Local breweries have again proved their might in craft beer's night of nights, as the Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA) named their 2022 victors. Overnight at the beer competition's annual awards ceremony, 35 trophies were handed out, after judges sipped and assessed a record 2,630 entries from across the country and the world. As with last year's competition, Victoria stole a good chunk of the fizzy, amber-hued spotlight, with the state's breweries taking out 13 of those major trophies. Reservoir's Hawkers Beer claimed the honoured title of Champion Large Australian Brewery, in addition to representing its home state as Champion Victorian Brewery. [caption id="attachment_744422" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hawkers Beer[/caption] Meanwhile, fellow Melbourne-born brand Stomping Ground snapped up the trophy for Champion Medium Australian Brewery, also scoring top awards with both its Raspberry Smash and Bunker Porter. Take note if you're on the hunt for a new winter drop. Other southerners to emerge victorious included Footscray's Hop Nation, whose Get The Gist was awarded best modern IPA; Collingwood brewery Molly Rose nabbing the title of best Belgian/French ale with its Nectarined; and Co-Conspirators with a win for its Hop Peddler hazy pale. Of course, the awards proved there's also plenty of fine beer drinking to be done in other parts of the country. Those repping the craft brew scene for Queensland included Moffat Beach Brewing Co, named Champion Small Australian Brewery while also getting a gong for its Triology Best Coast IPA and Shadow Of The Moon Eclipse releases. [caption id="attachment_811810" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Wayward Brewing[/caption] Inner-west Sydney mainstay Wayward Brewing nabbed the title of best wood and barrel-aged beer, and in an era where low-alc and booze-free sips are having a moment, Stone & Wood's 2.7% East Point won best reduced/low alc beer. Western Australian beer fans have cause to raise a few pints, too, after Beerland's lolly-inspired Blueberry Clouds sour took out the top slot of Champion Australian Beer. The AIBA also awarded some international breweries worth adding to your beer hit-list, including California's Belching Beaver, Weihenstephan out of Germany, Korea's Artmonster and Auckland's Deep Creek Brewing Co — the latter of which claimed the title of Champion Medium International Brewery. The AIBA is the largest annual beer competition of its kind in the world, each year recognising excellence in brewing, beer packaging design and beer media. For the full lineup of this year's AIBA awardees, jump over to the website.
Australia's strict rules surrounding social distancing and public gatherings could be relaxed in four weeks — mid-May — if three conditions, outlined by the Federal Government, are met. After a national cabinet meeting today, Thursday, April 16, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that the government's attention has turned to the "road to the recovery on the other side" and part of that discussion included the conditions under which current COVID-19 restrictions would be relaxed. On advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), the Prime Minister has outlined three conditions that need to be in place before restrictions will be lifted: increased testing, beyond those who are just symptomatic increased contact tracing, "using technology" local response capability, including the ability to quickly lockdown areas where there is an outbreak While the Prime Minister said that Australia has "one of, if not, the most extensive testing regime in the world today", he says these rates need to be increased even more to include those who are asymptomatic. "We need to do even better than that to make sure we can have greater confidence that when we moved to a lesser-restriction environment we can have confidence we can identify any outbreaks very, very quickly." On the second point, the Prime Minister did not mention the app specifically, but said that the country needs to increase its contact tracing to an "industrial capability" and to "do that using technology" and "with the support of Australians". Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has previously compared the app to Singapore's Trace Together, which uses bluetooth technology to record contact between people. As reported by the ABC, the app could be ready within a fortnight and the government would need at least "40 percent of Australians to voluntarily sign up for it to be effective". Controversy surrounding the app relates to it allowing the government to track your movements and share your data with others. In an interview with a Guardian Australia reporter earlier today, Minister for Government Services Stuart Robert said the app would swap your phone number with those nearby. https://twitter.com/joshgnosis/status/1250636195253501952 The local response capability would, as mentioned, relate to local governments' ability to quickly lockdown outbreak areas, such as northwest Tasmania did earlier this week. For now, though, the 'baseline' COVID-19 restrictions will remain in place for at least the next four weeks. The Prime Minister said they'll use the time "to ensure we get these [conditions] in place, and these baseline restrictions will remain in place until then". He also said states who have "gone beyond these baseline restrictions" — including how they may be "enforcing measures", see: fines — would be able to make their own decisions about whether they want to wind back those additional restrictions. "Those states will ... make their own decisions whether they want to change any of those arrangements on their own circumstances. I would refer you to individual states and territories where they may choose to do that over the next three weeks," says Morrison. This could mean fines for breaking social-distancing rules are stopped or Queensland's borders opened, for example. While the easing of some restrictions looks like a possibility next month, the Prime Minister has warned that "if you ease off too quickly, too early, you end up making the situation worse". For now, the current COVID-19 restrictions will remain in place for at least the next four weeks. And fines are still in place for disobeying these in NSW, Vic and Queensland. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Julia Sansone
Maybe you really love Patrick Swayze. Perhaps you just need some more terracotta or ceramics in your life. Or, the idea of pottering around a clay-based showcase and finding pottery pieces — for yourself or as gifts — could just be your idea of a great Saturday. Whichever category you fall into, head on over to Clayschool's Summer Show for 2024. Browse, buy, support local artists — it's the ultimate exhibition-slash-market. In fact, the event's organisers have dubbed it "Brisbane's biggest day of pottery". While we're talking multi-tasking, Clayschool's students are hoping to show off their unique, handcrafted designs, and sell some as ace one-off wares. Christmas is less than a month away, so this timing is mighty handy for you to pick up something special for someone special (yes, that includes for yourself). It's all taking place at Vacant Assembly on Montague Road in West End from 8am–4pm on Saturday, November 30. Images: Jennifer Hillhouse.
Bringing some of the world's greatest past and present artists to Australia, the Sydney International Art Series 2017-18 features two outstanding exhibitions — and a gleaming pop-up bar to match. First up, the MCA hosts Pipilotti Rist: Sip My Ocean, a kaleidoscopic exhibition exploring the much-acclaimed work of the Swiss video art pioneer. The most comprehensive showing of Rist's work in Australia to date, the exhibition considers the coming together of the natural world, technology and the human body through Rist's immersive installations and vast audiovisual compositions. Meanwhile, just across the Royal Botanical Garden at the Art Gallery of NSW, Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age: Masterpieces from the Rijksmuseum showcases 76 masterpieces of Dutch painting, created during an era of unmatched prosperity and artistic inspiration. Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age reveals the wealth, power and influence of an emerging Dutch society in the 17th century. As part of the exhibition, there will be an entire room dedicated to Rembrandt's vast range of work. Also, there will be a work by painter Johannes Vermeer — one of only 35 surviving paintings in the world. To celebrate this year's event, a Pipilotti Rist inspired pop-up bar has sprung up on the banks of Circular Quay. A vibrant and unconventional space, Colour Fields has lots going on, including Sunday sessions by Future Classic, snacks and cocktails by Culinary Edge, workshops and more. Art Gallery of NSW will also hold special events dedicated to the Rembrandt exhibition. Each Wednesday evening during the exhibition's run, the gallery's Art After Hours will feature special talks, tours, performances and a pop-up bar serving drinks and eats. Pipilotti Rist: Sip My Ocean runs until February 18, 2018; Colour Fields is open throughout the summer at the MCA and Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age runs until February 18, 2018.
Every day, every beach becomes an art gallery in its own way. If you've ever taken a bucket, filled it with sand, plonked it onto the shore and shaped it with your bare hands, then you've sculpted something — and you've added a tiny piece of temporary art to the shoreline, too. So, it makes sense that part of the Gold Coast would celebrate this specific art form right by the water. At this annual festival, there's more than just sandcastles on offer, though. Now in its 19th year, Swell Sculpture Festival turns the Currumbin Beach coastline into an openair art gallery — in 2021, for ten days between Friday, September 10–Sunday, September 19. Visitors can expect to get an eyeful of stunning creations all dotted across a one-kilometre stretch of sand. Yes, by simply walking along the beach, you'll view some stellar art (and you'll also enjoy getting some grains between your toes, soaking in the sea breeze and scoping out quite the view, obviously). This year's fest features more than 65 works, including pieces made with everything from concrete, stainless steel, copper, bronze, wood and glass to plastic, natural fibres, fibreglass, bamboo, wire, silk, stone and aluminium. And, in terms of artists, it boasts creations by a lengthy list of mid-career and emerging talents, including Atelier Sisu, Clayton Blake, Danger Dave, Greg Quinton, Jessica Harris and Shiloh Perry. Some pieces take inspiration from 1000 origami cranes, while others turn everyday household rubbish into flowers — and you can also expect to see sea dragons, windows, and musings on both the environment and the pandemic as well. Also part of the festival, at a pop-up hub at Helensvale: Homer Homer. This isn't any old likeness of The Simpsons character, however. Rather, it's a five-metre-tall inflatable version that combines his yellow-hued face with that the Ancient Greek poet Homer, who is presumed to have written the Iliad and the Odyssey. The 2021 fest spans fellow pop-ups at Mudgeeraba and Lower Beechmont, and at Chevron Island Park, too — and, via guided walks and just appreciating its treasures at your own pace, is all about letting its attendees engage with the pieces on display. Images: PBR Images/Leximagery.
Music lovers and festival fans, get excited: Spilt Milk is back for 2023, hitting up the Gold Coast Sports Precinct on Sunday, November 26. Post Malone leads the lineup, with Dom Dolla and Latto also topping the bill. So, expect to hear everything from 'Sunflower' and 'I Like You' to 'Rhyme Dust' and 'Big Energy'. Tkay Maidza and Aitch also rank among Spilt Milk's impressive 2023 names, with Chris Lake, Dermot Kennedy, Budjerah, Cub Sport, Lastlings, Partiboi69, Ocean Alley, Peach PRC, Royel Otis similarly set to hit the stage. Also, because this fest is also about food, there'll be bites to eat from Chebbo's Burgers, 400 Gradi, Chicken Treat, and the BBQ and Beer Roadshow. Originally only held in Canberra, then expanding to Ballarat, then the Gold Coast and now also Perth in 2023, the multi-city one-dayer has cemented its spot as a must-attend event for a heap of reasons — with this year's lineup clearly one of them. While the Gold Coast's general-release tickets have sold out, pre-loved and VIP tickets are available. [caption id="attachment_851187" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jordan Munns[/caption] SPILT MILK 2023 LINEUP: Post Malone Dom Dolla Aitch Budjerah Chris Lake Cub Sport Dermot Kennedy Djanaba Grentperez Jessie Murph Lastlings Latto Lime Cordiale May-A Mincy Ocean Alley Pacific Avenue Partiboi69 Peach PRC Poolclvb Redhook Royel Otis The Buoys The Dreggs Tia Gostelow Tkay Maidza Bill Durry Chutney Friends of Friends Logan Peach Fur WIIGZ Top image: Billy Zammit.
Melbourne's seen its fair share of dockless bike share systems rolled out (and often axed) over the years. But things are shifting up a gear this year, with the city's first ever long-term dockless share scheme for electric bikes set to launch next month. The City of Melbourne, the City of Yarra and the City of Port Phillip have announced they'll kick-start a one-year trial with Uber's much-hyped e-bike service, Jump. Jump has already been embraced by cities across the US and Europe, and is en route to our neighbours in Auckland, but this will be its Australian launch. When it lands in Melbourne from early March, the bright red pedal-assisted bikes will be available to hire through your regular Uber app. You'll just need to switch to bike mode, where you'll be able to see available bikes and use the app to unlock one and ride away. The bikes will be available to ride within the three inner city councils, which includes the CBD and Docklands, West Melbourne (and over to Flemington), the inner north (Carlton, North Melbourne, Fitzroy and Richmond) and down to the bay (Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, Albert Park, St Kilda and Elwood). In another effort to avoid the woes of past bike share networks, the councils have signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the rules and regulations Jump will need to stick to in order to keep operating in Melbourne past the 12-month trial. The company using geo-fencing technologies and remote monitoring to keep track of its fleet. Hopefully that'll help curb the number of bikes ditched in trees, creeks and other questionable spots around the city, as was mostly the downfall of previous players like oBike. As well as laying down requirements for parking and maintenance, it stipulates firm resolution timeframes for damaged or discarded e-bikes. Taking care of service and maintenance will be the crew from Good Cycles, a Melbourne-based social enterprise that trains and employees disadvantaged youth. The city is set to score 400 Jump bikes as the trial launches, with more headed to Yarra and Port Phillip areas in the following months. This will somewhat replace the City of Melbourne's blue bike share scheme, which was abandoned last year. Riders will, of course, have to don a helmet and play by the usual road rules when cruising around on a Jump bike. Prices haven't yet been confirmed but, for reference, in New Zealand the bikes cost $1 (NZD) to unlock and then $0.38 per minute after that. Uber hasn't announced any plans to launch Jump in any other Australian cities yet, but if the trial goes well, we'd expect that it will in the near future. You can expect to see the Jump bike option in your Uber app from early March. We'll let you know when it launches. You can find more info on the Jump bikes here.
Isn't it lovely to see big companies doing their bit for the social good. In Google's case, it's not just about donating huge sums of money. Rather, they make essential communications technology accessible to those who promote positive change. Google's recent launch of Google for nonprofits brings together an extensive toolkit for non-profit organisations, including AdWords, special YouTube privileges, Apps and more. Currently, the tools are only available to Google Grant recipients who receive thousands in in-kind advertising from Google. The company realised that gifting the use of AdWords and the like wasn't enough: Goolge also needed to teach non-profits how to maximise the potential of such tools. Instructional videos and the Make-A-Change section will show users how to make the most of the tools to communicate their message; while the Marketplace will connect non-profits with service providers offering free or discounted rates. Google offers grants to approved non-profits in the US only, but the marketing manager of Google for nonprofits Kirsten Olsen Cahill hopes to expand to other nations soon. [Via Mashable]
Before every movie started being turned into television shows, they were adapted into musicals. And before Brisbane's stage-loving Theatremakers team decided to put on a Halloween event, they clearly brushed up on everyone's favourite film-to-theatre efforts. At their Music Theatre Jam on October 31, they'll host a spooktacular live concert filled with thrilling, frightening and disturbing in musical theatre. Expect songs from Evil Dead: The Musical, Hunchback of Notre Dame: The Musical, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Heathers The Musical, Sweeney Todd, The Craft and more. Here, even if you're scared, you'll be singing.
Very occasionally you hear just a few chords of a song and know it's going to be a hit. When this reaction is stemmed from the tracks of local Gold Coast band Bleeding Knees Club, it's a sound to get excited about. These lads may look about 12 years old, but their experience far exceeds their apparent age. Their music is hard to define. A bit punk, a bit garage pop, a bit indie/alt, but a whole lotta of something excellent. It's music you can shake your hair and stomp your feet to. Their songs ‘Have Fun’ and ‘Bad Guys’ have attracted thousands of hits, they’ve been flooded with record deals, and the duo have just hit the US to strut their stuff at South By South West in Texas. Quite an amazing journey for two local boys. They're now returning home to hit up the Australian venues, gigging right the way up from Hobart to Brisbane and across to Freo. Tickets for this tour are currently around the $15 mark and it’s very likely that next tour it will be double that. Get in and see Bleeding Knees while you can actually afford it.
You know, Good Food Month doesn’t have to be all fancy wine pairings and food art. If you’re a morning person (the rarest unicorn), you can take advantage of the GFM Breakfast Club. This Breakfast Club unfortunately has nothing to do with Emilio Estevez, but instead involves weekday breakfasting at amazing locations for only $20 with coffee included. Pick up a confit duck and potato waffle with kimchi mayo, apple and poached cranberry salad at Campos Coffee in Fortitude Valley. Or why not start your day right with a brekkie salad: kale, mixed grains, bacon, sausage, chicken, tomato, poached egg and sourdough toast from the Atticus Finch Café in Paddington. More information about the Good Food Month Breakfast Club is available here. Image via Campos Coffee.
Every single suburb in Brisbane will be treated to its own intimate live music gig this September, as Brisbane Festival brings mini concerts to 190 suburbs to create festivals in the streets and concerts in cul de sacs. The free live music showcase was inspired by the community responses to the global pandemic in which Italians sang on their balconies and Americans choreographed TikTok dances. So, from September 4–26, Brisbanites can set up chairs in their front gardens or driveways to listen to acoustic performances, classical music, cabaret singalongs and DJ sets — all without paying a thing. The line-up is pretty epic, too, with pop-up performances from Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Busby Marou, Eliza and the Delusionals, Jaguar Jonze, Sahara Beck, Tom Thum and Pink Matter (plus more).
Cars and Australian suburban culture go hand in hand. In 1973, author Henry Williams was working in Brisbane's Acacia Ridge when he wrote the novel, My Love Had a Black Speed Stripe, an ode to the Holden Monaro centred around a racist, misogynist bully named Ron who's more than a little obsessed with his dream set of wheels. Fast-forward to decades later, and the lost Australian classic has been doing the rounds on stage for a few years. If you've previously missed what amounts to a black comedy of circus, mime, body percussion, film and car-porn poetry, here's your chance to check it out. You'll laugh, and you'll see the iconic Monaro presented as a living, breathing organism. May 13-16, 7.30pm; May 20, 8.30pm; and May 21-23, 7.30pm. This is one of our top five picks of the Anywhere Festival. Check out the rest. Image via Gayle Wedemeyer.
Getting into the festive mood? Prefer to do your shopping while the big day is still a few weeks away? Hate leaving your Christmas preparations until the last minute? Then pencil one of the year's must-attend Yuletide markets into your calendar: the Milton Christmas Twilight Markets. Formerly known as Christmas on Cribb, this is the Milton Markets' seasonal shindig, and it's taking place on Saturday, November 25 from 4–10pm in 2023. And sure, you've been to markets before; however, his festive event boasts plenty to get excited about. Here, you'll get your food and gift plans sorted, and lap up music and entertainment while you're there. This Cribbmas, you can also enjoy everything from gourmet food to artisanal wares — and, based on past years, there are usually more than 150 stalls on offer. Grab bites you'll want to eat on the night, produce for your big feast, and presents for your loved ones (and yourself). Plus, there'll be a pop-up bar onsite in case you need a break from the browsing and buying — or an extra excuse to feel merry. Entry costs $3 at the gate, and you can pay $2 more for VIP parking.
After the party, there's the after party. Or, at Good Food Month, there's the mid-month launch after party on Monday, July 17. Forget the timing and the title — it's basically just a great excuse to eat, drink and celebrate all of the deliciousness July has to offer. This year marks the first time that this event is open to the public, so you'll also get to rub elbows with some of the folks behind all of the month's foodie greatness. For the very reasonable price of 50 bucks, Brisbanites can head to Stokehouse Q for an edible, drinkable evening of revelry. Tickets include beverages and canapes, as well as some of the best views in the city. It's a chance to really get into the swing of what Good Food Month is all about and is well worth treating yourself to a cheeky Monday night out.
'Twas the night before the Exhibition holiday, and all through the city people were shaking their booties to live ditties. That's Ekka eve in a nutshell — however the Flying Cock are giving their music-focused party a bit of a twist. In the first in what might just become an annual event, they're keeping it local. Showcasing three of their favourite Brissie bands is the name of the game at Good Rock, with Good Boy, Shag Rock and The Con & The Liar the acts in the spotlight. A Brisbane public holiday calls for some Brisbane talent, after all — and this trio fit that bill and then some.
The Gold Coast is proving quite the topic of conversation at the moment, with one of the world's biggest sporting events coming to town. That's not the only reason to head down south for the next few weeks, however. And nor is just getting a dose of surf, sun and sand. Nope, if you're keen for a beachside arts and culture fix, then you'll want to head along to this year's Bleach* Festival. Taking place at various venues and spaces around the Goldie between March 29 and April 15, Bleach* has quite a few tricks up its 2018 sleeves: ten performances in everyday folks' living rooms, a musical inspired by the GC's first surf lifesaver, an apocalyptic dance piece on Surfers Paradise's main beach, and a 49-hour show on a sandbar in the middle of Currumbin Estuary, for example. If you've noticed that plenty of the fest's highlights take place in the great outdoors, that's because embracing everything and everywhere that the coast great is what Bleach* is all about. Other standouts include a music-filled trek through the Palm Beach Parklands, puppets at Paradise Point and several parties — including an opening shindig in Robina, a daily street party in the Southport CBD and a welcome party at the Gold Coast Airport arrivals section. Plus, if you've always wanted to sleep on the beach, then Wave Fields is for you. Merging music, environmental recordings and live sound from the site itself, it lets sound crees in and out of your dreams while you slumber by the shore. Image: Darcy Grant
The COVID-19 situation in Australia is changing every day, with the federal government first implementing a ban on non-essential events with more than 500 people and then mandating that everyone arriving from overseas self-isolate for 14 days. In response to the first restriction, events and venues around the country are cancelling and postponing their 2020 plans. The latest casualty: Bluesfest. The long-running festival was set to return to Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm — just outside Byron Bay — for the Easter long weekend, headlined by Alanis Morissette, Dave Matthews Band, Patti Smith, Crowded House and Lenny Kravitz, among others. But, Festival Director Peter Noble this morning announced it would not be going ahead. "We are heartbroken," Noble said in a statement. "We believe we were presenting one of the best ever bills of talent for you." While the Easter festival has been cancelled, Noble says "we are now working through how to move forward". https://www.facebook.com/bluesfestbyronbay/posts/3896289597078132 It's the first time in 30 years the festival will not run, but the second year in a row it has come under threat. Last year, Noble contemplated moving the festival to a spot outside of NSW last year because of the State Government's strict music festival licensing regime. According to website I Lost My Gig Australia, so far 20,000 events have been cancelled, which has impacted 190,000 Australians and equated to $47 million in lost income. And those numbers are continuing to climb by the minute. We'll let you know if and when Bluesfest releases more details. To stay up-to-date with the events postponed and cancelled in your city, head over here. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Joseph Mayers
In 2014, the ultimate celebration of French cinema in Australia will mark its silver anniversary with one of its most impressive programs yet. Lighting up Palace Cinema locations around the country, the 25th annual Alliance Francaise French Film Festival has film-faring Francophiles covered, with light-hearted comedies to searing dramas, as well as hat-tips to two of France's most legendary filmmakers. The festivities kick off on opening night with a screening of Nils Tavernier's inspiring sports drama The Finishers, followed by a post-film cocktail party. Other big tickets include the bloody Palme d'Or-nominated epic Michael Kohlhaas, Bruno Dumont's lauded biopic Camille Claudel 1915 and the Monaco-set espionage thriller Möbius starring The Artist's Jean Dujardin. Lighter options can be found in the festival's romance and comedy streams. Stylish indie ensemble 2 Autumns, 3 Winters has garnered plenty of positive buzz internationally, while Bright Days Ahead offers something for the older crowd, recounting the tale of a newly retired senior who strikes up an affair with a much younger man. Patrons can also preview the works of France's future filmmaking elite, with a program of short films from renowned Parisian film academy La Fémis. At the other end of the spectrum, fans of the classics might enjoy a retrospective of the works of new-wave pioneer Francois Truffaut, including his medium-shifting masterworks Jules and Jim and The 400 Blows. Closing night serves up another iconic slice of French cinema, in the form of Jacques Tati's wonderful 1958 comedy Mon Oncle. For the full Alliance Française French Film Festival program, visit http://www.affrenchfilmfestival.org/ https://youtube.com/watch?v=_0ENuOOgY2Y
Continuing a tradition championed by the minds of the Harvard Lampoon with the Soddit and Bored Of The Rings, and the Reduced Shakespeare Company with, well, Shakespeare, Potted Potter sees double Olivier award nominees Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner take on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven of Rowling’s magical marvels into seventy minutes of fire-breathing dragons, endless costumes, brilliant songs, ridiculous props and side-splitting hilarity. With flashing lights, smoke and a host of familiar characters, Potted Potter has sold out theatres all over the world and is a must-see for Harry Potter-philes. It is also a marvelous introduction to the series for anyone that has somehow managed to completely avoid the books and movies, and doesn’t know their hufflepuffs from their horcruxes or their parseltongues from their patronus charms.
How many bricks of Lego does it take to build a bar? It probably wasn't the first Lego-related question we were going to ask (or test for ourselves), but The Brick Bar is proof that there are tangible answers to life's most ambitious questions. According to the creators of Australia's first bar made entirely out of Lego, it's a million bricks. And while we don't actually know if anyone counted a million bricks, you can try and fact check this point it when it pops up on January 12. The bar has already made a stop in Melbourne and Sydney, and its Brisbane stop will see it take to the Story Bridge Hotel. You better be certain you're into Lego, with each session running for 90 minutes over the Saturday. You can expect elaborate Lego sculptures placed around the adults-only space — the Melbourne bar had a Lego bath, a Lego water feature and a Lego throne. There will be DJs playing across the afternoon and night, and you can try your hand at Lego table tennis or a Lego building competition. As for food, it's likely there will be brick-shaped burgers and bevs will be served in Lego keep cups. Punters will also be able to make use of a huge pile of surplus bricks to fashion their own Lego creations, in public, with no shame at all. Just don't walk around barefoot. Saturday, January 12 is clearly the day to be at the Story Bridge Hotel, with a ball pit bar also taking place in the same space on the same day. Tickets are on sale for both now, with The Brick bar setting you back between $25–35, or $55 if you'd like to head to both kidulting events.
What begins in Milan, then heads to Puglia and the Italian Alps, plus Naples, Sicily, Tuscany, Florence and Rome, too? An impressive getaway, and also the 2023 Italian Film Festival. What dives into history, includes love and treasures, and also soul-searching journeys, stunning threads, labyrinths and great art? Again, a dream holiday, and also Australia's annual celebration of Italy's best and brightest on the big screen. Running from Wednesday, September 27–Wednesday, October 25 at Palace Barracks and Palace James Street in Brisbane, 2023's IFF will open with The Last Night of Amore, which is where the fest's jaunt to Milan comes in, and one of its thrillers as well. Making its Australian premiere after a successful stint at the Italian box office, writer/director Andrea Di Stefano's (The Informer) police flick stars Pierfrancesco Favino (The Hummingbird) as it tells of an about-to-retire honest cop facing a chaotic, crime-riddled, corruption-fuelled situation. Also among the event's spotlight flicks, Kidnapped sits in the centrepiece slot, recreating the tale of the Vatican's abduction of a young Jewish boy in the 19th century, plus as the scandal that unsurprisingly followed. As part of a focus on actor, filmmaker and screenwriter Massimo Troisi, 1994's The Postman, the talent's two-time Oscar-nominated final film, will close out the fest with a 50s-set whirlwind of love and friendship. There's more where they both came from — more special-presentation and special-event movies, and more of Troisi's work. First, the features getting some extra IFF love. Starring Josh O'Connor (Mothering Sunday) and directed by Alice Rohrwacher (Futura), La Chimera heads to 80s-era Tuscany as a British archaeologist gets caught up in ring selling stolen Italian wares — while Beautiful Boy's Felix van Groeningen shares directing duties with his The Broken Circle Breakdown co-screenwriter Charlotte Vandermeersch on The Eight Mountains, which stars Luca Marinelli (Martin Eden) and Alessandro Borghi (Devils), and won 2022's Cannes Jury Prize. Also, Burning Hearts dives into crime and revenge in black and white, Carravagio's Shadow features Riccardo Scamarcio (John Wick: Chapter 2) as the eponymous painter, and documentary The Genius of Gianni Versace Alive unravels its namesake fashion designer's career. With IFF's Troisi retrospective, viewers can see three more of his films: 1981 comedy I'm Starting From Three, his debut as both a big-screen actor and director; Nothing Left to Do But Cry, where he acts opposite and travels back in time with Roberto Benigni (Pinocchio); and the cinema-adoring Splendour, also featuring the late, great Marcello Mastroianni. And, there's also Mario Martone's (Nostalgia) doco Somebody Down There Likes Me, about his exploration of Troisi's movies. Elsewhere on the bill, Nanni Moretti (Three Floors) directs himself playing a director grappling with today's streaming reality in A Brighter Tomorrow; Strangeness enlists Toni Servillo (The Hand of God) as Literature Nobel Prize-winning playwright Luigi Pirandello; The First Day of My Life also features the prolific actor, this time in the latest effort from Perfect Strangers' helmer Paolo Genovese; and both Like Sheep Among Wolves and Prophets sit among the fest's thrillers. The list goes on, including the family-friendly Supernova and The Properties of Metals, plus comedies Orlando and My Shadow Is Your Shadow. And, there's the music-focused My Soul Summer featuring Italian X Factor-winner Casadilego.
Another week, another Shakespeare adaptation treads the boards ‚ but don’t dare think you’ve seen it all before. As theatrical minds continue to be driven to tweak the bard’s texts in different directions, much of the fun stems from the varying interpretations, as well as the many modernising touches that often result. In both areas, La Boite’s new take on A Midsummer Night’s Dream promises to deliver beyond the enchanted lovers, fools and fairies fans already know and love. Here, writer and director Benjamin Schostakowski (of A Tribute of Sorts) uproots the charmed romantic tale from Athens to a nostalgia-tinged vision of the ordinary Australian neighbourhood. The story still centres on a love rectangle, amateur actors rehearsing a play, an impending wedding and the interference of magical creatures. Just add lava lamps, slide nights and macrame wall-hangings for an over-the-top local spin both offbeat and amusing.
Whether this is your first Valentine's Day together as a couple or if you've been partnered for years, it's always nice to save a bit of money while still showering each other with love and affection. With our thrifty and fun date ideas, you'll be able to enjoy the best part about Valentine's Day — that is, each other — while getting off the couch and away from the undeniably strong appeal of takeaway and a movie. And, even if you're not romantically partnered, none of these options are so oozing with loved up romance that you couldn't just as easily take a mate along. Use this V Day to celebrate love, whatever form and shape it takes, and whomever you choose to spend it with. Make this one to remember. DIY PICNIC BY THE WATER If you're the kind of couple that shirks restaurants and shies away from the chintzy romance commonly thrust upon partnered people at this time of the year, then why not avoid the fine dining scene altogether? Grab a rug, a basket and a selection of your favourite olives, cheese and crackers, and watch the sunset from a waterside vantage point near you. Brisbane has plenty to choose from. Try Kangaroo Point Cliffs, New Farm Park or Howard Smith Wharves — they're all close enough to the city that you can pop down after work and have plenty of time to have a plate of cheese in hand before the sun goes down. And depending which one you choose, you can wander through South Bank, stroll around the gardens or mosey around Brisbane's newest waterside precinct afterwards. HEAD TO AN ADULTS-ONLY ARCADE For a retro date night that'll place you firmly in kidult territory, make your way to B. Lucky & Sons or Archie Bros Cirque Electriq. You'll find one bar-meets-arcade in Fortitude Valley and the other in Toombul — so take your pick. The bars' games are clear throwbacks for the millennial generation, featuring everything from Mario Kart and Dance Dance Revolution and Daytona to NBA Hoops. At Archie Bros, you'll also find bowling and bumper cars. Thankfully, both are strictly adults-only at night, so you don't have to worry about being laughed at by a ten-year-old ruining your romantic vibe. For drinks, you'll find canned cocktails, alcoholic bubble teas, boozy shakes and other creative concoctions. If you live further south, you could always hit up Timezone. [caption id="attachment_760192" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Animation Alliance Australia[/caption] WATCH LOVE-THEMED SHORT FILMS IN A LANEWAY Cosying up in a cinema is an incredibly standard way to spend Valentine's Day. Watching inventive, vivid and creative short films in a laneway definitely isn't. Forget Love Actually — it's Love Animated when Bakery Lane turns its tiny stretch of Fortitude Valley's pavement into a free openair cinema for one night. In conjunction with the Animation Alliance Australia, 14 animated shorts about romance will grace the big screen, including one of this year's Oscar nominees for Best Animated Short Film. And you can forget popcorn and choc tops as well, with Bakery Lane's restaurants and bars getting into the appropriate mood. You just know that Cakes & Shit will have the perfect dessert for the occasion, too. HIT THE ICE Take a chill approach to Valentine's Day in a very literal way — by heading to Iceworld. As too many movies to count have taught us (including last year's Last Christmas, to mention just one), hitting the ice is a surefire way to set hearts a-fluttering. And, it's fun. That's always the case, whether you're such a whiz on the blades that you can bust out a few tricks or you definitely need to hang on to your favourite person for support. At both its Acacia Ridge and Boondall locations, Iceworld is decking out the joint with romance-themed decorations, a playlist to match and prizes for best couple — and entry, including skate hire, will set you back just $20 per person. [caption id="attachment_752321" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Andrew S via Flickr[/caption] WANDER AROUND A TWILIGHT MARKET Setting up a heap of stalls at Newstead's Gasometer, The Market Folk is turning Valentine's Day into a celebration of artisanal goodies. Grab your other half, take a gander at everything from homewares and clothes to plants and ceramics, and enjoy wandering beneath one of inner-city Brisbane's most striking sights — especially when it's lit up at night. The couple that browses together, stays together, after all. Plus, if you haven't yet bought your special someone a gift, you'll be in the perfect place for it. When you're done enjoying the Gasworks Valentine's Day Market, you'll find plenty of eateries in the vicinity for a post-market bite to eat as well.
In today's art world, it's hard to establish yourself as an emerging artist. Galleries will rarely take the risk of featuring your work, and investors won't even know you exist. Equally tough for wannabe art buffs is to develop a reputation of being a seasoned collector, known for having your proverbial finger on the pulse of the next big thing. The solution could be Artsicle — a try-before-you-buy art rental program based in New York which provides much-needed exposure to artists and affordable art pricing options for art afficionados. The site allows first-time investors to road test art before handing over the big bucks. Simply select from Artsicle's online catalogue, which largely features the work of young artists, and the original art is delivered to your doorstep. $50 a month gets you the pleasure of hanging new works on the walls of your home or office on regular basis. If you love the art enough you can buy it for your very own; if you don't you're under no obligation to purchase and can simply swap it for a new work. [Via PSFK]
Putting yourself in someone else's shoes is what empathy is all about. Wondering how a stranger's life plays out is one of the most common ways to kick your imagination into gear. Combine the two with artist Fiona Tan and an exploration of the concept of representation — both how we choose to portray ourselves to the world, and the way that we perceive others — and you have the video work Nellie. Exhibiting at the Institute of Modern Art from April 1 to 29, Nellie focuses on Cornelia van Rijn, a real-life figure largely overlooked by history. She was the daughter of seventeenth century painter Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, and moved to Batavia — which is now Jakarta — when she was 15. The rest of her tale, well, through a combination of film and photography, as well as research and storytelling, that's where Tan's piece comes in.
If one place has proven the cornerstone of Aussie society, it's the humble local pub. A space of solace for anyone in need of a refreshing beverage and a tasty dinner, it's our modern-day meeting ground, and it attracts all sorts. Perhaps that's why The Foxy Morons decided to stage their latest show at Hotel LA — and why they're satirising everything that makes the nation great while they're there. Come for anthem-filled, skit-heavy autobiographical cabaret, stay for the Sia and Nicki Webster jokes, and even enjoy a pub meal as part of the ticket price.
We all know how fast Splendour tickets sell out. It’s an often heartbreaking ordeal getting in the queue and then finding yourself ejected out of line or just missing out on tickets entirely! Some of us don’t have the cash to buy tickets either, and some others are just after some live music that’s a bit more on the alternative side. Too Poor For Splendour is the perfect event if you are one of the types of people mentioned above. The festival is on again this Splendour weekend for all you Brisbane music fans and the line-up is absolutely packed with great local talent. The line-up includes Tiny Migrants (Pictured), Cannon, The Otchkies, Cheap Fakes, Running Gun Sound and many, many more. Bonus information in case you aren’t convinced: the event is all ages, they have food stalls and the venue has a licensed bar on premises. Get a ticket, get yourself to Davies Park in West End and enjoy 12 hours of Brisbane’s best music. Please take note: Tickets are only available in-store at select locations.
No one can know for certain what tomorrow will bring; however, the tales told on screens big and small, and through games and comics as well, have delivered plenty of visions of what might come. Will androids dream of electric sheep? Will a Keanu Reeves (John Wick: Chapter 4)-voiced rock star and terrorist make their presence known? Will Afrofuturist technologies transform life as we know it? These are some of the future possibilities conjured up by beloved pop-culture titles — and they're all part of the Australian Centre for the Moving Image's world-premiere exhibition The Future & Other Fictions as well. Displaying at the Melbourne screen museum across Thursday, November 28, 2024–Sunday, April 27, 2025, taking pride of place as its big summer showcase, The Future & Other Fictions is a love letter to and deep dive into futuristic storytelling. More than 180 works feature, including from Blade Runner 2049, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Cyberpunk 2077 and The Creator. Saltsea Chronicles, comic series NEOMAD and Björk's music video 'The Gate': they're all also covered. Before he was just Ken, Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy) starred in the 35-years-later sequel to Blade Runner — and before he brought Dune and Dune: Part Two to the screen, Denis Villeneuve directed Blade Runner 2049. The Future & Other Fictions lets attendees follow in their footsteps via miniature sets, which are one of the exhibition's definite must-sees. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever gets the nod thanks to Academy Award-winning costumes by Ruth E Carter, while sketches from NEOMAD also feature — as do concept art from The Creator, Cyberpunk 2077 and Saltsea Chronicles. This showcase isn't just about well-known renderings of the future, though, thanks to work by Olalekan Jeyifous, Osheen Siva and Tāgata Moana art collective Pacific Sisters. Plus, via new commissions, DJ Hannah Brontë has her own take, and so does Liam Young and Natasha Wanganeen (Limbo). As it celebrates how screens imagine the years ahead via its array of artwork, sets, props and scripts — alongside clips, costumes and original design materials, too — The Future & Other Fictions also features a film season focusing on Björk, complete with Björk: Biophilia Live on the lineup. [caption id="attachment_974750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mahia Te Kore[/caption]
Clear your Saturdays, gather the gang, and get ready to eat, drink and enjoy brunch like it's meant to be enjoyed. Prepare to hop down the coast, too, for a mid-morning meal by the beach with bottomless booze. Whether you're weekending at Burleigh, find yourself in the area often or love brunch so much that you'll make the trek via public transport, you'll want to pop The Tropic's new weekend event on your calendar. Kicking off on Saturday, July 6 and running weekly from 11am–1pm afterwards, this excuse for a feast will pair executive chef Guillaume Zika's menu will your choice of beverage options. Driving? Not feeling like hitting the sauce? That's okay, too. Whichever you pick, you'll munch your way through freshly shucked oysters, a truffle and mortadella toasted sandwich, prawn cocktail rolls and wood-fired pork bun. Then, because every good brunch involves dessert, you'll tuck chocolate and strawberry cupcakes, plus lemon meringue tarts. The food-only package costs $55, while you can down bottomless NV Chandon and NV Chandon Rosé for $99 in total (including your meal), or opt for Veuve Clicquot and Veuve Clicquot Rosé for $129 (again, including food). From 11am, DJs will be spinning tunes, should you want to make a beachy day of it. Reserve your spot via email by contacting reservations@burleighpavilion.com.
Yesterday LCD Soundsystem made a surprise appearance on this year's Coachella lineup, almost five years after the band called it quits. But guess what? That is only the start of it. And proving speculation to be true, frontman James Murphy has posted a lengthy (read: really long) note on the band's website confirming that, yes, the band has officially reunited, yes, they'll be doing an "all over" tour, and they'll be releasing a new album in 2016. Holy shit. We'd almost be angry if we weren't so insanely excited right now. It seems that Murphy has anticipated some backlash from fans who have already mourned the band, and are presumably (hopefully) already on the other side of their seven stages of grief. In his apologetic post, which was also shared on the band's Facebook early this morning Australian time, Murphy acknowledges the fans who "feel very attached to the band, and have put a lot of themselves into their care of us, who feel betrayed by us coming back and playing". These fans did, of course, shell out and possibly sold a limb and/or firstborn child for their last glimpse of LCD at their final Madison Square Garden show back in 2011 — a moment that may now, according to Murphy, may feel "cheapened" by their reunion and promise to do a wider tour. He writes: "to you i have to say: i’m seriously sorry. the only thing we can do now is get back into the studio and finish this record, and make it as fucking good as we can possibly make it." An expected album release date is currently unknown, as are the details of the proposed "all over tour" — but we expect the Internet will start wildly speculating on that too. As for an Australian tour? Well, we'll be sitting here quietly, crossing all our things. Image: Matt Biddulph via Wikimedia Commons
When Jennifer Kent's The Babadook creeped its way across screens in 2014, it became an Australian horror classic. Now, five years later, the Aussie filmmaker is back with a completely different type of unsettling film. Prepare to feel just as uncomfortable in The Nightingale, which steps back to Tasmania circa 1825 to follow a young Irish convict (Aisling Franciosi) seeking revenge on a cruel British officer (Sam Claflin) — with assistance on her trek from an Aboriginal tracker named Billy (Baykali Ganambarr). Premiering at the Venice Film Festival last year, the movie made an instant splash, winning a special jury prize for Kent and nabbing the best young actor award for Ganambarr — a dancer from Arnhem Land who had never appeared on screen before. The Nightingale then screened at the Adelaide Film Festival, as well as at Sundance; however the bulk of Australia has been waiting for the film to finally hit cinemas. And, to even catch a glimpse of just what's in store. The just-released first trailer for The Nightingale takes care of the latter problem. "You don't want trouble, but sometimes trouble wants you," Claflin's character snarls menacingly in a particularly chilling moment, with the Hunger Games star definitely playing against type. As for when it'll release locally, the film is set to play this year's Sydney Film Festival before rolling out in cinemas around the country at the end of August. Unpacking Australia's colonial history, as well as its treatment of both women and the country's Indigenous population, it's an absolutely essential and shattering masterpiece — something we say from experience. The vengeance-fuelled film is also far from easy to watch, filled as it is with trauma, darkness, visceral shocks and deep-seated pain. Inspiring walkouts at the movie's sessions in Adelaide, Kent can't be accused of holding back. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfPxmnMAyZw The Nightingale releases in Australian cinemas on August 29, 2019.
Because every big event needs an alternative, Riverlife has come up with the thing to go to when you're not going to the Ekka. Their Winterfest is a riverside chillout session at Kangaroo Point, where relaxing in the sun is the main affair. Every ticket includes a winter warmer meal complete with freshly made waffles and a hot chocolate rum, i.e. the perfect food and drink for the season. If you're feeling a little cool — well, Brisbane-level cold — while you're browsing the markets and watching DJ Cliftonia and Sharif on the sax provide live entertainment, you won't be shivering for long, as blankets and heaters will even be provided.
There’s just something about celebrating the end of the year by stepping back in time: next stop, the 1990s. You lived through it, so you know what you’re in for: everything from neon and leggings to flannelette shirts and Doc Martens to cargo pants and backwards caps. You’re also in for the biggest club hits and dance anthems from the decade that gave us boy bands galore, rap and R&B racing up the charts, and everything in between. DJs from some of Brisbane’s biggest clubs at the time help bring a slice of authenticity to this blast from the past. You see? You really can still party like it’s 1999.
Attending film festivals around the world is the cinephile dream, but it's rarely a reality for most movie lovers. If you spend the end of August and beginning of September each year wishing that you were at the Venice International Film Festival, you'll understand. Brisbane's own annual cinema showcase has given big-screen obsessives a way to cope two years in a row now, however, boasting Venice' Golden Lion-winning flick as part of its lineup in both 2023 and 2024. Last year, Poor Things headed straight to BIFF from its prestigious Italian counterpart. This year, The Room Next Door is doing the same. This time, Brisbanites can look forward to the latest film from Spanish auteur Pedro Almodóvar (Parallel Mothers, Pain and Glory), which is also his English-language feature debut, with the iconic director spinning the story about a fracturing family starring Tilda Swinton (Fantasmas), Julianne Moore (May December) and John Turturro (Mr & Mrs Smith). Also hitting BIFF direct from overseas is Venice's Silver Lion-winner The Brutalist, which picked up the fest's Best Director prize. Actor-turned-filmmaker Brady Corbet is back behind the lens after The Childhood of a Leader and Vox Lux, directing Adrien Brody (Asteroid City), Felicity Jones (Dead Shot) and Guy Pearce (Inside) while following architect László Toth and his wife Erzsébet to America from Europe after the Second World War. The two just-announced films are on the BIFF agenda as special presentations, only screening once each. Accordingly, if you're keen to see them, you'll want to hop on tickets quickly. BIFF 2024 takes place between Thursday, October 24–Sunday, November 3, screening at Palace Barracks, Dendy Coorparoo, Reading Newmarket, Five Star Cinemas New Farm, Angelika Film Centre and Dendy Powerhouse. The full lineup is also on the way, with tickets for the complete program on sale from Thursday, September 26. So far, the fest has revealed that backstage comedy Saturday Night will open the event and documentary Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story will close it. Similarly already on the lineup: Anora, the latest feature from Tangerine, The Florida Project and Red Rocket filmmaker Sean Baker, which won the Palme d'Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival; the Amy Adams (Dear Evan Hansen)-starring Nightbitch; Riley Keough (Daisy Jones & the Six) and Jesse Eisenberg (Fleishman Is in Trouble) playing a sasquatch family in Sasquatch Sunset; Aussie horror The Red; and the female Iranian judo athlete-focused Tatami. The 2o24 Brisbane International Film Festival runs between Thursday, October 24–Sunday, November 3 at Palace Barracks, Dendy Coorparoo, Dendy Powerhouse, Reading Newmarket, Five Star Cinemas New Farm and Angelika Film Centre. For further information, or to buy tickets, head to the festival website — and check back here on Thursday, September 26 for the full program.
You’ve probably woken up to his voice for the last year, so now it’s time to see him in person. No, we’re not being creepy. We just think you should take your fondness for Triple J’s breakfast show co-host Matt Okine to the next level by checking out his stand-up. Okine certainly has plenty to talk about, and we know he’s not afraid to make jokes about just about everything, too. Everything from professional success to personal pain gets a mention in this new show by this Brisbane local made good. That’s right, he grew up in Indro — and he calls it Indro, so you know it is true.
Over the past ten years, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat have spent a considerable amount of time focusing on the most portrayed human literary character in film and television, all thanks to their Benedict Cumberbatch-starring series Sherlock. After four seasons, the series doesn't appear to be making any more episodes anytime soon, so the TV writers and producers have turned their attention elsewhere. To start a new decade, they're sinking their teeth into only literary character, human or otherwise, that's featured on the big and small screens more often than their beloved detective. That'd be Dracula. Adapting Bram Stoker's 1987 gothic classic for the BBC and Netflix, the duo's new take on the undead figure tells unravels the bloodsucking count's tale across a three-part mini-series. From ol' Drac's origins in Transylvania to his run-ins with Van Helsing, it's all covered — plus his encounters with solicitor Jonathan Harker and his wife Mina, and his impact in Victorian-era London, too — although Dracula promises to revisit and reshape the famous horror story in a fresh way. Baring his fangs as the most notorious vampire of all is Danish actor Claes Bang (The Square, The Girl in the Spider's Web), while the show's cast also features Dolly Wells (Can You Ever Forgive Me?), John Heffernan (Official Secrets) and Morfydd Clark (Crawl). Naturally, it all looks suitably creepy and brooding — and, in more than a few scenes, rather bloody. Netflix has just revealed the full final trailer ahead of dropping the entire show itself, which'll hit the streaming platform Down Under on Saturday, January 4. The exact time hasn't been revealed, but Netflix's newbies usually release at 6pm AEST / 7pm ADST. Check out the Dracula trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-b2HXpbg7U Dracula hits Netflix on Saturday, January 4.
Just like Lego, dodgem cars and games arcades, no one ever grows out of Easter eggs. Sure, once you're no longer a kid, you know that they're an expensive way to eat chocolate. You know that regular old blocks of the stuff are sold in the same supermarkets at the same time, too. But, when the world becomes obsessed with oval-shaped sweet treats each year, a familiar feeling kicks in. Your tastebuds still want what they want — and they want something round and chocolatey. In 2021, Mr Black has a new option to tempt your sweet tooth: dark chocolate Easter eggs filled with coffee liqueur caramel. Yes, they're the ideal option if you don't want to choose between a boozy beverage and chocolate — and you'd prefer to eat your dessert, not sip it. Hand-painted and measuring just over six centimetres tall, the Mr Black Easter eggs are a collaboration with chocolatier Meltdown Artisan, and cost $20 each. Both Mr Black and Meltdown Artisan are selling them. Usually, the latter's eggs sell out, so getting in quickly is recommended. If you decide to pick up some of Mr Black's coffee liqueur at the same time — or its bottled coffee negroni or old fashioned — you can also score a free egg if you spend over $50. The coffee liqueur-filled Easter eggs are available for $20 from both Mr Black and Meltdown Artisan.
No, this isn’t just the easy option — although it might be the cheapest. Watching fireworks is a New Year’s Eve tradition, and they’re much better seen in person than on television. Brisbane’s annual display at South Bank is up there with the best, but if braving the crowds rushing for the 8.30pm and midnight pyrotechnics isn’t your thing, why not make a day of it by packing a tasty picnic and staking our your ideal spot along the river? Or venture out a little bit further to seek out a few lofty peaks to peer down on the action. Mt Coot-tha, Highgate Hill, Coorparoo and Kangaroo Point also offer great vantage points.
There 'aint a whole lot new about Antoine Fuqua's The Magnificent Seven. The iconic Western was previously an American TV series running from 1998-2000, which itself was based on the 1960 movie of the same name, which in turn was based on Akira Kurosawa's 1954 epic The Seven Samurai. The story, of course, is always the same: when a big bad man runs riot through a small, peace loving town of good and decent god-fearing folk, the survivors turn to a lone vigilante and offer their every last possession in the hope of driving the evil away. In Fuqua's version, that vigilante is Denzel Washington's Sam Chisolm. As seen in recent Tarantino fare Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight, the African-American lead cowboy has become a popular choice for the 'neo western', and Washington, as always, is outstanding. His silky-soft voice, penetrating stare and wily smile are so perfectly suited to the genre, it's extraordinary to think it hasn't happened sooner. Washington is joined in this adventure by a motley crew of historical and cultural juxtapositions: the exiled Comanche and the Scalper, the Confederate and the Yankee, the Mexican outlaw and the Irish gambler (whose grandpappy died at the Alamo). They should all hate each other, but they don't, and while it's a fun crew to camp with, the total absence of tension between them is as baffling as it is clearly a missed opportunity. All the same, the ensemble cast – Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Byung-hun Lee, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Martin Sensmeier – play nicely off each other, and support Washington as best they can. On the direction front, Fuqua is no fool when it comes to high-end action, having helmed previous heart-thumpers such as Southpaw, Shooter, Training Day and The Equalizer (the latter two both with Washington in the lead). Here in The Magnificent Seven the gunplay feels impressively fast and frantic, if also wildly generous in the range and accuracy of the old-time six-shooters. It's also surprisingly gore-free despite the extreme body count, which makes for a welcome change and contributes to the old-school western vibe. In all, while The Magnificent Seven is far from perfect, it's undeniably fun, and that has to count for something. It's a western, with good guys, bad guys, gunplay and grit, and thanks to Fuqua and Washington, you get more than enough bang for your buck. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-RBA0xoaWU
Music-streaming service Spotify is set to launch in Australia this week, finally blessing Australians with its promise of "all the music, all the time". It's about time, as Spotify has already become the music service of choice for over 10 million users in 13 countries. With an estimated 10,000 musical tracks added each day, Spotify is essentially a vast music library. It allows users to listen to any of its millions of tracks in real time (no irritating buffering required) on any desktop computer or mobile device, and to share those tracks effortlessly with friends. Spotify is forward-thinking in its approach to online music streaming; instead of fighting the changing face of the music industry, it is embracing the fact that people are just not purchasing CDs in the volume that they used to. Thriving off of an audio advertising revenue model, Spotify identifies a demographic target audience based on users' musical tastes. This method has proven satisfactory to advertisers and record labels alike; the majority of US and UK record labels seem to be of the thought that some revenue is better than none. The social aspect of Spotify sets it apart from other music services. It integrates into Facebook and Twitter alike, allowing users to create and share playlists. It's simple to see and hear what friends are listening to: just press 'play' on another user's playlist. All you need to get started is a username and password, and to download the service to either Windows or Mac. The Spotify website currently offers Australians the option to sign up pre-launch. Enter your e-mail address and be one of the first in line to delve into this gigantic music library.
Get ready to feel your age. After the definition of a runaway debut album, a couple of Grammys, a world tour, a collaboration with Disclosure and worldwide fame, Lorde is returning to Australia for a handful of shows — and she's still only 20 years old. The New Zealand artist — also known as Ella Yelich-O'Connor — has this morning announced she will tack on four Australian shows to her Melodrama world tour in November. All outdoor venues, she will play in Sydney's iconic Opera House Forecourt, the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, Kings Park in Perth and Brisbane's City Botanic Gardens. It will be Lorde's first visit back to Australia since 2014, when she toured Pure Heroine as a wee 16-year-old. This time around, she will showcase her new album Melodrama, which is set to be released next week. General tickets go on sale at noon on Monday, June 19, but if you're a Frontier member or signed up to the Sydney Opera House's newsletter, you can access pre-sales ahead of time. Find more info on the tour here. LORDE MELODRAMA AUSTRALIAN TOUR Saturday, November 18 — Kings Park, Perth Tuesday, November 21 — Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney Thursday, November 23 — Riverstage, City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane Saturday, November 26 — Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
It's the film that first made the world fall in love with Hugh Grant, screenwriter Richard Curtis and their brand of British rom-coms — and, just like everything else with a well-known name in the entertainment game, Four Weddings and a Funeral is coming back. This time around, the hit flick has been remade as an American TV miniseries. If you're unsurprisingly a little skeptical, the news that Mindy Kaling is one of the show's creators and writers should change that. Kaling's six-season sitcom The Mindy Project was basically a long-running ode to the romantic comedy genre, complete with plenty of references to plenty of classic flicks. As a result, reworking one of the huge rom-com successes of the past 25 years really does feel like the logical next step. Across a ten-episode series made for US streaming service Hulu, the new Four Weddings and a Funeral will follow four American friends who meet up in London for a wedding. Clearly, given the title, three more ceremonies are in their future, as is a tearful farewell to someone they know. The show tracks a year in their lives, their romantic escapades and even political scandals — all with a cast that includes Game of Thrones' Nathalie Emmanuel as Maya, plus Rebecca Rittenhouse (The Mindy Project), Brandon Mychal Smith (You're the Worst) and John Reynolds (Search Party) as her best buddies. Nikesh Patel (Doctor Who) also features as Maya's potential love interest, who she first encounters in an airport meet cute, naturally. And while Hugh Grant doesn't show up in the trailer — sorry, 90s obsessives — original Four Weddings star Andie MacDowell does. Because Kaling isn't averse to nodding to other rom-com favourites of the era, My Best Friend's Wedding's Dermot Mulroney also makes an appearance. Watch the charming first trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=604JeF9RNu8 While Four Weddings and a Funeral drops on Hulu in the US on July 31, it doesn't yet have an Australian platform or airdate — we'll update you if and when that changes.
This Tuesday, Torbreck winemaker David Powell hosts the latest dinner in The Art of Wine series. Once a lumberjack and now an award winning winemaker, Powell will present his perfectly crafted wines – varietals that happen to be some of the most sought after sips among international connoisseurs, including powerful American wine critic, Robert Parker. We bet this has got your taste buds salivating! For those of you who aren’t familiar with Torbreck wines, here’s a little Torbreck 101. Torbreck is a Barossa Valley vineyard that specialises in Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro. The vineyard makes both red and white varieties, all with such intense, rich flavours inspired by the wines of France’s Rhone Valley. Guests will enjoy a five-course meal created by Lyrebird Restaurant Chef James Pearce, and QPAC Executive Chef Anthony Fullerton. Each course will involve wine that has been expertly matched by Powell.
Think of art school, and a very particular image probably pops into your head. The room is sparse and solemn, the models are quiet and unclothed, and wannabe artists draw what they see onto big sheets of paper. Offering the very opposite of that experience is exactly why Dr Sketchy's creative extravaganza has been deemed an anti-art school. Here, newcomers and experienced artists alike can gaze upon burlesque performers instead of traditional life models, soak up an atmosphere of boozy chaos and generally have fun. BYO drawing equipment from home and drink from the Powerhouse bar. The latter is just as important as the former.
In 2020, the pandemic forced international sport come to a halt for months, Australian football seasons to be played in condensed blocks and the AFL Grand Final to be held in Brisbane for the first time ever. In 2021 so far, it has also seen parts of the Australian Open played without spectators. Now, COVID-19 is affecting the Aussie leg of this year's World Surf League Championship Tour, too, with the WSL announcing that it's making some big changes to its upcoming stint Down Under. Usually, WSL's annual Australian events include high profile stops in Bells Beach and on the Gold Coast, but they've both been cancelled in 2021. Instead the sporting body will head to New South Wales, and over to Western Australia for two events as well. From April 1–11, the Rip Curl Cup will take over Newcastle's beaches, while the Rip Curl Classic will hit Narrabeen in Sydney's northern beaches from April 16–26. Then, Margaret River will become the centre of the surfing world from May 2–12, before the tour will head over to Rottnest Island from May 16–26. Announcing the change, WSL advised that it would concentrate on NSW and WA this year "following approvals for pre-approved quarantine bubbles" for surfers and staff. In a statement, it explained that it "could not achieve these bubbles in Victoria and Queensland in the short amount of time it needed to do so". https://twitter.com/wsl/status/1361449251172061185 Victorian surf fans — and anyone who has memorised the final Bells Beach-set scene from Point Break — can rest assured that WSL will be returning to town from 2022. Earlier this month, it announced that it had signed a deal for a three-year stint in the Surf Coast Shire until 2024. Regarding the Gold Coast event, its future hasn't been revealed; however, WSL advised that the decision to "cancel this event was based on the genuine possibility of multiple risks attached to sudden public health measures in reaction to COVID-19 such as lockdowns, state border restrictions and event cancellations". Under an agreement with the NSW Government, international competitors heading Down Under for the Australian leg of the 2021 World Surf League Championship Tour will board a chartered flight in Los Angeles that'll fly to Sydney, which is where all traveling athletes and support staff will then undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine. They'll also need to obtain a medical clearance from public health officials before they can enter the general community and start preparing for competition events. The Australian leg of the 2021 World Surf League Championship Tour will head to Newcastle and Narrabeen, plus Margaret River and Rottnest Island in Western Australia, between April 1–May 26. For further details, head to the World Surf League website.
If you're looking to expand your palate, enhance your culinary skills and be inspired by idyllic natural wonders, look no further. Taste Port Douglas is back this year with a four-day festival of the senses. From Thursday, August 11 to Sunday August 14, a dynamic program, curated by founder and culinary director Spencer Patrick, will showcase local produce and industry-leading chefs at the Sheraton Grand Mirage. If feasting on unforgettable culinary delights isn't enough to get you excited, you can't look past the location. Between meals, you can explore all this tropical paradise has to offer, including incredible access to two of Australia's best natural gems: the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. The full lineup is expected to drop this month, so stay tuned for more info. You can register your interest here to receive more information on early bird releases.
The Commodores and Faith No More might've been easy like Sunday morning, but at Saccharomyces Beer Cafe, you can be cheesy like Sunday afternoon. And, let's face it, who doesn't want to spend the last hours of their weekend gorging on dairy products while enjoying a few beverages? At Boatrocker Cheesey Sunday Afternoon, you'll sample five beers from Boatrocker Brewery paired with five cheeses from Fino Fine Foods. You'll fork out $45 for a few hours of eating and drinking fun, and we can guarantee that your stomach will thank you for the deliciousness. Now, we know what you're thinking: doesn't something like this happen in Brissie every few weeks? At the moment, it certainly seems like it. But hey, if matching quality beers with tasty slices of cheese is the city's newest food trend, we're all for it.
You can discover a lot about a city by cycling through it, which is what many places have public bike schemes — Brisbane included. And even if you're a local rather than a tourist, you'll see some sights you'd normally ignore if you hop on a bright yellow CityCycle, put pedal to the pavement, and go for a leisurely ride from Davies Park to the City Botanic Gardens. The river, West End's leafy confines, South Bank and the Goodwill Bridge line the 4.9-kilometre path, aka some of the most scenic spots in the inner city. Plus, as well as proving a fun way to get active, it's also affordable, with bike rental free for the first 30 minutes, $2 for the next 30 minutes and $5 per 30 minutes afterwards.
It's 'The One Where They Get Back Together' — and, after more than a year of teasing, it's finally about to hit screens. First hinted at in 2019, officially confirmed in 2020, releasing its initial teaser last week and now dropping a full trailer, Friends: The Reunion is exactly what it sounds like. If you know everything there is to know about orange couches, smelly cats and whether a couple is on a break, you'll be more than a little excited. It has been 27 years since the TV sitcom about six New Yorkers made audiences a promise: that it'd be there for us. And, as well as making stars out of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow, Friends has done just that. Sure, the hit series wrapped up its ten-season run in 2004, but the show has lived on — on streaming platforms, by sending an orange couch around Australia, by screening anniversary marathons in cinemas and in boozy brunch parties, for example. Friends: The Reunion promises to take pop culture's lingering affection for the show to another level, though, by reuniting its cast for a big dose of nostalgia. And, for trivia, too. That's the first thing that Aniston, Cox, Perry, LeBlanc, Schwimmer and Kudrow do in the new trailer for the special, which is slated to hit HBO's streaming platform HBO Max on Thursday, May 27 in the US. During the unscripted special, the actors behind Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Joey, Ross and Phoebe all chat about their experiences on and memories of the show — all on the same soundstage where Friends was originally shot, so expect to see some familiar faces and some recognisable decor. Aniston, Cox and the gang also have a few other famous pals for company, with the hefty guest lineup spanning folks with connections to the show and others that must just love it. On the list: David Beckham, Justin Bieber, BTS, James Corden, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Lady Gaga, Elliott Gould, Kit Harington, Larry Hankin and Mindy Kaling, as well as Thomas Lennon, Christina Pickles, Tom Selleck, James Michael Tyler, Maggie Wheeler, Reese Witherspoon and Malala Yousafzai. The special was initially set to air in America last May, but those plans delayed due to the pandemic. For friends of Friends Down Under, just when and where Friends: The Reunion will surface hasn't yet been revealed; however, it's bound to be here for us sooner or later. Check out the full trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRXVQ77ehRQ Friends: The Reunion will be available to stream in the US via HBO Max on Thursday, May 27. It doesn't currently have an air date or streaming date Down Under — we'll update you when one is announced.
