light follows 16-year-old Javed (film newcomer Viveik Kalra), whose life changes when he's given a couple of Bruce's cassette tapes. You could say he's born to run, feels like he's on fire and is suddenly dancing in the dark — but, used to being under his strict parents' watch and being an outcast at school, he just finds hope in the music of a rocker from New Jersey. In the director's and co-writer's chair sits someone with a background in cross-culture teen-focused Brit pictures, Bend It Like Beckham filmmaker Gurinder Chadha. Plus, as well as Kalra, the film stars Hayley Atwell, Sally Phillips and Rob Bryden. If Blinded by the Light sounds a little like another feel-good, 80s-set, music-fuelled, high school-oriented British standout from a few years back, Sing Street, that's definitely not a bad thing. Tap your toes along to the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ond9SLcHX4Q Blinded by the Light screens at this year's Sydney Film Festival, then releases in cinemas around Australia on August 22.
A move across town brings with it all kinds of suburban dilemmas. Where will I buy my morning coffee? Where is the nearest chemist? Where am I going to go to get Thai food? Given that most Brisbane neighbourhoods contain more than one restaurant that specialises in this particular cuisine, you try them all once, pick your favourite and stick with it. The convenience and ubiquity of Thai is such that so long as a certain threshold of quality is met, you're satisfied. If you happen to leave the area, rarely does loyalty to the local Thai place transcend suburban borders. Of the many Thai restaurants in Brisbane, there are few for which people will travel. My Thai is of this minority. The highly popular, fully licensed (BYO wine only) establishment has graced Auchenflower for over 20 years. Dining in is a pleasure — the interior is lush, colours are deep, the lighting rich. Though there are some familiar final touches: each plate is topped with a folded paper serviette crown. Offering more than the usual go-tos of green curry and tom yum goong (though fret not, they do feature), the menu's diversity encourages diners to embrace variety. Handmade entrees include the hor tong: a golden parcel of crispy wonton pastry filled with water chestnuts, ground chicken and fresh herbs and spices served with a tangy sauce ($9.90). The Tofu My Thai (steamed tofu with chilli paste, tamarind, fried shallots, coriander and peanuts, $21.90) is an enticing flavour combination. A page of their menu is dedicated to 'Special Dishes' and from this list it is hard to resist the festive Big Pineapple, a pineapple 'boat' stuffed with a fried rice of pineapple pieces, peas, sliced chicken breast, tiger prawns, egg and sultanas topped with cashew nuts and coriander leaves ($29.90). If you're not full by this time, some tapioca pudding or black sticky rice will finish you off.
Vampires can be slain by staking them in the heart. Werewolves aren't fond of silver bullets. But Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement's addition to the undead world can't and won't be killed — not that anyone would want that outcome. First, What We Do in the Shadows jumped from a short film to a hilarious feature-length comedy. Next, it not only inspired a US television remake, which has been renewed for a season season, but New Zealand television spinoff Wellington Paranormal. And in the latter's case, following an exceptionally amusing six-episode first season, it's returning to Australian screens for its 13-episode second season this month. We've said it before, and we'll say it again: trust a mockumentary about the undead to keep coming back in new guises. The Cops-style spinoff follows police officers Karen O'Leary and Mike Minogue, who WWDITS fans might remember came knocking at the vampire share house's door. With the help of Sergeant Maaka (Maaka Pohatu), the cop duo keep trying to keep the city safe from supernatural happenings — including not only bloodsuckers and lycanthropes, but ghosts, aliens and more. Wellington Paranormal's second season once again explores the spate of paranormal phenomena popping up in the city, with a whole heap of new spooky occurrences attracting O'Leary, Minogue and Maaka's attention. The season starts with sea monsters — and a very high-profile cameo from Clarke Gaylord, partner of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern — and stays in strange but funny and silly territory from there. In Australia, Wellington Paranormal's first batch of episodes screened on SBS Viceland and was available to stream on SBS On Demand, and that's the case again this year. Episodes will drop weekly on both the free-to-air channel and the online platform from Thursday, November 28. For those following What We Do in the Shadows' continued evolution, Wellington Paranormal's success shouldn't come as a surprise. When the show was first revealed, Waititi described it as "Mulder & Scully but in a country where nothing happens" on Twitter, after all. Wellington Paranormal's second season starts screening on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand from Thursday, November 28.
Singapore is a haven for food lovers. You've got some of the world's finest restaurants (52 have at least one Michelin Star), plus countless hawker centres full of street food stalls serving fresh and tasty local dishes at incredibly low prices. Spectacular local restaurants and bars are also scattered all over the country. That's why we decided to create this one-of-a-kind food-filled Singapore holiday in partnership with Singapore Tourism Board and celebrity chef Nelly Robinson from Sydney restaurant NEL. It is a seriously special getaway, taking place from June 16–19. During the exclusive holiday, you'll stay in the luxurious Pan Pacific Singapore (located in the heart of the city) for three nights and spend a full day with Chef Nelly Robinson — going to some of the places which inspired his latest 'Taste of Singapore' menu. [caption id="attachment_864487" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Danny Santos[/caption] On the Saturday, you'll go on a unique three-hour food tour of Chinatown, hitting up a few local dining spots as well as the famous Chinatown Complex Food Centre — Singapore's largest hawker centre. You'll then spend all of Sunday with Chef Nelly. First off, he'll join you for a private cookery class led by Singapore cooking personality, Ruqxana Vasanwala (in her own backyard kitchen). This is an incredibly rare opportunity to cook with Chef Nelly himself. After eating your hard work for lunch, head to Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie for a special chocolate tasting. You'll try the bean-to-bar tasting set which showcases the team's sustainability efforts in using all parts of the cacao tree. What's next? After recharging back at the hotel for a short while, guests will go to Hopscotch for avant-garde cocktails before having dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant, Labyrinth. It will be one magnificent day full of local food and drinks — with a famous chef, known for his bold and creative Sydney degustation menus, joining you for the ride. During the unique getaway, you'll also have the opportunity to explore Singapore at your own leisure, receiving a handful of recommendations from us. [caption id="attachment_892008" align="alignnone" width="1904"] Hopscotch[/caption] Head to the Concrete Playground Trips website to book your spot on this exclusive culinary journey in Singapore with Chef Nelly Robinson, taking place from June 16–19. But hurry, only a limited number of tickets are available. Images: Singapore Tourism Board
Ever wanted to see your favourite bands kick a few goals, and help support a good cause at the same time? For more than a quarter-century, the Reclink Community Cup has been turning musos into footy players for an annual charity Aussie rules match. Before the pandemic, the Melbourne game would draw more than 10,000 people and raise over $100,000 each year. Sydney's match had been going strong for years too — and the cup finally came to Brisbane in 2016. Now, for Brisbanites, the Reclink Community Cup is back again for another round. Come Sunday, July 25, the city's music community will descend upon Enoggera Memorial Park to put their sporting prowess to the test. Two teams will take to the field: The Rocking Horses, featuring players from an array of Brissie acts; and the Brisbane Lines, filled with a crew of journos, industry staff general music-related folks. The complete list of exactly who'll take to the field for both groups hasn't yet been revealed, but members of The Church, WAAX, Dead Letter Circus, Birds of Tokyo, Babaganouj, Sweater Curse and Velociraptor will fall into the first camp. Usually, staff from 4ZZZ, the ABC, Double J, street press, Oztix and QMusic make up the opposition team. The Community Cup isn't just about getting another dose of the live AFL action, though (as ace as the prospect of more footy always is). Given that rock stars are involved, live music is part of the proceedings as well, with Beddy Rays, Melaleuca and The Double Happiness on the bill this year. And, food-wise, expect food trucks ready to fill your ravenous stomachs. Watching bands play both music and footy is hungry work, after all. Every dollar raised from ticketing goes towards Reclink's efforts to improve the lives of Queenslanders suffering from disability, homelessness, substance abuse and economic hardship through participation in sport and the arts. Yep, whoever emerges victorious from the game, a heap of deserving folks will be the real winners. Images: Allan Allport.
Brisbanites, if you've been seeing this fair town of ours in a completely different light over the past year, that's to be expected. After spending so much time at home and indoors during the city's multiple lockdowns, even the most familiar spots around the place look a little different. So, you're probably paying them more attention than usual. While you're peering around the place with fresh eyes (or what feels like them, at least), you might just spy some great art. Brisbane City Council runs a free outdoor gallery program, with Sunny Side Up currently brightening up a heap of public spaces — and pondering Brissie's sunny and subtropical identity in the process. Also part of the exhibition, which runs until Sunday, April 18: the Sunny Side Up Treasure Hunt. It takes place from 2–5pm on Saturday, April 10 and it's exactly what it sounds like, with Brisbanites asked to race around town on an augmented reality scavenger quest. You'll roam around the city, find six AR works via the Eye Jack app, and even discover your final treasure hunt location there, too. Once you've hit the end, if you're one of the first 100 people, you'll win a limited-edition artwork by Jordan Azcune. Everyone enters the draw for a $150 Museum of Brisbane shop voucher as well. As you're jumping from place to place across the city, you'll be seeing pieces by Azcune, as well as by Monica Rohan, Charlie Hillhouse, Julia Scott Green, Parallel Park, Phoebe Paradise, Holly Anderson, Kinly Grey, Amelia Hine and Hailey Atkins. They're all emerging Brisbane artists under the age of 35, and the whole show has been curated by fellow up-and-comers Alex Holt and Sarah Thomson. It's all free, obviously, and includes everything from photography, sculpture and video to animation and illustration. Fish Lane, Edward Street, Irish Lane, Queen Street — they're just some of the places to head to.
Sibling rivalries and scandalous family secrets come bubbling to the surface following the death of a Moroccan business man, in this amusing and insightful (if mostly predictable) comic drama set at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea. Heavily indebted to the collected works of Jane Austen, the new film from writer-director Laila Marrakchi distinguishes itself via a purposeful sense of cultural specificity within a more broadly relatable story. Rock the Casbah offers some shrewd observations into a society caught between the Islamic world and the West, particularly in regards to the role of women. At the same, Marrakchi's portrayal of familial dysfunction feels so maddeningly familiar that you'd swear it all took place around your parents' dining room table. Born in Casablanca but educated abroad, one imagines that Marrakchi feels a certain connectedness with her protagonist Sofia (Morjana Alaoui), the youngest daughter of wealthy Tangier businessman who now works as an actress in Hollywood. She's the only member of her family to have left Morocco, and as such, finds herself feeling decidedly out of place when she returns home to attend her father's funeral. Amidst the gossip and judgements of her sisters Miriam (Nabine Labaki) and Kenza (Lubna Azabal) and the cold stoicism of her mother Aicha (Hiam Abbass), Sofia is forced to confront her strained relationship with her late father, as well as the demons surrounding the suicide of her other sister, Leila, under mysterious circumstances years before. The film's opening titles established the contradiction of Tangiers, as women in conservative religious garb relax on the beach alongside others in bikinis. Although still governed by long-standing patriarchal traditions, there's a sense that the country's value structures are becoming increasingly outdated. Marrakchi, an outspoken feminist, laces her mannered domestic comedy with no shortage of scathing social criticism, including a contemptuous portrait of a deadbeat uncle who stands to inherit the family fortune simply because he's a man. Nor does she show any qualms in calling out the exaggerated assumptions many westerners have about the Muslim world: one of the great recurring jokes of the film revolves around Sofia's inability to find an acting job playing anything other than a terrorist. The film is at its best when poking fun at cultural stereotypes such as these. Even as religious men prepare the deceased man's body for burial, his crotchety old mother-in-law chows down on a McDonald's value meal in the other room. We watch the sisters drink like fish, joking and giggling about sex. Likewise, we watch them argue, bitterly and without any sense of decorum. In other words, they're a family, probably a lot like your own. Loud. Judgmental. But mostly brutally, agonisingly honest. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Zud2_-im5aM
It's official, Australia is going to be reppin' the glitter cannons, human-sized hamster wheels and furious fog machines at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest. This morning, Australia has been announced as one of the competing countries for this year's contest, and we're even allowed back next year — if we win. Too kind. Australians will even be able to vote, probably at some whack hour of the day. Making a world stage of Vienna this time around, Eurovision is taking place from May 20 to 24, with the final exploding all over Stadthalle arena on May 23. So who's going to be our shining star, our glittering messenger to an estimated global audience of 195 million? Not Jessica Mauboy, who performed in last year's event with weird astronauts and dancers in budgie smugglers. Nope. While SBS is suggesting AC/DC and Midnight Oil (and Olivia Newtown John for some ungodly reason), we've got a few pitches of our own to make. Eurovision is about simultaneously bringing new faces to the world and earning ner-ner-ner-ner bragging rights for your country. Finland dressed up as orcs and played epic metal. Moldova danced in a circle with weird cone hats on. Germany put a disco Genghis Khan on stage. Let's show 'em. DONNY BENET If you've ever seen this Sydney maestro of groove live, you'll know Europe wouldn't be able to resist his seductive synthy basslines, sax solos and crisp white tuxedo jackets. If Benet had been the brains behind France's 'Moustache' track last year, they'd have earned a few more points. KIRIN J CALLINAN Because if we're going to meet the quirk of Eurovision halfway, we need Kirin. Things would undoubtedly get freaky. Plus, he'd give Conchita Wurst's beard a run for its money. CLIENT LIAISON Monte Morgan and Harvey Miller would 'Feed the Rhythm' inside 12 easy points from Malta with their applaudable live show. Plus, Monte wears a lot of mesh and Eurovision loves mesh. SIA The Grammy nominee would get 12 points for vocal range or oversized wig alone, but she'd probably bring along her dancetastic buddy Maddie Ziegler who would seal the deal. BLUEJUICE Get the band back together, bring the skipping ropes back on stage and channel all that newfound Boyz II Men goodness. TKAY MAIDZA Look, the kid's bloody talented, super fun live and if we could win Eurovision with a teenage rapper from Adelaide, we'd run the world. BRENDAN MCLEAN Certified king of dancing like no-one's watching, primed for the Eurostage after jigworthy escapades such as this killer video. UPDATE 11/2: Well, well, well. A dark horse joins the race. There's now a huge surge in support for a petition on Change.org, calling for the reunion of landmark Australian rock band TISM specifically to represent Australia at Eurovision 2015. "Since you left us in 2004, we've had a never ending parade of gormless depressing electro-indie, depressing indie-folk, and depressing Aussie hip-hop," say the petitioners. "We the undersigned, ask that you get on stage in front of the world and remind them of just how great Australian music is." They're up to over 500 signatures already. Want to add yours? Nominated by the Concrete Playground team.
Have you seen your wardrobe/floordrobe lately? Do you have any idea how many potential outfits you are carelessly throwing away or are using as pajamas? Scoop up your old clothes and let Kelly Doust turn those no-hopers into show-stoppers. For anyone who's ever watched any of the morning shows (hey, we all do it, we just don’t talk about it), will know of Kelly Doust's amazing ability to wave her magic wand and transform daggy outfits into one-of-a-kind pieces, as well as simultaneously being the resident crafts person. There are many duds on these programs, but Kelly ain’t. She is even endorsed by Dita Von Teese and has been published in Vogue, which is nothing to sniff at. Anyone who loves arts and crafts, being creative, or simply learning how to style themselves will cherish the opportunity to meet the self-dubbed Crafty Minx in all her glory. The Crafty Minx is will be at Avid Reader this Friday and encourages you to bring along a piece of clothing that you can't bear to give away so that she can breathe new life into it. Think of her as the Dress Doctor and make sure your dress gets the care it deserves!
From clowns to furry critters to dolls, 80s and 90s pop culture drew plenty of scares from childhood staples. Decades later, Hollywood is conjuring up plenty more by bringing it all back again. With the IT remake not only working a charm back in 2017, but releasing a star-studded sequel later this year, the folks behind it are reviving another old favourite: Child's Play. While the horror franchise released its last instalment, Cult of Chucky, as recently as 2017, the new Child's Play is starting all over again. Remaking the original 1989 movie, it'll re-introduce the world to the psychopathic flame-haired plaything with a lust for murder. This time, the toy will terrorise Aubrey Plaza, who plays a young mother to a son who comes into possession of the knife-wielding doll. Whether you've seen any of the seven other Chucky flicks or are too creeped out by the idea to watch, you can probably guess where the story goes — this time, however, the murderous plastic moppet has been updated for the 21st century. And if you're excited about the character's comeback, then you'll be just as excited to know that even more is in store, with a Child's Play TV series also in the works. Check out the unsettling first trailer for the new Child's Play movie below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFy8ZgLd574 Child's Play releases in Australian cinemas on June 20, 2019.
An antihero in a spiral of self-destruction? Here we go again. In The Gambler, Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) descends into a dangerous gambling addiction from privileged heights, risking more than most people dream of. He comes from a rich family and has a plum associate professor job teaching literature. He also has two big debts to the type of people you don’t want to owe money to, is thinking about taking on a third and walks around scowling beneath his sunglasses. A good guy with good vibrations Jim is not, as his put-upon mother (Jessica Lange) would confirm. He isn’t anything special either, as he admits in rants on genius to his students — including star pupil Amy (Brie Larson) — about his failed novelist career. His story has been seen before, quite literally given that the film remakes the 1974 movie of the same name. And yet, there’s something fascinating about Jim, The Gambler, the drifting and grifting, and the overall mood of just not giving a damn. Perhaps it is seeing Wahlberg as a different type of character, relying on looks and glances rather than muscle and weapons. He’s more than a step away from the well-intentioned heroes he usually plays. He is also paired well with The Wire’s Michael Kenneth Williams and John Goodman, both standouts as two of the formidable loan sharks trying to collect their cash. It isn’t a coincidence that Marky Mark does his best work with conflicted protagonists caught in dubious situations; think Boogie Nights and the more recent Pain & Gain. He may not show the depths of compulsion others have managed, but he convinces as someone given every advantage and opportunity to make the right choice, yet constantly, selfishly and damagingly, opting otherwise. Also effective is Rupert Wyatt’s direction, a clear change of pace from making Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The script, by The Departed’s William Monahan, relies on the gimmick of time, giving Jim seven days to settle up or get killed, but Wyatt’s ‘70s-influenced look and feel — favouring patient pacing, wide spaces and lingering moments — helps patch over a story that’s often more than a bit too convenient. The Gambler isn’t without its troubles, almost unforgivingly furnishing Larson and Lange with little to do, their talents wasted on their slight roles. The film also hits the audience over the head with its blunt themes and a few silly twists, not to mention heavy-handed music cues. Pulp’s Common People as Larson’s supposedly normal Amy walks along campus? A choral rendition of Radiohead’s Creep as Wahlberg’s Jim ponders his actions? We get it. There’s a reason that antihero stories just keep on coming, feeding viewer interest in complicated folks in tricky situations. The Gambler may not sell everything about its scenario, but it embraces its grating character and its familiar circumstances with style and assurance. Like Jim, the film goes all in, never playing it safe or hedging its bets. There are worse things to take a punt on.
When it comes to food events, there's nothing quite like the Sunnybank $2 Food Trail. It's all there in the name, with the Brisbane suburb's shopping hub becoming a diner's delight in the most affordable fashion. Think of it as the ultimate self-guided foodie adventure, for nothing more than spare change — and with around 22,000 people taking part. So how does it work? Between 2–8pm on Saturday, July 14, you'll walk between more than 45 local cafes and restaurants, all at your own pace. From chicken katsu and wontons to mochi ice cream and bubble tea, every participating eatery will feature a range of authentic Asian cuisines. You'll feast on Chinese, Japanese, Hong Kong-style, Vietnamese, Korean and Taiwanese dishes, and you'll only pay $2 per tasting plate. With such an array of steaming soups and sizzling stir-fries on offer, we don't recommend eating lunch first; in fact, you'd best arrive feeling as hungry as possible. Snacking on signature dishes is the main course — or several — but there's also plenty of non-edible appetisers, too. Enjoy some live music at five busking stations, watch lion dancers and and check out the roaming entertainment as you feast and wander, adding the perfect garnish to every meal by setting the mood. Updated June 24.
Sydney boys DMA's really just popped out of nowhere with some a-grade jams, Gallagher-esque vocals and the kind of talent that’s had critics and fans alike screaming, “Where have you been all my life?” Their debut song 'Delete' swept across social media, and radio waves like the bubonic plague, and pushed listeners into feverish chills, but only for all the right reasons. With soft and comfortably breezy tunes that could rival Alex Turner’s solo work, DMA's are Australia’s answer to Brit-rock, and they have the wardrobe of Adidas to match. They’ve already been secured on this year’s Splendour in the Grass bill, and have a bunch of other ballads like 'Feels like 37' and 'The Plan', you can bet your bottom dollar will be turning heads in weeks to come. Now, under band management demi-gods I Oh You (DZ Deathrays, Violent Soho), and with a self-titled EP already on record store shelves, DMA's are doing the East Coast circuit to show off the stuff that’s had everyone on every scene raving. Brisbane buddies Major Leagues and The Furrs will be sharing the spotlight – prepare to be stunned by the musical talent that will treacle through each slot set. All Sydney and Melbourne shows have already sold out, and its likely Brisbane’s Black Bear show will follow suit. You should grab some tickets right now, before they’re bigger than Oasis.
If popular culture-inspired tights, skater dresses, catsuits, shorties and gymwear are your kinds of threads, then you're probably a fan of BlackMilk Clothing. The Brisbane fashion label has been improving wardrobe options for years now, including via its super-popular Star Wars and Harry Potter lines. Before the pandemic, it was also well-known for its sample sales; however, they've been on hold for the past few years. Until now, that is, with BlackMilk busting out a heap of discounted items from 7am–1pm on Saturday, June 4. First, make some room in your cupboard. Then, head over to The Joinery in West End for this hefty sale. Previously sold-out pieces, limited-edition styles and one-off designs will all be up for grabs, plus other samples in all sizes. Whether you like BlackMilk's colour choices, designer fabrics, hand-drawn prints or those licensed pop-culture collabs, there'll be plenty to choose from. Given BlackMilk's following, expect to have company while you shop. Actually, the fact that nothing will cost over $35 is also certain to draw a crowd.
Across 2021's cooler months, locations around Australia will transform into winter wonderlands, celebrating the chilly season in all of its frosty glory. From May through until September, The Winter Village is returning after its debut run in Melbourne two years back — with Brisbane's debut visit taking place at Northshore Hamilton's Riverfront Event Space in Brisbane from Thursday, June 3–Sunday, August 29;. Modelled on your typically picturesque European winter market — and giving Aussies a taste of a winter experience that we don't really have otherwise — The Winter Village comes complete with an ice rink, an igloo village, daily snow showers, and a food and drink lineup. Think of it as your quaint wintery escape in the very heart of Brissie. Attendees will be able to dust off their skates and hit the ice, and hire a private igloo where you can wine and dine in cosy solace — either with up to five people in a smaller space, or in a six-metre-wide igloo that can cater for 14. Folks spending their time in The Winter Village's igloos will feast on grazing plates of chips, dips, mini pretzels, cured meats, fried chicken bites, mac 'n' cheese croquettes and more, drink their choice of wine or beer, and tuck into a chocolate ice cream sandwich for dessert. That's the $49 package, with the $69 option including espresso martini-flavoured chocolate fudge dipping sauce, berries, brownies, marshmallows, cookies and your choice of an Aperol spritz, espresso martini, wine or beer. Or, get festive over brunch instead — which includes a 45-minute skate session and a meal afterwards for $35. There'll also be pop-up bars and outdoor seating throughout the village, should you be keen on heading along without spending time in an igloo. The latest venture from hospitality group Australian Venue Co, the frozen oasis will be open daily and free to enter — from 11am–10pm Monday–Thursday, 11am–12am Friday, 10am–12am Saturday and 10am–10pm Sunday. That said, ice skating, igloo hire and a couple of winter warming beverages will obviously come at a cost. Top images: Mazloum J.
Since May this year, W Brisbane's Living Room Bar has been giving the city a world-best experience. For the past six months, it's been teaming up with Spain's Paradiso to serve up the Barcelona watering hole's top-notch tipples — drinks from a venue that, after placing third in 2021, has just taken out top spot on the World's 50 Best Bars list for 2022. Yes, these literally are the planet's best cocktails. As well as sipping them, which Brisbanites can still do, you can also now learn how to make them. At three two-hour sessions over two days — at 5pm on Thursday, October 27, and then at 11.30am and 5pm on Sunday, October 30; take your pick — the Paradiso x W Brisbane masterclass will teach you everything you need to know to whip up quite the impressive beverages. Paradiso's expert mixologist Gianluca Bosso is heading to Brisbane for the sessions, which'll show attendees how to make three of Paradiso's signature cocktails step by step. That spans finding out about the unique ingredients used and the techniques that go into each drink — making edible foam cloud included. These classes will cost you a pretty penny, aka $259 per person, but you'll also be mixing up drinks in W Brisbane's level-33 penthouse suite (the Extreme WOW Suite), which comes with killer views. After that, the session moseys down to Living Room Bar, where you'll tuck into a degustation menu and taste a bespoke Paradiso x W Brisbane cocktail, too. And, you won't go home empty-handed thanks to a cocktail recipe card and a Woodford Reserve Bourbon gift set to keep.
Whether your university days are long behind you or you're still living the studying life, it's time to hit campus and stack up your reading list. From Friday, April 28–Monday, May 1, the UQ Alumni Book Fair returns to the University of Queensland with bargains for everyone — more than 110,000 pre-loved books, magazines, records, CDs, DVDs, sheet music and more are up for sale, in fact, plus other pre-loved items. That pile is so hefty that everything is sorted into 400-plus categories. If you're looking for a reason to head to UQ Centre in St Lucia to browse and buy, that massive range is one mighty big drawcard. Here's another: prices start from the bargain amount of $1. Indeed, you'll pay more for a cuppa while you peruse. There'll be food trucks and a coffee cart on-site to keep your energy up. On Saturday, April 29, the fair is also hosting a family day with activities for young readers. Looking for something rare? Have a bit of cash to splash? On Friday, April 28, the Rare Book Auction will take place, with over 150 books to bid on. And, in the lead up, running from Wednesday, April 26–Friday, April 28, Patina at Alumni Court is cooking up dishes from two such cookbooks on the auction list. The UQ Alumni Book Fair runs from 9am–9pm on Friday, 9am–5pm Saturday–Sunday and 9am–3pm on Monday. Whenever you head along and whatever you purchase, you'll be doing someone a solid, with the fair raising money for scholarships to support UQ students.
Nestled in Eagle Lane, and one of the CBD's go-to music spots, Brooklyn Standard likes things live, loud and boozy. The bar and venue is making over its Tuesday night lineup, however, so you won't just be enjoying tunes — you'll be playing musical bingo. Giving your gran's favourite game a shake up has been a big trend over the past few years, and is the whole reason the term 'bingo rave' now exists. This weekly bingo evening won't have you waiting for the beat to drop and waving around glow sticks, but you will be listening to a killer soundtrack while you mark off your bingo card. Hosted by drag stars Stefani Stefani and Henny Spaghetti, Brooklyn Standard's Musical Bingo nights kick off on Tuesday, December 7, with seatings at 7pm for a 7.30pm start, and tickets costing $10 per person. Each week will feature a different theme, so you could be playing bingo to rock tunes one evening, then stamping along to party bangers the next. And, as for prizes, they'll come in the form of bar tabs. Yes, if you've got a drink in your hand, this'll also be boozy musical bingo.
UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 — Yarra Valley Chocolaterie's 31-flavour hot chocolate boxes will now be available to order in September until the end of lockdown. Victoria's Hot Chocolate Festival is back again this August. And, this time, it's bringing the decadence to you. To save Melburnians from these blustery days, Yarra Valley Chocolaterie is churning out boxes filled with 31 hot chocolate flavours. Fan favourite flavours like Tim Tam Slam and Golden Nutella Spoon will be included in the box, along with the more adventurous likes of If You Like Piña Colada, Zingy Chilli, Cherry Matcha and Movie Night, which comes with choc-coated popcorn and marshmallow choc top. You can check out all 31 flavours here. All limited-edition hot chocolates come with an extra shot of hot couverture chocolate and handcrafted marshmallow, too. Plus, some of the highlights arrivewith exploding marshmallows, melting chocolate discs and truffle balls. If the 31-flavour pack is a little much (or a little too expensive, at $160), you can also order a pick-and-mix 16-flavour box ($92) and individual varieties for $6.50 a pop. The boxes are available to order until the end of lockdown and there's a flat-rate shipping fee of $15 to anywhere in Australia.
You might have thought King George Square looked pretty fine during the day and maybe a tad finer at night, but it's at twilight City Hall really shows off its colours. And what better backdrop when you're shopping the evening away — especially when the King George is filled with some of Brisbane's best designers and makers. The regular Brisbane Twilight Market shows off a sizeable array of stalls — more than 80, in fact — all staffed by some pretty nifty and talented local artists. Returning for 2020, the event will host an eclectic selection of items, so prepare to browse and buy. You'll be perusing everything from handmade clothing, accessories and leather goods to paper goods, homewares, art and ceramics (and more). This market is all about sound, smell and sales — so live music will provide a soundtrack to the evening, and expect to be hit with that spring flowerbed smell that always lingers when there's a soap stall around. Food stalls are also on the agenda, with 2020's slate of markets held on Friday, August 28, Friday, September 25 and Friday, October 30. Each event runs from 4–9pm, so take along some cash and stock up on all things crafty. [caption id="attachment_753580" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brisbane City Council[/caption] Top image: BrisStyle.
Two quintessential Aussie summertime treats are coming together in delicious harmony this week — and if you're quick, you can taste-test the clever fusion for free. The gelato maestros at Messina have teamed up with celebrated wine label Brown Brothers to create a limited-edition prosecco rosé gelato. The icy-cool creation features all the vibrant watermelon and strawberry notes of Brown Brothers' signature prosecco rosé, mixed with bellini-inspired elements like blood peach and lychee cream to form a cooling, creamy gelato blend that's primed for a balmy summer's day. And, since the gelato itself has no alcohol content, it's a treat that everyone can enjoy. But like most Messina creations, this beauty is here for a good time, not a long time. If you're keen to get your mitts on the rosé gelato, you'll find complimentary scoops being handed out at Westfield Chermside shopping centre from 12pm — and only while stocks last — on Saturday, January 29.
When Sofia Coppola won this year's best director prize at Cannes, it was only the second time a woman had claimed the category in the festival's 71 outings. Nominated for the same award at the 2003 Oscars, she became only the third female to even get a nod (Kathryn Bigelow's history-making win for The Hurt Locker was still six years away). As a female filmmaker – even one who is part of a Hollywood dynasty – Coppola exists a world where women are trapped by circumstances beyond their control, but remain determined to break free of their confines. It's little wonder that her movies concern characters doing the same, depicting their struggles in astute, impassioned, eye-catching fashion. Inquisitive minds and longing hearts striving to shatter gilded cages: this is Coppola's cinematic specialty. It proved true with The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette, Somewhere and The Bling Ring – indeed, if someone once told Coppola to show what she knows, it would appear that she took their advice and ran with it. With The Beguiled, she adds the inhabitants of a civil war-era girls school to her growing squad of ladies seeking something other than the life they've been saddled with. To her resume, she adds a handsome period piece that doubles as a scathing satire. In the second big screen version of Thomas P. Cullinan's novel A Painted Devil (following a 1971 Clint Eastwood vehicle), the violence of the civil war finds the women of Miss Farnsworth's Seminary for Young Ladies left to their own devices. Headmistress Martha (Nicole Kidman) runs a tight ship, with teacher Edwina Morrow (Kirsten Dunst) assisting, giving pupils such as Amy (Oona Laurence), Jane (Angourie Rice) and Alicia (Elle Fanning) life and needlework lessons. Then wounded Union soldier Corporal John McBurney (Colin Farrell) wanders into the school grounds, forcing the group to reluctantly do the Christian thing by letting him rest and recuperate before they turn him in. The expression "a fox in the henhouse" might seem to apply here, as stereotype-reinforcing as it can be. But Coppola doesn't let a predator loose; rather, she uses an outsider as a catalyst to show just what lurks inside her dollhouse. That said, the eyebrow-arching Kidman, yearning Dunst and flirtatious Fanning are much, much more than mere playthings for the film and their gentleman guest, although that doesn't stop him from trying to worm his way into their hearts and nightgowns. Beneath the school's meticulous veneer, the women react to the sudden male presence in their midst, with desire cutting both ways (sometimes literally). The result is a smart, savvy exploration of lust and power in the long-running battle of the sexes. It's also a film that refuses to conform to expectations, just like its protagonists. While every inch the Coppola movie (complete with music by Phoenix), The Beguiled is as much a genre flick about the interplay of sex and violence as it is a nuanced drama about restraint, a textured character study of its fenced-in figures, and a razor-sharp comedy of manners. Within her candle-lit, painterly frames springs a feature that couldn't be more alluring yet tenacious and rebellious, nor more appropriately so. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxUXvbqgdN0
In 2015, Brisbane celebrated the arrival of a new film festival. In 2016, the boutique, curated fest doubled in size. Marking its third year in 2017, Queensland Film Festival is back and once again bigger than ever, serving up an 11-day cinema showcase complete with 62 features and shorts, including 46 Australian premieres. Taking place from July 13 to 23, QFF 2017 boasts straight-from-Cannes hits, local flicks, tributes to Australian hits and a festival-first collaboration with Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, in what's shaping up to be a feast of filmic fun. Indeed, the event kicks off with Hong Sang-soo's Claire's Camera, which doesn't only hit Brisbane fresh from the biggest film fest in the world, but is set there as well, starring this year's Oscar nominee Isabelle Huppert. Bookending the fest is Gillian Armstrong's 1982 comedy-musical Starstruck, with the iconic Aussie director in attendance. In between, the lineup of films — which will largely screen at QFF's long-term home of New Farm Cinemas — will deliver the kind of eclectic array of international cinema that you won't see elsewhere in Brisbane. That includes the Kristen Stewart-starring Certain Women, which hasn't hit the city's screens despite a release down south, as well as Robert Pattinson at his very best in crime thriller Good Time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVyGCxHZ_Ko Hong Sang-soo pops up again with Berlinale best actress winner On the Beach Alone at Night, Amat Escalante's The Untamed will gift attendees a slice of erotic alien social realism (yes, that's a thing), and, after showing his murder mystery mini-series P'tit Quinquin in 2015, Bruno Dumont's musical Jeannette: The Childhood of Joan of Arc comes to QFF from Cannes Director's Fortnight. If you've spotted a musical trend, you're right — and a retrospective screening of Chantal Akerman's Golden Eighties, plus '80s-infused mermaid camp cabaret The Lure, are also among this year's QFF highlights. Other standouts include enlivening fireworks documentary Brimstone & Glory, Raoul Peck's must-see race relations doco I Am Not Your Negro, and queer romance The Ornithologist, as well as Japanese auteur Sion Sono up to his over-the-top tricks with Antiporno, cult-focused sci-fi/horror The Endless, provocative terrorist thriller Nocturama, and Grace, Who Waits Alone, the debut feature from Brisbane's own Georgia Temple. In addition to a shorts session at the Institute of Modern Art, and an editing panel and screening at QUT, the festival will also serve up a four-film focus on Czech filmmaker Juraj Herz at GOMA. Cinephiles, prepare for a busy July.
Still got a bit of festival action left in this season's tank? Put it to excellent use, with a trip to Tasmania and a few days adventuring at the seventh edition of Party In The Paddock. The laidback music and arts festival makes its yearly return to a property in White Hills, a 20-minute drive southeast of Launceston, from February 7 to 9. And it's bringing with it a good-times lineup well worth crossing Bass Strait for, with UK songstress Lily Allen, four-piece indie rock band The Jungle Giants, electro duo The Presets, Sydney alt-rockers Middle Kids, Melbourne's Slowly Slowly and singer Vera Blue just some of the big-name acts set to grace this year's stage. In addition to three days chock-full of live tunes, the festival is dishing up a hefty arts program, pulled together by the legends at Vibestown. And 2019's version is as big as ever, promising the full gamut of fun, interactive and mind-bending experiences. We're talking existential short film screenings, a funeral ceremony that'll have you farewelling your greatest fears, comedy sessions headlined by Matt Okine and Gen Fricker, morning yoga sessions and a pop-up Willie Smith's bar slinging breakfast cocktails and funky DJ tunes. Browse market stalls filled with top Tassie produce, let collaborative art project Real Talk inspire you to swap social media for some actual conversations, and of course, join the wild, wacky and riotously dressed for the famed Vibestown March. Images: Mitch Lowe and Andy Hardy.
Whether via cakes you can decorate yourself, panna cotta that needs painting or blowing edible bubbles, sitting down to high tea at W Brisbane is never a stuffy affair. The venue's Living Room Bar likes getting its patrons playing while enjoying an indulgent spread. It's also fond of theming its tiered specials — and of taking a few cues from the Gallery of Modern Art across the river. Until Monday, October 7, 2024, GOMA is hosing the dazzling Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses exhibition, featuring pioneering fashion that thoroughly deserves to be seen in an art gallery. Until Sunday, October 27, 2024, Living Room Bar is serving up its Water and Dreams High Tea, too, which uses the designer beloved by Beyoncé, Björk and Cate Blanchett as inspiration. Those edible bubbles are on the menu here from 11am–3pm every Friday–Sunday, with W Brisbane teaming up with Bubblelick for the inventive treat. Also on offer as part of a culinary lineup inspired by the water and dreams section of GOMA's showcase: red and white meringues designed to resemble the flow of H2O, a pearl-topped chocolate opera cake and a splash-like crystallised sugar wave. Among the savoury bites, you'll be snacking on salmon caviar and finger lime citrus pops, plus truffled egg and cress finger sandwiches. That'll set you back $79 per person, with bottomless tea and barista coffee covered by the price. You can also get boozy, however, including with the Couture Cloud signature cocktail — which features almond vodka, rhubarb shrub and coconut soda, plus airfoam to top — for $99. Prefer a glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne instead? That's $109.
Another Emmys year has rolled around, Breaking Bad and Modern Family dominated yet again, Matthew McConaughey missed out on his expected golden accolade for True Detective and everyone was mean about Lena Dunham's dress. Between Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman nabbing matching Sherlockian trophies, American Horror Story popping up in every last category and Australian audiences scrawling down lists of shows they'll be pirating soon, there were a few big ol' magic moments that caught our attention this year — for the high-fivably better and WTF-inducing worse. HIT: Brian Cranston and JLD Had a Big Ol' Pash Dentist Tim Whatley and Elaine Benes reunited in a big fat smooch. Multi Emmy-winning Brian Cranston (who once played Elaine's dentist boyfriend on Seinfeld back in the day) proved he truly is The Danger by planting a big ol' pash on Julia Louis-Dreyfus after she was announced Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Veep. On her way to the stage, Cranston intercepted Louis-Dreyfus for a big wet snog after exclaiming, "You were on Seinfeld!" Mackin' legends. MISS: Sofia Vergara Was Objectified on a Rotating Pedestal During a Speech About Diversity Seriously, what were they actually thinking? Maybe, just maybe, if you're the president of the Academy about to give a speech about diversity on globally-watched television, do not deliver said speech with Modern Family's Sofia Vergara on a rotating pedestal beside you, blatantly revolving like a piece of meat. As Huffington Post points out, only 26 percent of the nominees this year are women, not to mention the fact that the Emmys have only twice awarded a Latina actress with an award. Leave the rotating pedestals out and let Vergara stand on her own two feet huh? HIT: Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey Looked Like a Night at the Roxbury Donning suits akin to Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell in their 1998 comedy, the True Detective bros offered up an offensive amount of swagger in their matching promworthy tuxes. Even Kattan noticed. HIT: Billy Crystal Made the Only Speech that Could Be Made for Robin Williams "He was the greatest friend you could ever imagine... It's very hard to talk about him in the past, because he was so present in our lives," Crystal said, inviting a minute's silence for the recently-passed legend, following the Emmys' 'In Memoriam' segment. "He was the brightest star in the comedy galaxy," he said of his super close friend, before closing with an outstanding last line: "Robin Williams, what a concept." https://youtube.com/watch?v=hYv7qSDIRRY MISS: Julia Roberts Didn't Miss an Opportunity to Make Everything About Julia Roberts Mere seconds before awarding Bryan Cranston with his straight-up deserved Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, presenter Julia Roberts took a moment to remind everyone about number one. "Apologies to anyone who doesn't get to hug me in the next ten seconds," she said, before reading out Cranston's winning spot. Top marks, Roberts. HIT: Everyone Realised the Director of True Detective is a Stone Cold Fox As if we all pictured Cary Joji Fukunaga as a Tom Waits-like, porch-dwelling, gravel-voiced cowboy, the True Detective director got more applause on Twitter for being smokin' hot than he did for his award-winning series. Kind of like every Emmy-winning actress ever. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ygcHfkOoAeQ HIT? Sarah Silverman Might Have Been Stoned "We're just molecules and we're hurling through space right now." We're not sure, Silverman rules anyway. Check out the entire list of Emmy winners and nominees right here.
It's safe to say that nobody is playing the long game like Marvel Studios. When they put together individual films for Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America and Thor, the endgame they had in mind was The Avengers, in which all the heroes teamed up to take on one gigantic threat. Guardians of the Galaxy is something different: taking place almost exclusively in outer space, it eschews the interconnected universe — save for a small hints for fans with long memories — in favour of a decidedly stand-alone adventure. And what an adventure it is. Kidnapped from Earth as a child, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) — preferred nom de plume 'Starlord' — is a roguish figure in the vein of Han Solo or Mal Reynolds, who recovers exotic treasures to sell to seedy figures. But his latest acquisition brought him some unwanted attention: he is hunted by green-skinned assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), foul-mouthed raccoon Rocket (Bradley Cooper), and sentient tree Groot (Vin Diesel). When all four are thrown into a hellish prison alongside vengeance-minded muscle-creature Drax (Dave Bautista), this group of misfits realise they're the only ones who can stop a powerful madman from destroying the galaxy. Sound pretty uninspiring? Don't be fooled. The film is full of inventive, fun ideas: writer/director James Gunn has crafted a rich and engaging universe that feels infinitely more expansive and detailed than your run-of-the-mill sci-fi film. And that's not even its biggest selling point. Guardians of the Galaxy is funny. Like, laugh-out-loud funny, and for its entire running time. While far too many Hollywood comedies can barely raise more than one or two laughs per hour, Guardians of the Galaxy puts them to shame with an extraordinarily high number of quips and gags that always feel completely natural to the story and characters. What really sells it is the casting. Pratt (Parks and Recreation's Andy Dwyer) is a natural leading man, embracing the goofy in a way that far too many stoic action stars are afraid to. Saldana (Avatar) again proves she's unparalleled at grounding blockbusters even when playing an improbably hued alien warrior. Wrestling star Bautista reveals a substantial gift for comic timing, and it's no backhanded compliment to say that Diesel and Cooper have never been better. A wealth of supporting turns come from Glenn Close, John C Reilly, Peter Serafinowicz, Lee Pace, Djimon Hounsou, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan and a couple of cameos we shan't spoil. Guardians of the Galaxy is a weird, risky prospect for a studio that's all about relatable humans in recognisable settings. Maybe that's why it works: faced with a tougher sell, they've gone the extra mile to make something special. And boy does it work. https://youtube.com/watch?v=3CqymRQ1uUU
A long time go, we all used to be friends with Veronica Mars. But if you haven't thought of the teenage private eye drama lately at all (or had its Dandy Warhols-sung theme tune stuck in your head), prepare for that to change. The show initially lasted three seasons across 2004–2007, then set a crowdfunding record to get a movie off the ground in 2014, and even spawned two novels and a web series spin-off after that. Now, it looks set to make a small-screen comeback. While everything from Daria to Buffy the Vampire Slayer seems to be getting a reboot lately, Veronica Mars follows in the footsteps of Twin Peaks — as Variety reports, it'll be a revival featuring original cast members, rather than a new effort that remakes the same concept with different folks and starts all over again with its narrative. And yes, crucially, Ms Mars herself will return, with Kristen Bell poised to resume the role that brought her to fame. Hulu, the streaming platform that turned The Handmaid's Tale into the phenomenon that it is, is behind the eight-episode new season. The deal hasn't yet been finalised for Neptune's favourite blonde-haired, pint-sized sleuth to start solving mysteries again; however it looks like it's a matter of when rather than if. Veronica Mars creator and writer Rob Thomas (no, not that one) is also set to return, and Deadline notes that conversations have been had with cast members other than Bell. Just what the storyline will be, which of Veronica's ex-boyfriends will re-emerge and what cases will need solving haven't been revealed — but, given that the original show featured appearances from Amanda Seyfried, Arrested Development's Alia Shawkat and Michael Cera, Buffy's Alyson Hannigan and Charisma Carpenter, New Girl's Max Greenfield, Thor: Ragnarok's Tessa Thompson and more, you can probably expect a few familiar faces to pop up. One thing that the new series will definitely have to do is work around Bell's schedule on sitcom The Good Place, although that just means she'll be on your TV screen twice as often. Via Variety.
Forgetting, fixating, flailing, fraying: that's The Father. Anthony's (Anthony Hopkins, Westworld) life is unravelling, with his daughter Anne (Olivia Colman, The Crown) springing the sudden news that she's about to move to Paris, and now insistent that he needs a new carer to replace the last home helper he's just scared off. He also can't find his watch, and time seems to jump suddenly. On some days, he has just trundled out of bed to greet the morning when Anne advises that dinner, not breakfast, is being served. When he brings up her French relocation again, she frostily and dismissively denies any knowledge. Sometimes another man (Mark Gatiss, Dracula) stalks around Anthony's London apartment, calling himself Anne's husband. Sometimes the flat isn't his own at all and, on occasion, both Anne (Olivia Williams, Victoria and Abdul) and her partner (Rufus Sewell, Judy) look completely different. Intermittently, Anthony either charms or spits cruel words at Laura (Imogen Poots, Black Christmas), the latest aide hired to oversee his days. She reminds him of another daughter, one he's sure he had — and preferred — but hasn't heard from for years. When he mentions his other offspring, however, everyone else goes silent. More than once, Anthony suspects that someone has pilfered his beloved timepiece, which just keeps disappearing. Largely, The Father remains housebound. For the bulk of its 97 minutes, it focuses on the cardigan-wearing Anthony as he roams around the space he calls home. But this is a chaotic film, despite its visual polish, and that mess, confusion and upheaval is entirely by design. All the shifting and changing — big and small details alike, and faces and places, too — speak to the reason Anne keeps telling Anthony they need another set of hands around the house. His memory isn't what it used to be. In fact, it's getting much worse than that. Anthony knows that there's something funny going on, which is how he describes it when his sense of what's happening twists and morphs without warning, and The Father's audience are being immersed in that truth. Anthony has dementia, with conveying precisely how that feels for him the main aim of this six-time Oscar-nominated stage-to-screen adaptation, which novelist and playwright turned first-time director Florian Zeller has helmed based on Le Père, his own play. In a looping, winding, structurally savvy screenplay by Zeller and Christopher Hampton (an Academy Award-winner for Dangerous Liaisons) that plays out like a puzzle, disorientation is the key tool. Sometimes the change in details is subtle, as one well-appointed, high-ceilinged abode with views of the street below gives way to another. At other times, the contrast is sharp and jarring, and Anthony reacts accordingly. The Father does an extraordinary job of placing its viewers in the octogenarian's head, making them endure the same jolts and jumps, and share the same disarray and loss. And make no mistake: to feel as though your grip on what's real and right in front of you is slipping is something to be mourned. Also superbly handled in the script, and in Hopkins' powerhouse performance, is the fact that Anthony is caught between two extremes. Not only to himself, but to Anne, Laura and that man that's sometimes present, he often seems enough like his old self that little appears wrong. That sensation can linger, but it can also pass in an instant — just as he can segue from fact to fantasy in the blink of an eye as he spins stories and reflects upon memories, and from merriment to menace in his mood as well. Bearing witness to Anthony's experience doesn't just inspire horror in an empathetic fashion. Feeling for anyone in such circumstances is an innate reaction, so it still does just that, but it also evokes a visceral response. Ageing is something that we all aspire to, given that the alternative is dying young — and the physical and mental deterioration that comes with the passing years is one of life's universal fears. The Father reflects this not only by putting its audience in Anthony's shoes, but also by observing how both of its two main characters handle this simultaneously evolving and devolving situation. While Anne bears the weight of her father's decline in a dissimilar way, obviously, her life has been equally affected. Balance is one of The Father's masterstrokes, getting its viewers thinking of their own futures as well as of those they love. No one can escape this subject matter, after all, and no one can evade the film's devastating and heartbreaking gaze, either. A titan of cinema for decades — with 2021 marking 30 years since he frightened his way into celluloid history as Hannibal Lecter — Hopkins is similarly unavoidable. He's an actor with physical presence, inescapable command, that booming voice and a way of demanding that every set of eyes peers his way, and his well-established talents and traits are all on offer in The Father. As Anthony's condition worsens, he also displays remarkable fragility and vulnerability. Aided by Ben Smithard's (Downton Abbey) incisive cinematography, he can tower over everyone in the room and then shrink into its corners. In one late shot — the movie's most haunting — he's infantilised by the scenario and the camerawork in tandem, and it's utterly shattering. In the film as a whole and in Hopkins' performance, sentiment has no place. Indeed, The Father and its star are ruthless in conveying Anthony's inner state and overall journey. The more recent Oscar-winner among cast (and a nominee this year again, alongside Hopkins), Colman is remarkable in a different manner. Her version of Anne is weary, plagued by sorrow and trying to soldier on all at once, and hers is the epitome of a layered portrayal. She weathers Hopkins' charisma, savagery and uncertainty, but she's unselfish in every scene. This is a generous film all-round, even in its darkest moments. As overwhelming as The Father can be as it wades through Anthony and Anne's lives, its unflinching and unsparing approach is anchored in kindness and compassion — because to truly see something as tough as this is to give it the attention and focus it deserves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0ox9ExOA1M&feature=youtu.be
?? They coveted the enunciated British-twang sound that now floods our airwaves and still hold the title of fastest selling UK debut album of all time for Whatever People Say I am, That's What I'm Not. Lead singer Alex Turner is the songwriter to end all songwriters, penning the ultimate indie club track, 'I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor', which has had more than it's fair share of spins. Whether you love them or you 'ate them, there's no denying the infectious music and lyrics of the Arctic Monkeys. They are one of those rare bands whose music stands out like a sore thumb. Who could forget 'Fluorescent Adolescent', 'Mardy Bum' or 'Old Yellow Bricks'? Maybe it's just me, but I'm an old Monkeys fan from way back. It hasn't been long since the 4-piece band from Sheffield were on our shores last: they did the Big Day Out 2009 tour – I picked myself off the floor of a portaloo just to see their set (I had a stomach bug, okay!?) – and a national tour in 2010. Now they are back in every major city after completing their Southbound/Falls headline spot. Actually, on-stage at Falls on New Years Eve, they enraged many when they walked off stage at 11.58pm, missing the countdown. Thankfully, their Brisbane show won't allow for any time related mishaps (we hope), so you know you won't be let down. Hey, it's the Arctic Monkeys, could you ever really be let down? The lucky Rachel Fuller from our Sydney site got to interview the ever-sexy Alex Turner, you can check out the interview here!
Lighten your run with Mizuno, then lighten your spirits at the Race Village After Party. Which fun-runner personality category does your dad fall into? Is he the can't-wait-I'll-be-out-of-bed-and-into-my-runners-before-you've-quit-dreaming kind? Or more the you've-got-to-be-kidding-maybe-if-we-start-mid-morning-and-stop-for-a-coffee-and-pastry-halfway-I'll-consider-it type? Either way, you'll find a place for both him, and yourself, at the Bridge to Brisbane. Now Queensland's biggest community fun run, it's all about getting out and about with your dad on Father's Day and raising some cash for charity along the way. It doesn't matter whether you skip, hop, bolt, walk or crawl the distance. Participants have a choice of two events. The 10 kilometre run kicks off at the enthusiastic hour of 6am, commencing at Sir Leo Hielscher Bridge South (previously known as Gateway Bridge), Murarrie. The cruisier, 5 kilometre stretch starts at the more civilised time of 9am, at Remora Road, Hamilton. Both events finish up at the RNA Showgrounds, where runners can catch their breath at the Race Village After Party. Vocal extraordinaire Darren Percival will be taking the main stage, the Suncorp Bank Sunscreen Station will be keeping the UV at bay with free sunscreen, and onsite chefs will be conjuring up a selection of hearty post-run breakfasts. Participants can support a charity of their choice. It's just a matter of setting up a fundraising page online and chasing family members, friends and enemies for donations. At the race's end, each runner will be notified of his/her 'Hero Time', which is his/her race time, minus one second for every dollar raised. Those with the best Hero Time in both the 5 kilometre and 10 kilometre events will win a 2013 Holden Barina Spark. There's also a Best Dressed Costume Competition and two randomly drawn prizes — one being a $15,000 Flight Centre travel voucher and the other, another Barina.
Looking for the buzz of Oktoberfest without the $2k flights to Europe and back? Then Brisbane's longest running craft beer festival may just be what you're looking for. Armakeggon 2025 returns on Saturday, August 16, bringing a full day dedicated to craft beer, elevated pub fare and live entertainment. Hosted by Archive Beer Boutique, guests can explore a tap lineup featuring 31 breweries, including Common Ground, Archer Brewing, Stone & Wood, Young Henrys, Wolf of the Willows, Balter, Bridge Road Brewers and many more. The country-themed menu will go perfectly alongside your pint, while an 11am live performance from Farmer Wants A Wife star Jarrad Wrigley will set the tone for the rest of the day. Wrigley will then be back again at 3.30pm to grace the Armagekkon stage with a soundtrack of country bangers. Of course, there will be plenty of entertainment while those beers are flowing, including competitive eater and TikTok sensation James Webb (aka J Webby Can Eat). At 1.30pm, Webb will be attempting the Armakeggon Burger Tower, a stacked creation that includes a giant jalapeño popper, two cheeseburgers, two chicken burgers, the large Archive Banger Burger and a huge serving of fries. With 1.8 million followers on TikTok and seven Guinness World Records under his belt, this will be a challenge to behold (or avoid if you're squeamish). VIP early-bird tickets start at $75, which includes early 10am entry, a tasting paddle of four beers, a bacon and egg roll, plus exclusive event merchandise. For the regular punters, entry is free after 11am. So strap in for a long day of beers, live music and bites, and make sure to arrive thirsty.
Bartenders are the new rockstars — if their touring habits are anything to go by, anyway. In the past few years, more and more cocktail bars and their helmsmen have joined musicians for fly-in, fly-out visits to Australia — but instead of touring records, they're touring killer drinks lists. Last year saw Asia's best bar 28 Hongkong Street and hidden New York City jaunt Attaboy both do a quick stops in Melbourne and Sydney, while Mace popped up at Sydney's PS40 just the other week and PDT was in town a little while back too. And now another NYC bar is making its way to our shores for a cheeky cocktail pop-up. The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog will come to Australia for three nights only, spreading its shaking skills across the east coast with one night at Melbourne's Black Pearl, one night at Sydney's Baxter Inn and one night at The Gresham in Brisbane. Dead Rabbit will be sending their finest drink makers to work in collaboration with the host bars to create a one-night-only menu that will showcase their skills and signature drinks and food items (like their Scotch egg). Their cocktail menu is pretty extensive, but we're hoping they bring their Hong Kong Phooey with them — it blends rum with Aquavit, grapefruit, pistachio and avocado. Although we've had a few bars pass through our major cities by now, this one's pretty special as Dead Rabbit, which is permanently located in lower Manhattan, took out the top spot on last year's World's 50 Best Bars list. So if you can't get to the Lower East Side anytime soon, this is your next best option. Tickets are a little pricey at $40 (plus booking fee) — that includes a cocktail on arrival and one of Dead Rabbit's signature Scotch eggs. You'll then be able to purchase extra drinks on top of that.
Olympus Has Fallen is what the studio is calling 'an action movie' and what the Secret Service will likely call 'a comedy'. It's one of two films coming out this year (the other being Roland Emmerich's White House Down) that revolve around 1600 Pennsylvania being overrun by terrorists, and both feel very much like land-based versions of Air Force One feat. 'the hero character' from In The Line Of Fire. Olympus Has Fallen was directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) whose last film, End of Watch, was a gritty cop drama featuring tense action and crackling dialogue. In Olympus Has Fallen, that action's been dialled up to 11, whilst the dialogue's been dialled back to 'dumb'. The film's first act serves up a truly terrifying and confronting assault on the US capital, albeit one with a fairly tasteless allusion to the collapse of the World Trade Center via a crumbling Washington Monument. The body count fast becomes countless as bombs, rockets and bullets tear shreds through man, metal and even a courageous mutt. Fuqua has certainly proven himself a director prepared to pull no punches in the pursuit of realistic violence, but here he seemed more intent to simply destroy everything the budget permitted. All the same, the first half hour pumps along with enough adrenaline (and even a hint of plausibility to the assault) to sufficiently draw you in. The problem is, there are still loads of problems. For one, it's unbearably patriotic throughout, including multiple shots of US flags tragically dropped or heroically raised. Then there the barely drawn out characters who are given nothing to work with and are often introduced alongside subtitles bearing their official government role, imputing a bizarre pseudo-documentary feel to the film every time it happens. Beyond that, the military's pig-headed incompetence is terrifically frustrating, the Secret Service's constant breaches of protocol are baffling and the multiple news reports referring to the White House as — I kid you not — 'The Whitehouse', defy belief. Despite then what he's got to work with in terms of the script, Gerard Butler actually makes for quite an impressive action hero, the elements of which we first saw in 300. He's mercifully spared the traditional 'post-kill' one-liners and even manages to throw a few new tough guy lines into the mix. The same, though, can't be said for Aaron Eckhart as the entirely 'meh' President, Morgan Freeman as the bland Speaker of the House or Rick Yune as the expressionless terrorist leader. All deliver such nothing dialogue, you wonder whether this film might've worked better as an action version of The Artist. Then, however, audiences would have missed out on perhaps the single worst piece of writing for the year, in which a double agent explains his enormous act of treason via the phenomenal catch-all: "Globalisation and f*cking Wall Street!" To be fair, though, that shocker comes in response to the President's equally bad question: "So...what's the going rate for a soul these days?" Bottom line, Olympus Has Fallen is a fair-to-decent action movie let down by everything that happens in between. If you're looking for some mindless fun and a whole lot of skull-stabbing, then this is the perfect film for you. Just be prepared for a whole lot of head shaking, too.
Next time you break out your best downward-facing dog, you could just have a posing pooch for company. As part of its latest animal-oriented exercise bonanza, Stretch Yoga will get you stretching while sharing the love with cute canine. Marking the studio's fifth birthday and raising money for the deserving cause that the RSPCA, Puppy Yoga gives every dog-loving yoga aficionado their day. Yes, the class really will pair adorable pooches with beginner yoga poses. You'd be barking mad not to head along. The classes take place at 5.30pm and 6.30pm on Friday, March 8 at Stretch Yoga's CBD studio, then again at 12.15pm and 1.15pm on Saturday, March 9 at its Holland Park digs. Register early — the $40 sessions sure to get snapped up faster than a dog munching on a treat. Image: Stretch Yoga.
For those who haven't managed to taste hail despite Brisbane's freak weather transitioning can come and skate on the ice rather than have it pelted towards you from the sky. Safer and far more family-friendly, Brisbane locals are all welcome to experience one of the country's largest outdoor ice skating rinks and plenty of frosty pleasures at the 2011 Brisbane Winter Festival. I'm not exaggerating about the ice rink. This baby measures a very decent size of 900m². Perfect to bring your family, friends, even your dog! There will be dishes from over 20 winter-prone countries to sample, and plenty of ice skating action to watch. From amateur to pro shows and some Ice Blitz Championships. Come and watch some winter talents tear up the ice. You'll have plenty of time to hone on your skills and shine your shoe blades as the Winter Fest will be around for a good three weeks. Feeling too cool for any of the outdoor activities? Don't stress. Warm up to some traditional Glühwein (authentic mulled wine) or enjoy some steaming chai in the Lipton Chai Latte Lodge. So come celebrate the official arrival of winter in Brisbane. It'll melt your heart.
Another year, another version of Batman. The Dark Knight doesn't get a new famous face quite that often, but you can be forgiven for thinking that it feels that way. Following in the footsteps of Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale and Ben Affleck, Robert Pattinson is now the latest actor to don the recognisable cape and mask — all thanks to upcoming superhero flick The Batman. No one really needs a plot synopsis for flicks about the Gotham City-dwelling character, because yes, we've all seen multiple versions of Batman over the years. This one is meant to stand completely apart from the most recent Affleck-starring DC Extended Universe version of the character, though. So, basically, what DC Films and Warner Bros Pictures did with Joker in 2019 — serving up a grimmer, grittier iteration of the infamous figure that has absolutely nothing to do with the rightfully hated Jared Leto version — they're endeavouring to do for Batman now. Also following the same playbook: enlisting a top-notch star in the lead role. Remember, it was only last that Joaquin Phoenix won an Oscar for playing the clown prince of crime. As well as Pattison as the titular character and his alter-ego Bruce Wayne, The Batman stars Zoe Kravitz (Big Little Lies) as Catwoman, Paul Dano (Escape at Dannemora) as the Riddler, Colin Farrell (Voyagers) as the Penguin, Jeffrey Wright (Westworld) as Commissioner Gordon and Andy Serkis (Long Shot) as Alfred Pennyworth. Plenty of these figures have popped on screens large and small multiple times, too — but Farrell's version of the Penguin certainly stands out in the film's just-dropped (and suitably dark, brooding and violent) full trailer. Originally slated to release this year, The Batman is one of the many movies that've been delayed due to the pandemic. And yes, you have gleaned a sneak peek before, with the movie dropping its first teaser trailer more than a year ago. Pattinson did just star in the Christopher Nolan-helmed Tenet in 2020, so perhaps it makes sense for him to play a character that Nolan helped bring back to cinemas 16 years ago. This time around, however, Cloverfield, Let Me In, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes filmmaker Matt Reeves is in the director's chair. Check out the full trailer for The Batman below: The Batman is currently due to release in Australian cinemas on March 3, 2022. Images: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures/ ™ & © DC Comics.
On January 13, your Sunday session doesn't just involve sinking a few drinks with your mates while DJs spin tunes. It also involves getting competitive at table tennis at the OS Open. With tennis season in full swing, The Osbourne Hotel is getting into the sporting spirit with a day-long ping pong tournament. Running from 10am–7pm, you'll try to emerge victorious between beverages — and you'll need a few pals. Registrations are now open for teams of four, with matches decided by the best three of five games. If you're eager for a few more rules, you'll need to reach 11 points per game to win; however you'll also need to emerge victorious by at least two points. And, there'll also be prizes for best team uniform. Now, for the other fun stuff — aka $10 pizzas, plus a booze lineup that includes Aperol spritzes and Stone & Wood jugs. All that's left is for you to secure your spot in advance, show up and bust out your best ping pong moves. Image: Dustin Gaffke.
Only a few decades ago, Queenslanders loved a spot of croquet. In fact, if you were a sports-playing adult living around the state up until the 1970s, the only thing you were more likely to swing than a mallet was a cricket bat. That explains why more than a few croquet clubs still exist around Brisbane, even if the pastime isn't quite as popular at the moment. Of course, old trends come back into favour all the time — and if any occasion could inspire a revival of the game featured in everything from Alice in Wonderland to Heathers, it's the aptly named World Croquet Day. Yeronga's Stephens Croquet Club is celebrating with Cuppa, Cake and Croquet, which is exactly what it sounds like. Try the sport you've always wanted to test out, then enjoy afternoon tea afterwards. Wearing '80s attire and pretending that you're Winona Ryder or Christian Slater is completely optional.
When Australia's annual Spanish Film Festival returns this year, it'll offer cinephiles a two-for-one affair. Fancy seeing the latest and greatest movies from the European country? Keen to watch fresh flicks from Spanish-speaking Latin America too? They're both on the lineup. While Latin American cinema has received its own dedicated Aussie fest over the past three years, in 2019 the Cine Latino Film Festival will form part of the Spanish Film Festival. In short: this year's April–May fest presents the best of both worlds across a 32-title program that'll tour the country. It all gets started with the Aussie premiere of applauded and acclaimed Spanish comedy Champions, which picked up this year's Goya award for best film, as well as the best new actor prize for star Jesús Vidal. The feel-good flick follows an amateur Spanish basketball team comprised of players with mental disabilities and an arrogant coach who's sentenced to community service to help them bounce their way to glory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo_PDXou77c At the other end of the event is a bona fide classic: Pedro Almodóvar's Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. While the festival sadly hasn't snagged the Spanish director's latest, the Antonio Banderas and Penélope Cruz-starring Pain and Glory, it will close out the 2019 lineup with this 1988 black comedy — one of the movies that first helped bring Banderas to fame. Other program highlights include action-packed bank robbery drama 70 Big Ones, moody thriller The Uncovering, doppelgänger effort Ana by Day, character-driven melodrama Petra, and comedy Super Crazy, which focuses on a woman who suddenly can't stop speaking her mind. If you've ever wanted to know all there is to know about olive oil, there's also a documentary on the topic: Virgin & Extra: Jaén, The Land of the Olive Oil. And from the Cine Latino contingent, Argentinian title Royo delves into corruption before the country's mid-70s coup, while Tremors explores a Guatemalan family's secrets. The Projectionist also road trips through the Dominican Republic and comedy Looking for a Boyfriend... For My Wife reunites the cast of Chile's version of Married with Children. Across its full slate, the Spanish Film Festival also showcases 11 titles by female filmmakers, ranging from established talents to up-and-comers. Watch out for romance Carmen & Lola, which has proven a hit on the queer circuit; star-studded comedy-thriller Crime Wave, which stars Maribel Verdú, Javier Cámara and Luis Tosar; and the 1982-set The Good Girls, which follows the wives of wealthy Mexican men. The Spanish Film Festival tours Australia from April 16, screening at Sydney's Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona and Palace Central from April 16 to May 8; Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Balwyn, Kino Cinemas and The Astor Theatre from April 18 to May 8; Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace James Street from April 24 to May 15; and Perth's Palace Cinema Paradiso from April 24 to May 15. For more information, visit the festival website
Bakehouse Buns is the sister restaurant to Ipswich's legendary Bakehouse Steakhouse, serving up home-style classics such as cheeseburgers with caramelised onions, and crumbed pork cutlets with apple cabbage slaw. The dessert menu is similarly impressive, with the kind of sweet treats that you would find at your favourite country bakery, such as lemon meringue tart, baked cheesecake and banoffee pie. All of this, and you don't even need to fill up the fuel tank (or fight over the Spotify playlist).
It's not only the playing of tennis that works up a healthy appetite — it's also the watching of it. But, when you're at the Australian Open, surrounded by fellow ravenous spectators in 40-degree heat, working out where to get a decent bite can be a challenge. So, we thought we'd save you some trouble by tracking down the best places to eat in and around Rod Laver Arena this year. Whether you want to stick to the village or roam over to the CBD or Richmond, here are some spots to try. And if you're visiting from out of town, you'll also get to tick a few of Melbourne's best places to eat off your list. [caption id="attachment_704328" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 400 Gradi[/caption] GRAND SLAM OVAL, AUSTRALIAN OPEN VILLAGE Grand Slam Oval – located within the Australian Open village – is a gathering place for pop-ups, food trucks and bars. You'll find OTT kebabs by Biggie Smalls, Mexican street food by Collins Street's Mamasita, burgers by Neil Perry's Burger Project, some of the world's best slices from 400 Gradi, and, from Beijing Betty, Chinese fusion snacks created exclusively for the event. There are also bars for drinkers of all kinds, including one dedicated to champagne, one to beer and another to Aperol Spritz. Ideal if you don't have much time before the coin toss or can't be bothered to leave the village between matches. HARLOW, RICHMOND If you're looking for a new adventure, settle in at Harlow, a pub that, in December, took over the space then belonging to the Great Britain. It's on Church Street, Richmond. Whether you hang out in the dining room or head into the beer garden, you'll be starting with creative bites, like mini crab doughnuts and duck and bacon sausage rolls. The mains list is more about decadent takes on classics: there's a steak sandwich loaded with maple bacon and Swiss cheese, a smoked beer hot dog and a behemoth vegan burger. It's open from midday right through until late. ARBORY AFLOAT, SOUTHBANK Cool off by the Yarra at Arbory Afloat, at 69-metre-long floating bar that, since 2015, has set up on the river every spring, ready to get you through long hot days and balmy evenings. Downstairs is a citrus-and-fig grove, inspired by the Cinque Terre, while upstairs is dotted with day beds. Wherever you are, you'll be sipping on blood orange Aperol spritzes, watermelon sangria and piña coladas, and tucking into Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizzas, seafood platters and salads. Arbory Afloat is at 2 Flinders Walk – just a 15-minute walk down the Yarra from the Australian Open. THE CORNER HOTEL, RICHMOND Two years ago, this Melbourne live music stalwart scored a rooftop refurbishment and a tasty new menu. Thankfully, it hasn't lost any of its down-to-earth good vibes. If you haven't caught enough sun at the Open, go straight upstairs to relax in the fresh air; otherwise, stay downstairs where many a band has played into the wee hours. Either way, the food offerings include fried chicken, roast chicken roulade, the Corner parma and the Patti Smith beef burger. Craft beers a-plenty are on-tap. The Corner is a 15-minute walk from the Open. GAZI, CBD Weekend attendees can factor in a little trip to the Greek Islands at Gazi. This Hellenic eatery is hosting yum cha every Sunday, from midday till 3pm. The dishes have their roots in Mediterranean cuisine, but pay homage to Chinese, too. Among them are spanakopita gyoza, feta honey sesame spring rolls and sweet bread filled with lamb. A reasonable $49 buys a ten-course banquet and, for $35, you can add bottomless cocktails. Gazi is at 2 Exhibition Street in the CBD – 15 minutes from the action. FEAST OF MERIT, RICHMOND Fuel up before you hit the court at Feast of Merit, on Swan Street, around a 20-minute walk from the Rod Laver Arena. Among street art, vintage furniture and hanging greenery, you'll be feasting on hearty, Middle Eastern-influenced brekkies, such as börek, a vegetarian dish of corn fritters, poached egg, garlic yoghurt, feta and dukkah, or smoked ocean trout with asparagus, potato rosti and sour cream. For hardcore ticket holders, it's hard to knock back the büyük kahvalti, a big breakfast piled with eggs, sucuk sausage, haloumi, spinach, heirloom cherry tomatoes and flatbread. It's also open for dinner if you're looking for something post-match. [caption id="attachment_636986" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Emily Blake[/caption] CUMULUS INC., CBD Take a rest from the heat, grit and grunts in a low-lit corner at Cumulus Inc., a dreamy escape designed to soothe your every sense. Owned and run by chef Andrew McConnell (Builders Arms Hotel, Cutler & Co. and Supernormal), this all-day eatery celebrated its tenth anniversary last year and has been stocking up on Good Food hats since 2010. Begin with beef tartare, tarragon and anchovy toast, then move onto snapper with mussels, fennel pollen and dill oil. There's also a tasting menu, which changes daily. Cumulus Inc. is at 45 Flinders Lane – 15 minutes' walk from the tennis. Top image: Visit Victoria.
For five nights in October, Palace Barracks will become home to all manner of unnerving tales. There'll be head-spinning stories of possession, demonic children, haunted dreams and more than one person running around with a chainsaw — all on the big screen, of course. If you're wondering why, the answer is obvious. With Halloween approaching, and the month before it generally earmarked for all things spooky anyway, the Petrie Terrace cinema is getting into the unsettling spirit of the occasion with Palace Encore: The Horror Season. It's a retro movie bonanza, with screenings happening at 8.30pm on Friday nights between October 4–25, then swapping to 7pm on Thursday, October 31. It all begins with one of the biggest horror movies there is, aka The Exorcist, which has scared people out of their seats for decades for good reason. Next up comes Mia Farrow's pregnancy from hell in Rosemary's Baby, before a road trip goes oh-so-wrong in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. After that, you won't want to fall a sleep in the original A Nightmare on Elm Street, with Freddy Kruger always lurking. Finally, you'll want to grab your boomstick, because Bruce Campbell is fending off zombies in The Evil Dead.
Star Wars fans, prepare to punch it on down to Sydney's Powerhouse Museum in November — and prepare to come face to face with 200 original objects from the popular sci-fi franchise at Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition. You might have to wait more than 12 months until Star Wars: Episode IX reaches cinemas late next year, but you can spend your days from November 16, 2018 until June 10, 2019 perusing the items that helped make space opera movie magic happen. Coming to Australia for the first time, that includes costumes, props, models and artworks from the Lucasfilm archives, complete with a galaxy's worth of favourites — think BB-8, R2-D2 and the Millennium Falcon just for starters. Get a glimpse of Yoda, you will, circa Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back. You'll also feel the power-hungry menace radiate from Darth Vader's suit from Star Wars: Episode VII — Return of the Jedi. Star Wars Identities is also an interactive exhibition, with creating your own unique character also part of the experience. If you've ever felt as though you should be hanging out in a cantina somewhere on a remote planet, here's your chance to answer a heap of questions, work through a series of stations and find your inner Star Wars hero. You won't need to use the force — rather, you'll receive a smart technology bracelet and a headset to use while you're in the exhibition. But if you want to say that you are using the force — or even want to give midi-chlorians some credit — no one will stop you. The Powerhouse Museum is no stranger to Star Wars shenanigans, having hosted a weekend's worth of May the Fourth fun earlier this year. For those already planning their costumes for this 90-minute experience, you're welcome to attend as Han Solo, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker or whichever other character you'd like — but helmets and masks will need to be left in the cloak room, and you'll also need to leave your lightsabers at home. Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition displays at the Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris St, Ultimo from November 16, 2018 until June 10, 2019. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the exhibition website.
Music and wine festival Grapevine Gathering is gearing up to return to Brisbane's vineyards in 2022. The festival pairs the very best drops with a vibrant music lineup full of local talent. British indie-rockers The Kooks who are currently touring their beloved 2006 debut album Inside In / Inside Out lead the lineup alongside party-starters Peking Duk and 'Untouched' icons The Veronicas. They'll be joined on the winery stage by Ball Park Music, Jack River, Confidence Man, Cub Sport, Alice Skye, Nyxen and Becca Hatch. It's going to be a big day of tunes, folks. Aussie sketch comedians and Instagram celebrities The Inspired Unemployed are taking on hosting tunes to keep you entertained between acts. In addition to the tunes, punters will have access to an array of first-rate food options and a heap of wines, of course. To help make commuting to-and-from the vineyard a little easier, the festival has organised return buses from Mount Cotton central, Toowoomba, Maroochydore, Capalaba, Brisbane, Victoria Point and the Gold Coast. You'll just need to add a (slightly pricey) bus pass to your ticket.
When the working week is done, folks just wanna have fun. We're paraphrasing Cyndi Lauper because she knows what she's singing about. If your idea of taking her advice involves listening to ace musos belt out a few tunes, then QPAC's Green Jam is the Friday afternoon session you're looking for. All about live music, tasty food and kicking back in a grassy spot a stone's throw from the inner-city, QPAC's Green Jam Sessions offer an ace start to your weekend every week. Held between 5.30–7.30pm, the outdoor songfest takes over the Melbourne Street Green (aka that vibrant patch of turf just past the Cultural Centre walkway) for yet another year — and, in 2019, it'll once again feature a Korean-inspired menu. So, who's on the bill? The lineup kicks off on March 1 with a BrisAsia-themed lineup of LÂLKA, Salmon & The Peaches and Japan's KiKi-Tsugaru, and will be fleshed out as the year goes on. Expect local musicians and rising stars, plus talent from Queensland Conservatorium – Griffith University, Jazz Music Institute, JMC Academy and more. And as for your stomach, it can feast on bulgogi bao, kimchi pancakes, cabbage and mushroom dumplings with dipping sauce, and barbecue chicken skewers with gochujang mayo. You'll have to pay for the eating part of the evening (and any bevs you place in your hand), but it'll be worth it.
Brisbanites already have plenty of excuses to hang out in, on, near and around the water. This is the River City, after all. But come May, you'll have another reason to hit the brown snake when GoBoat splashes into town. The Denmark-born company has been busy launching its eco-friendly picnic boats in cities all over Europe over the past few years, as well as in Canberra, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. Now, after announcing it was setting up shop in Brissie in recent months, bookings are now open for its local debut — so start getting excited about cruising along the river in a different way. Aimed at making the whole boating caper more accessible for everyday folk, the Scandinavian-designed vessels are slow-moving, a breeze to operate and don't require a boating licence, making for some fun, fuss-free sailing sessions. In a win for the planet, they also run on silent, pollution-free, electric engines, and are crafted from a mix of reclaimed timber and recycled PET bottles. Each of the contemporary GoBoats clocks in at 18-feet long, boasting a central picnic table with room for eight people (and all the necessary snacks and booze). And despite what you might be thinking, they're even affordable enough to fit your budget — simply BYO food and drinks, find enough eager sailors to jump aboard and a GoBoat session will start at around $14 per person, per hour. That's $109 hourly for the first hour, but the longer you book, the cheaper it gets. The Brisbane fleet will set sail from Breakfast Creek, with bookings available from Monday, May 24. And, the company's vessels are pet-friendly — surely you've got a very good boy who deserves a river jaunt. GoBoat will start operating from Breakfast Creek in Brisbane from Monday, May 24. For further details and to book, head to the company's website. Top image: Lean Timms
