When Gelato Messina finally set up shop in Brisbane, the city's ice cream lovers sighed with relief and stocked up on stretchy outfits. Eating your way through Messina's regular rotating sweet treat menu is all well and good — and highly recommended — but the gelato gods' Brissie presence comes bearing more gifts. Every time the city has a food-focused fest, you can bet that they're going to whip up something special. Messina scooped up a few Christmas delights before they opened their doors, and joined the Fish Lane Festival fun last month; however, now it's Good Food Month time. Just as they do down south, they're jumping in on the action, bringing a four-item custom menu to their first ever Brisbane Night Noodle Markets stall from July 19 to 30. If it sounds like a good reason to celebrate, it is. In fact, It's Sher-Berth Day. That's the name of Messina's brand new white chocolate-lined cone, which is filled with mango sherbet, vanilla cream and mango jellies, and then dipped in white chocolate. Also in the never-tasted-before camp is the Dragonfruit Banana, aka miso gelato with lychee tapioca, dragonfruit jellies and sweetened coconut Thai milk tea. Two best-sellers from Sydney and Melbourne will also make their Brissie debut, such as the Great Balls of Fryer (deep-fried coconut and palm sugar gelato with passionfruit caramel and mango pudding), which happens to be the most popular thing from Messina's southern Night Noodle Markets stints. It's joined by Pavin' it L'arge, because everyone should get the chance to eat coconut and pandan sorbet with lychee meringue, yuzu puree and kaya (pandan custard) and raspberry marshmallow. And in case you were wondering, simple maths tells us that 12 nights and four desserts means you can cycle through each three times. It's going to be a sweet July. The Night Noodle Markets run from July 19 to 30 at South Bank Cultural Forecourt as part of Good Food Month. Check out our six tastiest events from this year's food-filled program.
When mid-May hits, Brisbanites will be able to head to Breakfast Creek and hop on an eco-friendly picnic boat, all thanks to Denmark-born outfit GoBoat. But if you're keen to enjoy a meal, a few drinks and the general experience of floating on the river with your mates before then, you can — because the company is popping up in Kangaroo Point first. You can still make a booking for GoBoat's official launch a bit further north of the CBD, or you can jump the gun and jump aboard in the city from Thursday, April 22. Yes, it's time to start getting excited about cruising along the river in a different way, with the vessels setting sail from Dockside Marina for a limited time. 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, and boasts a central picnic table with room for eight people (and for 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. "We have seen incredible uptake across GoBoat's three Australian locations (in Canberra, Melbourne and the Gold Coast), and we're launching this pop-up because of overwhelming demand from the community in Brisbane since they found out we were going to launch at Breakfast Creek," said GoBoat Australia Managing Director Mr Tyrrell. GoBoat will only be sailing from the Ferry Street spot for a few weeks, so you'll need to get in quickly if you're keen. And, in great news for your pooch, the company's vessels are pet-friendly — surely you've got a very good boy who deserves a river jaunt. GoBoat will pop up at Dockside Marina, Ferry Street, Kangaroo Point, from Thursday, April 22. For further details and to book, head to the company's website. Images: Lean Timms
Come Friday, July 20 and Friday, August 17, it's time for a night at the museum — but you won't find Ben Stiller roaming the halls here. Given what's currently on display at Queensland Museum, here's hoping the revelry doesn't actually awaken the exhibits either. Walking, talking, drinking and partying like an Egyptian, QM's latest After Dark shindig is all about mummies as part of the museum's Egyptian Mummies: Exploring Ancient Lives exhibition. There'll be music, drinks and demonstrations — plus attendees will get free reign of the space, peering not only at the six real-life mummies dating back to 900BC, or at the almost 200 objects on show with them, but also the rest of the joint's displays. You'll be knocking back beverages, examining pieces that have seen thousands of new years go by, and trying to unlock ancient mysteries like you're Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz or Tom Cruise — but a word of warning, they often sell out so you'll want to nab a ticket quickly. Also a highlight: a talk called Brew like an Egyptian: Ancient Egyptian Beer Making by Dr Serena Love, should you want to learn a new skill too. Plus, the August 17 event coincides with National Science Week. Image: Queensland Museum via Facebook.
Your green thumb is itching. You know where to buy plants. You know that you need to place them in the sun, and that you also need to water them. Alas, whatever you do, you just can't turn your house into a thriving inside garden. Basically, you need help becoming an indoor plant master — or tips on how not to kill your patch of greenery with kindness, at the very least. Enter the Institute of Modern Art, landscape designer and plant expert Pete Shields, and two hours of your Saturday that'll get you on the path to parenting green babies aplenty. The one-off session on June 14 will teach you all the things you need to know, like which types of plants are best, how their various parts — roots, stems, leaves and flowers, for example — function, and how to help them thrive. You'll also make cuttings and get a start on your own garden, with plants and materials supplied. Kicking off at 2pm, tickets cost $40 for non-IMA members — and if you're wondering about Shields' skills, you might've already seen them in action. He chose the plants for IMA's own garden, and has also worked on other spaces around the place, including Cloudland.
It mightn't be the season for trimming trees, singing carols and exchanging gifts just yet, but it is the season to pretend. And New Farm Cinemas has an event that's tailor-made for getting jolly in July — even if you usually avoid or ignore mid-year Christmas shenanigans. At 7pm on Friday, July 27, the venue is giving seasonal classic Love Actually a whirl. That means there'll be plenty of jovial tales of romance starring seemingly every actor who was famous in Britain in 2003. Colin Firth broods, Hugh Grant dances, Alan Rickman charms and Liam Neeson shows his softer side. Keira Knightley is wooed and Emma Thompson proves a calm force to be reckoned with. To accompany the session, the cinema is also serving up some very fitting refreshments. There'll be apple pie, which'll keep your stomach warm, plus mulled wine, which will warm your insides thoroughly. Given the movie will warm your heart — because if you're going along, you're definitely already a fan — prepare to feel mighty toasty as you revisit Richard Curtis' rom-com classic.
Do you remember a time before a certain frozen alcoholic beverage no one can get enough of? Well, before there was was frose, there was rosé. It's pink, sweet and everything that's great your drink of choice, just without the slushiness. It's also the main attraction at Jellyfish Restaurant on the first and third Sundays of each month. Kicking off at 11.30am, it's a boozy lunch rather than a boozy brunch, all for $110 per person. You'll be treated to a glass on arrival; however, you'd best settle in and cancel your plans for the rest of the day. Yes, there's more sipping and some eating to be done at the Eagle Street eatery's communal table, as you share a Mediterranean-inspired meal while drinking free-flowing rosé. Tickets include everything you'll be eating and drinking, with the lunch running through until 2pm. Rosé Sundays runs from August to October, with bookings essential — by contacting the venue.
Not content with showing their love for strawberries once a year, Sandstone Point Hotel has another tasty trick up its sleeves: its annual Oyster Festival. Seafood lovers, prepare to be in your element. The fact that you'll be slurping down molluscs while you're on Bribie Island adds to the fun, of course. Taking over the venue on Saturday, October 20, the day-long celebration of salty, slimy deliciousness will treat your tastebuds to oysters from all around the country, asking whether you can discern the difference. They'll be freshly shucked at the fest's oyster bars — and if you need something to snack on in-between, you can feast on the rest of the ocean's finest (and sip a few beverages) at an array of seafood and wine stalls. Anyone that really, truly loves their oysters can also take part in the competitive portion of the day, because it wouldn't be a food festival without a contest. Chef demonstrations and live music are on the bill as well, alongside a cruisy day hanging out off the Brisbane mainland, with entry costing $5.
Waffles for brunch? Cake for lunch? Ice cream for dinner? There's nothing stopping you from enjoying all of the above at Moreton Bay's two-day dessert festival. Coming to Redcliffe Parade across the weekend of September 8 and 9, it forms part of this year's Moreton Bay Food and Wine Festival. If you like the sweeter things in life, this section of the broader extravaganza will be first on your own menu. Running from 10am on both days, the event will feature a range of eateries serving up a range of treats, spanning everything from ice blocks in 60 artisanal flavours to crunchy balls of ice cream of the deep-fried variety. Fancy something slightly more healthy? Start things off with a frozen yoghurt, although maybe go easy on the sprinkles. And if you really want to counteract all of the sweetness, you'll be in the right place for it — just go for a walk along the Redcliffe shoreline.
It doesn't take much to turn a day at the Regatta into a party — but when the iconic Brissie pub really wants to throw a shindig, it knows how to go about it. Enter Regatta Fair, the fourth annual occasion dedicated to three days of riverside food, booze and hanging out. Basically, it's an excuse to eat, drink and be merry at one of the city's favourite haunts, not that you'll hear us complaining about that. Who doesn't want to wander beneath the fairy lights in the venue's laneway, peruse stalls selling all your favourite stomach fillers and thirst quenchers, and listen to DJ sets and live music in the process? Anyone keen on cheesy loaded cobb loaves, heaped potatoes, charcoal chicken and apple berry crumble won't be disappointed, so arrive hungry. And neither will those after an a range of wines, beers, ciders and sparkling, so arrive with a hankering for a beverage or several — and for a fun afternoon.
Sent to gay conversion camp after being caught with another girl on prom night, Cameron Post (Chloë Grace Moretz) lies on the ground with one of her fellow campers. They're taking part in a class exercise, but when Cameron doesn't express herself in the way that's expected, she's accused of being hostile. More than that, she's told that by remaining more reserved than her classmates — by simply being who she is — that she's attacking everyone around her. While hardly one of The Miseducation of Cameron Post's most dramatic moments, the scene perfectly encapsulates the antagonism that is often directed towards the queer community just for existing. Adapting the applauded novel of the same name and earning the Grand Jury Prize at this year's Sundance Film Festival for its efforts, The Miseducation of Cameron Post deploys the tactics mentioned above on several occasions. The film includes scenes that appear ordinary within the narrative, and don't always stand out when the end credits roll, yet still speak to something broader. In another example, Cameron peels potatoes in the camp kitchen. The 4 Non Blondes hit 'What's Up?' starts playing on the radio, and Cameron begins to sing along. She's timid at first, but as the song continues — complete with a chorus that screams "what's going on?", as well as lines about praying for a revolution — her enthusiasm grows. In specific scenes and in its overall mood, The Miseducation of Cameron Post is compassionate and sensitive — not to the concept of gay conversion therapy, but to teens who are chastised for deviating from society's narrow idea of normality. Focusing on 16-year-old Cameron, the film explores the struggles faced by those packed off to the strict God's Promise facility as they're lectured about gender confusion and instructed to bury their urges. Under the watchful eyes of Dr. Lydia Marsh (Jennifer Ehle) and her supposedly saved brother (John Gallagher Jr.), attendees are taught how to be more stereotypically feminine or masculine. Girls are pushed away from sports, and guys with long locks are given haircuts. Unsurprisingly, Cameron is far from happy to be there, although she has like-minded company in the world-weary Jane (Sasha Lane) and the thoughtful Adam (Forrest Goodluck). While her film is set in the 90s, writer-director Desiree Akhavan wades into topical territory with her follow-up to 2014 comedy Appropriate Behaviour. It's timely, too, with The Miseducation of Cameron Post the first of two high-profile titles about gay conversion heading to screens before the year is out. (The second, Boy Erased, stars Lady Bird's Lucas Hedges, with Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe as his parents.) That said, it's not the movie's subject matter that makes it revolutionary, but its approach. Although it details a horrendous practice, this is a quiet film. It's not sharply subversive like the similarly themed But I'm a Cheerleader from 1999, and it doesn't need to be. Rather, with a big heart and some well-deployed low-key humour, The Miseducation of Cameron Post demonstrates unshakeable strength and defiance — just as its eponymous figure does when she's torn in multiple directions by her feelings, yet refuses to submit to anyone else's ideas about her sexuality or identity. It's little wonder, then, that Akhavan rarely takes the camera away from Moretz's face. When you're making a movie that's so steeped in the emotions of its protagonist, that's an understandable choice. Given that Moretz turns in a performance that's more nuanced and textured than anything else across her career, it's doubly so. The Miseducation of Cameron Post also finds ample time for the excellent Lane and Goodluck, who ensure that their supporting players feel exceptionally well-rounded. It gives other figures their small but important moments too, fleshing out the myriad of ways that places such as God's Promise can do damage. But whether Akhavan is rendering the picture's frames in muted tones that match Cameron's reserved personality, or simply capturing the pain flickering across Moretz's brow, she always adopts her lead character's perspective. This is a movie that gazes with the young woman at its centre, and strives to convey her experience in difficult circumstances, instead of merely looking at her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6yPs5Nayog
For its latest event, Welcome to Bowen Hills is celebrating a popular pairing: seafood and sparkling. One comes from the ocean, the other spans everything from Champagne to Prosecco to bubbling rosé, and they each make the other taste even better. Free to attend from 11am on both Saturday, September 15 and Sunday, September 16, the Seafood & Sparkling Festival might have an obvious name, but it's lineup won't fall into the same category. Salt Meats Cheese will be getting their seafood on, and they'll be joined by a heap of others — including Brisbane's favourite seafood trucks, of course. And, drinks-wise, there'll be 12 different types of tipples. If you're really keen on your sparkling — so keen that you want to tuck into as much as you can for two hours — there's also the $99+booking fee option to hang out in the French Garden Bar. It includes bottomless bubbles, plus plates of oysters and other seafood, and you'll need to buy a ticket in advance.
On Saturday, September 8, romance will flow through King Street in Bowen Hills thanks to a free wedding for eight LGBTIQ couples. It's part of this year's Brisbane Festival, and the precinct is spreading the love until Sunday, September 29 with three weeks of themed activities and specials. Called Love is King, the event is all about making hearts flutter. Or, maybe it just knows that the way to anyone's heart is through their stomach. Really, it's celebrating the fact that love is now equal thanks to the marriage equality vote — and attendees can expect to eat plenty of heart-shaped food, nab a few freebies and fall head-over-heels for their dinner. Over at Il Verde, free heart-shaped pizzas are on the menu with every main meal and cocktail, while The Lamb Shop is serving up free pink tzatzki and feta with every souvlaki. The Emporium Barber is handing out free espresso martinis with each haircut, and Hello Chicken is offering free chilli rice cakes with every purchase. Elsewhere — and for a price — Sushi & Nori has heart-shaped sushi, The George is doing rainbow muffins, Banoi has two-for-one bowls of pho and Super Combo has added cotton candy Fairy Floss milkshakes to its lineup. If that's not enough, between 4–8pm on Saturday, September 8, the Bavarian Beerhaus will boast a free lolly bar — because love is sweet, obviously.
It's Ekka time again, but heading to the annual show isn't everyone's idea of fun. Specifically, if you're after an event that puts sustainability and ethical practices first and foremost — and focuses on zero-waste ideals and cruelty-free products — then you might want to mosey along to The Green Edge's one-day alternative instead. Taking place on the Brisbane midweek public holiday that is Wednesday, August 15, The Green Edge Vegan Ekka Day Festival has dagwood dogs, but without any animal products. It'll also have show bags, but they won't be filled with the kind of sugary goodies you'd get at the RNA. Instead, the Windsor store is all about green and vegan wares — at its bake sale, in its raffles, throughout its stalls and while live music plays. From 9.30am–3pm, a heap of other likeminded businesses will be on-site joining in, and yes, everything is 100 percent vegan. Entry is free, and as well as bringing the littlies, you can also bring your pets too.
Bowls clubs aren't just a source of beer at 1970s prices, great cheap lunches and fun stints of rolling balls at other balls — or not at Club Greenslopes at least. The inner-south spot is also Sonic Masala's annual home, with the music festival returning for 2018. The main action takes from 11am on Saturday, August 18, combining everything that a 4ZZZ-presented music festival at a bowls club should: bowls (obviously), bands (of course), brews (naturally) and food (well, you're going to be hungry after all of the above). And, it's bringing a packed lineup, all for the entry price of $25 on the door, with everyone from Harmony and Bad Bangers to Nova Scotia and Eyes Ninety on the bill — plus Glomesh, Oranges, Time For Dreams, the Flangipanis and plenty more. If that's not enough, there'll also be a pre-fest party the night before at Betty's Espresso and Bar in South Brisbane. Screamfeeder leads the Friday evening bill, and tickets to the August 17 shindig also cost $25 at the door.
Like beer? Like trying local boutique brews? Ever feel a little overwhelmed by the number of options available? While no one should complain about the wide variety of beverages those fond of a tipple can now access, attempting to try them all can prove overwhelming. That's where Five Flavours comes in. Changing its microbrewery of the moment at each event, the festival showcases different varieties to give beer lovers a taste of the options they might be missing. On this year's Ekka public holiday on Wednesday, August 15, Brew Dog and Hills Cider will be competing for the limelight, serving up their finest tipples. Yes, it's a brew off of the beer versus cider variety — but drinks aren't the only thing on offer at Five Flavours. There'll also be live music, plus doggos are welcome. And, the festival features a menu of contemporary morsels ranging from pulled pork bao to lamb yiros, with a meal and one beer included in the $24.90 (pre-sale) to $39.90 admission price.
There are many activities you can do in a two-hour time slot. You could watch all six episodes of the ABC's satirical beauty blog Sarah's Channel, cook 60 packets of 2 Minute Noodles or listen to Pink Floyd's 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' 4.6 times. But we think the tastiest way to pass 120 minutes is to spend it eating endless plates of tacos. And that's exactly what you can do each Sunday in January, when El Camino Cantina dishes out two hours of unlimited tacos for just $19 a pop. Rock up to either the Bowen Hills or Chermside between 3–6pm, and you'll be able to dig into a bottomless feast of everyone's favourite Mexican dish. To redeem the offer, you will need to purchase a drink of sorts. Watermelon margs will be $7.50 — but you can get a glass of sangria, a Dos Equis or, really, anything else on the extensive drinks menus. [caption id="attachment_746036" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] El Camino Chermside[/caption] If you're getting a crew together, you might want to book in advance. You can lock down a table here.
Turning glass containers into plant-filled miniature landscapes, terrariums aren't all that difficult to make. They're an achievable craft project that doesn't require too green a thumb, look great, and can fit in homes of all shapes and sizes. But who wants to whip up a regular ol' terrarium when you can add a splash of Studio Ghibli magic to your pebbles, moss and other plants? At the Totoro Terrarium Workshop, you'll learn all the terrarium basics, including the art of terrarium landscaping, everything you need to know about mosses and lichens, detailed info about tropical species and how to care for them long-term. As the name indicates, you'll also discover how to turn your new creation into an ode to My Neighbour Totoro. As fans of the movie will already know, it's basically screaming out for the terrarium treatment. Your $89 ticket includes all of the above, as well as everything you need to make a Totoro-themed terrarium — with Botanicals by Bella hosting the session at West End's All the Green Things. Book your spot for Friday, January 31, with the workshop running from 6.30–8.30pm. Then, be prepared to get spirited away. Top image: Botanicals by Bella.
Knowing when to treat yo'self is an essential life skill. Spoiling your furry, barking, four-legged best friend is just as important, of course. Pampering your pupper is hardly difficult — who doesn't want to shower their adorable little canine with everything its little heart desires? — but we're guessing you haven't yet taken your pooch to a tapas bar for dogs. Imagine how your woofer's face will light up when they see all that food — and that's just part of the fun at It's a Dog's Life. A puppy party that also doubles as a mini marketta, it'll also feature an indoor off-leash area, a pooch-friendly ball pit, pupcakes and doggy doughnuts, pooch portrait sessions, a kissing booth, a pupper beauty station and a range of businesses showcasing canine products. For humans, there'll be a licensed bar and cafe as well. If your very good dog is keen, head to Smoked Garage in Fortitude Valley from 11am on Saturday, February 1. Tickets cost $29, and it's recommended that you nab one in advance as places are limited — but, as well as entry for you and your pup, you'll receive a Pimm's cup or Aperol spritz on arrival. With the weather set to be warm, you and and pooch will also be pleased to know that the whole shindig takes place in air-conditioned comfort.
For decades, Disney has told viewers tales of princes, princesses, and other heroes and heroines — but they're only half of every Mouse House story. What would Cinderella's plight be without her stepmother and stepsisters? Alice's absent the Queen of Hearts? Aladdin's sans Jafar? And how would've all those dalmatians fared if they were free of Cruella de Vil? The list goes on — and if you've been paying particular attention to all of these wicked, evil and scheming characters over the years, now is your time to shine. Man vs Bear is hosting a Disney Villains trivia night, where your knowledge of the baddest folks in the studio's movies will come to the fore. From The Little Mermaid's Ursula to Beauty and the Beast's Gaston, they'll all be covered. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0OFH4xpPr4 The Lion King's Scar, Sleeping Beauty's Maleficent, Mulan's Shan Yu — we told you they kept coming. Disney Villains Trivia takes place at The Elephant on Thursday, January 23, from 7pm (with arrivals from 6pm). Entry is free, but you'll want to register in advance.
New years and treating yo'self go hand in hand, including on Lunar New Year. For an indulgent way to welcome the Year of the Rat, CBD fine diner Donna Chang is putting on a feast — and you have two weeks to head along. From Saturday, January 25–Saturday, February 8, head chef Jason Margaritis is whipping up a Chinese New Year Banquet for both lunch and dinner. Just what you'll be eating hasn't been revealed, but Donna Chang is known for its Sichuan and Cantonese-style cuisine. It's also rather fond of cooking its dishes in wood-fired ovens and over open flame grills, and serving up dim sum and fresh seafood from its display tanks. This isn't a cheap meal, setting hungry folks back $128 per person — and an extra $50 if you'd like your food paired with matched wines. There'll also be lion dances livening up the inner-city restaurant at 6.45pm and 8.45pm on Saturday, January 25, Friday, January 31 and Saturday, February 1.
For as long as most of us can remember, Wednesday has been an unloved day lurking in the middle of every week. It's a day when the past weekend has become just a memory, the next one seems much too far away and absolutely no one is at their chirpiest. At The End, however, Wednesdays are now cause for celebration. If you love burgers, like pairing them with a drink and are particularly fond of paying as little as possible for the combo, you'll be cheering. At Cheeseburgers in Paradise, you can nab a burg for just $5 — with a beverage purchase on top. A weekly event in collaboration with fellow West End local Amin's Butcher and Grill, Cheeseburgers in Paradise is serving up the obvious — but if you're meat-free, there's also a vegetarian option. Just head down to Vulture Street every hump day between 6–9pm. Images: The End.
A gin and tonic is like a pair of jeans: great in its classic form, but capable of many, many inventive and excellent variations. And when it comes to everyone's favourite type of juniper spirits, the possibilities are endless. If you can dream it up, you can drink it. That's the idea behind Ginside Out, which invites gin-loving Brisbanites to Petrie Terrace's Libertine for an afternoon of conjuring up your own takes on the beloved beverage. Yes, it's a make-your-own G&T party, with a heap of boutique gins, Fever Tree tonics, fruits and botanicals on hand so that you can create the ultimate cocktail. It happens once a month, with the next taking place from 2–6pm on Sunday, January 20. All you need to do is head to the Libertine garden and get busy. DJ PopShelf will also be spinning tunes to give your mixology session a soundtrack — and cost-wise, it's a pay for what you drink affair.
Until Saturday, February 16, one word will echo throughout Petrie Terrace's Brisbane Arts Theatre: Miranda. It'll be yelled on the stage and become lodged in the watching audience's minds. After all, you can't mount a production of iconic Aussie tale Picnic at Hanging Rock without shouting after its enigmatic central schoolgirl when she goes missing during a Valentine's Day excursion to the Victorian landmark. For those who haven't read Joan Lindsay's 1967 novel, seen Peter Weir's 1975 film or watched last year's television adaptation, the tale follows a picnicking group who suddenly vanish in 1900. It's a work of fiction, but because Lindsay originally framed it as being a true story, it's become one of the country's great myths. Of course, it's a narrative that lends itself to folklore anyway — and leaves viewers wondering about its enigmatic ending. Brisbane Arts Theatre's season brings the classic to Brisbane's stage scene, enlivening what might just be the nation's biggest mystery. It plays from Thursday to Sunday across its month-long season.
An author who paid others to pen his books. A flagrant womaniser and gambler. Someone who'd lose his last franc rather than live within his means. Obsessed with keeping up appearances in Parisian artistic circles, Henry Gauthier-Villars (Dominic West) — or Willy, as he preferred to be called — was many things. He's certainly the least interesting part of a story that shouldn't be about him, but the real-life figure's actions guaranteed otherwise. Marrying Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (Keira Knightley) when she was 20, and putting her to work when he was desperate for ghostwriters, he claimed her autobiographical Claudine novels as his own. He also refused to give her any credit despite years of success — and even went as far as locking Colette in a room for hours when he wanted her to increase her literary output. While it might seem awkward to start a review of Colette's biopic by thrusting her first husband to the fore, that was her married life with Willy in a nutshell. There's no doubting that they loved each other, at least initially, however his sense of importance cast a long shadow. The conventions of the era didn't help; it was difficult for women to be taken seriously in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and impossible for Colette to get her books published under her own name. But hers isn't a tale of a talent simply finding her calling against the odds. Rather, as handsomely directed by Wash Westmoreland, it's one of a woman breaking free of a man's control, society's expectations and gender-based constraints. More than that, it's still devastatingly timely. Co-scripted by Westmoreland along with his Still Alice co-director Richard Glatzer and Disobedience screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz, there's a wily air about Colette from the outset. It's evident when Colette is glimpsed rushing through her family's modest Burgundy estate for a secret, lusty rendezvous with Willy. It's apparent, too, when she discovers her husband's philandering ways, and demands that she's no longer ignored and overlooked. Indeed, every time that Colette is pushed aside, she fights back. Whether she's dismissed for her country upbringing, left stranded at home while Willy goes out on the town, or threatened with scandal when she enjoys relationships with women, she rallies against the limitations placed upon her. Earning recognition for her own work might be her toughest hurdle — even more so than the response to her move into acting — but Colette was adept at bursting through boundaries. Often considered restrained or aloof in period dramas such as The Duchess and A Dangerous Method, Knightley frequently uses those traits to her advantage in Colette. Her protagonist isn't distant, but she does boast a sense of steeliness — one that, in another tale, might've been mistaken for detachment. That said, it's when the actor subverts expectations that she turns in some of her most memorable work in recent years, selling her character's full wit, charm and impact. Though never lacking in self-assurance, Colette proves as spontaneous and spirited as she does determined and resolute. She's someone who's always comfortable in her own skin, even when she's told that she shouldn't be, as is continually made plain in Knightley's lively and lived-in central performance. In a movie about a woman blazing brightly, it should come as no surprise that its star is the cast's standout. West's take on Willy is purposefully and convincingly grating, while Eleanor Tomlinson (Jack the Giant Slayer) and Denise Gough (Juliet, Naked), playing Colette's lovers, are barely given room to flesh out their parts. Still, they each add detail to a film that's never just celebratory. In chronicling the formative years of one of the greatest female literary figures of her time (and of all time), Westmoreland's biographical picture compellingly delves into the world that made its subject who she was. Domineering men, gossipy parties, the superficial pleasures of ornate wallpaper and costuming — to understand why Colette was most at home in her family garden, or pouring her life onto the page, or breaking fashion taboos by wearing a suit, is to first understand everything that the iconic author was told to be, yet chose to ignore. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnTNgZz4Sm0
Most folks will tell you that there's no bad time for a margarita, and they'd be right. But there is a particularly great time to grab a glass and enjoy a sip or several: February 22, also known as National Margarita Day. To celebrate the occasion in 2019, the Osbourne Hotel is throwing a Friday fiesta. It's a two-stage affair — head by from 6pm when the party really gets going, or drop by during the day to get the drinks started early. Four different types of margs will be on offer, including a classic, a strawberry and jalapeno variety, an espresso concoction, and that goes heavy on the lemon and lime. Once evening hits, there'll be four kinds of tacos, plus both chicken and vegetarian nachos. Those making a night of it will also find themselves dancing to a mariachi band (combine their music with a few salty tipples, and you'll be making shapes in no time). Image: The Osbourne Hotel.
Your must-see movie list just keeps growing, but your wallet doesn't want to play ball. Call Dendy Cinemas' latest special a case of great timing, then, with the chain offering up discount tickets that'll solve your problem. Every Tuesday to Saturday until February 27, as long as you head to the flicks from 8pm onwards, you'll only pay $8 for your movie of choice at Dendy Portside. Buy online or buy at the box office — either way, you'll nab a bargain. With everything from Glass to Mary, Queen of Scots to A Star is Born (still) currently screening, there's plenty to watch if you're keen to spend as much time in a darkened room as possible. The offer isn't available for special events, previews or Dendy Arts sessions, but remains valid for everything else. Plus, Portside is also slinging two-for-one drinks after 5pm every day of the week.
Stones Corner's Shady Palms has just the activity for your Friday night — and if you guessed that it's giving a game your nan probably plays a musical twist, then that's a bingo. At Musical Bingo, you don't just wait for someone to tumble a sphere of balls, pick out a number and make a bad joke. Instead, you'll hear bits and pieces of songs, and then match them to the ones listed on your bingo card. Running from 7pm on February 1, it's as simple as it sounds — so if you're keen to both face and match the music, then you're more than catered for. Entry is free, the session runs for two-and-a-half hours and there are prizes up for grabs, of course. And yes, given the nature of the night, we're guessing there'll be sing-alongs. Image: Shady Palms. Updated January 30.
Keen to escape the heat in a cinema, but your wallet doesn't want to play ball? Call Dendy Cinemas' latest special a case of great timing, then. For the week spanning Thursday, January 10 to Wednesday, January 16, the chain offering up discount tickets that'll solve your problem — as long as you purchase online, you'll only pay $8 for your movie of choice at Portside and Coorparoo. Or movies. With everything from Aquaman and The Favourite to Colette and Vice currently screening — plus Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Bumblebee, Mary Poppins Returns and Bohemian Rhapsody too — there's plenty to watch if you're keen to spend as much time in a darkened room as possible.Many of these won awards at the recent Golden Globes, so you can start ticking them off your to-watch list, too. The special isn't available for special events, Dendy Arts sessions or preview screenings, but you're certain to find something to watch regardless.
All day, every day that it's open, West End's Covent Garden is in the gin game. Gin and tonics, gin cocktails, gin shots — if you like your alcoholic beverages made from juniper spirits, that's what you'll find here. That remains true from 11am on Sunday, January 27; however the Boundary Street joint is going a little more gin crazy than usual. It's calling the celebration Ginuary, and we recommend that you arrive thirsty. Revamping the event since 2019, this year's shindig will involve a pop-up bar focusing on Ink Gin, where you making your own G&Ts by choosing from seven different tonics and more than 100 garnishes. There'll also be small-sized masterclasses each hour, with Brookie's Gin in the spotlight — and tasting paddles available from Four Pillars. Highlighting how huge 2018 was in the gin world, Covent Garden is compiling a hottest 100 of Australian and New Zealand gins, too, complete with a countdown on the day. You can vote online until noon on Friday, January 25 — or in-person at the venue — and having your say will give you priority in getting into the party. While this soiree is free to enter, the venue does have a 250-person capacity.
"Luke, I am your father" might just be one of the most famous line ever uttered in a movie — except, of course, that's not actually what Darth Vader said. If you're pedantic about the exact phrasing of iconic Star Wars dialogue, or just brimming with Jedi-focused tidbits, then here's your chance to put those skills to the test. Come Wednesday, January 30, Blute's Bar is hosting an evening of fun that no one can have a bad feeling about. The Valley venue is delving into the series that has not only spanned ten films to date, but also inspired a host of new instalments to come. If you have a Chewbacca costume in your wardrobe, you're destined to be there. As for prizes, they'll be on offer for your mastery of Star Wars info. And, because it's all taking place in a bar, drinks are on the menu too. Sure, it's not quite the Mos Eisley Cantina, but you can pretend. The night gets underway from 7pm, but you'll want to arrive early to nab a table — and to start arguing over whether Han shot first.
Summer mightn't be here just yet but, thanks to Brisbane's sunny climate, pool party season is. Indeed, it's kicking off with one big splash at W Brisbane, with the opulent hotel nudging everyone into the water with a huge shindig in their fourth-level rooftop pool and wet deck area. At the second of the venue's Summer Crush Pool Parties — this time named Go Troppo — you'll take a dip, sip drinks and dance the afternoon and evening away, all with a massive view over the river towards Mt Coot-tha. And, while Saturday, November 17 is just an ordinary day, you'll still be making full use of that gorgeous vantage. When you're not admiring the scenery or plunging into the pool, you'll listen to tunes spun byLuke Million, Buff Girls, Shimmy Disco and Little Fritter (who also happens to be W Brisbane's music curator Kane Dignum). You'll also knock back refreshing cocktails while feasting on a summer barbecue. Tickets cost $25 online in advance and $35 at the door, which includes a Bacardi cocktail on arrival — and as for the rest of the food and drink spread, it's a pay-as-you-go affair. The fun starts at 2pm, runs through until midnight, and bringing your togs is obviously essential.
Australia may be filled with burger joints, but Los Angeles favourites In-N-Out hasn't made the permanent leap to our shores. In Sydney, however, Down N' Out is offering the next best thing. And, for the duration of the Commonwealth Games, the Aussie eatery is bringing its burgs up north. Anyone wanting some US-style meat-and-bread combos, complete with deep-fried cheese patties and loaded 'tiger fries, should head to the corner of Surf Parade and Queensland Avenue in Broadbeach from 5pm on April 4 — and then from 1pm every day between April 5 and 15. Yes, that means Brisbanites will need to head down the coast; however, if you're already off to catch some sporting action or soak in the accompanying arts festival, then your consider this a tasty lunch or dinner option. It's Down N' Out's first time in Queensland, and they're also teaming up with Mountain Goat to offer refreshing brews to wash down their delicious burgs.
Many topics are up for discussion at this year's World Science Festival Brisbane, but only one is getting a five-day mini film fest at the Gallery of Modern Art to go with it. That'd be the ways that science and technology can help us re-evaluate our minds and bodies in a number of different ways, complete with true tales, rousing documentaries and ethical explorations from March 21 to 25. Highlights include Experimenter: The Stanley Milgram Story, about the researcher behind a series of groundbreaking '60s experiments; The Farthest, chronicling the 1977 voyager mission into space; climate change doco Before the Flood, which is hosted by Leonardo DiCaprio (on-screen, not at GOMA, sadly); and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, starring none other than Oprah as the daughter of the real-life African-American woman whose cells were used to create the first immortal human cell line in the early '50s. Still on exceptional women, Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story delves into the true tale of the Hollywood starlet who also invented a radio system that was a precursor to wifi and bluetooth. A dinner-and-film session of The Empire of the Scents will serve attendees a meal specially inspired by scent, fittingly enough, though tickets for it have understandably sold out. Expect a crowd at the free session of The Theory of Everything, too, with the free session also marking a tribute to the late Stephen Hawking.
The Flying Cock do beer and chicken well. Beer yoga and boozy barre classes too. The list goes on, including gigs, trivia, watching sport and just hanging out — and, now comedy. Getting into the funny business, the Fortitude Valley watering hole is embracing laughter with You're Joking, which kicked off in February and now returns for another run. The regular event aims to get you in stitches, offering up not only laughs, but some variety on the bill as well. The latter comes courtesy of the show's two-part format: interactive silliness with The Gong Show, with the games changing each time, and then the headline comedian. Michael Connell is doing the honours in March, in what The Flying Cock hopes will be more than just your average standup night. Tickets cost $5 on the door — and if you work up an appetite from all that chuckling, don't forget that it's also $3 taco night.
Want to see a burlesque show that tells it like it is? Or circus cabaret that contemplates race relations in contemporary Australia? How about singing and striptease while smashing stereotypes? Or a performance that packs a punch of hip hop politics? All that makes up Hot Brown Honey, as well as dance, poetry, drama and a reflection of everyday problems. These bold performers aren't just trying to entertain. They're also working through issues of colour and culture — and courting controversy — in a show that's certain to get people talking. The story jumps from the simmering shores of Polynesia to the bogan streets of Australia, peering through the eyes of an Indigenous drag queen and stepping through the life of a single mother who just happens to be a DJ. Hailing from Polytoxic Dance Theatre, Circus OZ and Briefs, the Luscious Lisa Fa'alafi, the Curvaceous Candy B and the Bodacious Busty Beatz package their tale and topics in spicy humour and simmering honesty. Some like it hot, indeed.
As fun as it is, Easter isn't just about staying home and eating chocolate. Given that most of us have four days off, it's also a great time for a road trip. In keeping with the eating and drinking theme, might we suggest a cheese, wine and food festival? If heading to the Sunshine Coast sounds like your idea of fun, then the Kenilworth Cheese, Wine & Food Fest should be your first destination. Sample cheese and wine all day long, watch cooking demonstrations, and enjoy some live music. And then there's the cheese rolling contest, which is exactly what it sounds like.
If it's drinks with a view you want, then it's drinks with a view you'll get at Eleven Rooftop Bar. Come Sundays from midday, that's now particularly true. Not content with hosting regular weekday morning exercise classes, the Ann Street venue is also adding end-of-weekend hangout sessions to its roster of events in the form of Vinyl & the City. It's a simple recipe for fun: once you climb up to the 11th floor (or take the lift — don't worry, you don't have to exercise), records will spin, you'll sip a few tipples and you'll also stare out over the city. Get cosy, make an afternoon of it and you'll be quite the spot when sunset hits. Lunch will also be available for those keen to drop by once the clock strikes noon, while cocktail specials and magnums of rosé will be on offer all afternoon.
They're one of the country's best breweries, and they're no stranger to Brisbane's shores — but, come March 29, they're popping up for some pre-long weekend fun. That'd be Young Henrys, who are trekking from Sydney's Newtown to Brisbane's riverside to pour brews at the Pig 'N' Whistle. From midday until late, the PNW Riverside's beer garden will become Young Henrys' headquarters 2.0, with the folks behind the pints in attendance. Ask questions, find out more about their tipples and drink their brews, of course. There'll also be live music and a DJ later in the night. As for what'll be pumping through the taps, expect the yeasty goodness of both the Newtowner and The Stayer. The former is a good ol' fashioned Aussie pale ale, the latter is the mid you need if you're being sensible. Remember, though, you won't have to work the next day.
Can't stomach wheat, but still want something delicious to eat? For folks with dietary requirements, nabbing a bite isn't always as easy as it sounds. If you're avoiding gluten, then Brisbane's newest food truck festival is here to help. In fact, you won't find any of it on the menu. The latest in a growing list of events at Welcome to Bowen Hills, the We Hate Gluten Festival says farewell to the pesky wheat-based proteins, with a heap of eateries getting in on the gluten-free fun. On April 20, attendees can munch on meals from Neshama, Rolls Pho Mi, Wing Fix, London Spuds and The Wurst Dogs, while April 21 sees Mr Burger, Smokin' Pizza, Spud The Food Truck and Curry in a Cone cooking up a storm. And if you're after something sweet, Gluten Free Donuts will be on hand across the entire weekend. Plus, if you'd like something to wash it all down with, you can grab some gluten-free beverages at the on-site bar. The venue does advise that those with allergies should chat with the food vendors about their specific situation when they're ordering — which is something everyone with a dietary requirement is no doubt used to.
Valley Fiesta might be months away, but it's not the only annual explosion of music, dance and culture on Fortitude Valley's calendar. Come 5pm on April 14, the Chinatown mall will play host to this year's Valley Multicultural Festival, showcasing a variety of acts and performances from around the world. The free evening shindig forms part of Brisbane Youth Week, so if you're under 25, there's plenty of other fun on offer. In fact, the full program includes more than 100 events. Youth acts will also feature as part of the festivities, so expect to get a glimpse at some top future talent. For everyone else — and for everyone, actually — combining your trip to Chinatown with a delicious meal is highly recommended. All that toe-tapping will help you work up an appetite, no doubt, and might inspire your international cuisine choice.
Brisbane boasts plenty of art galleries, and Artisan is one of them. But, to be even more specific, it's also one of Australia's only craft and design galleries. Since 1970, it has been shining a spotlight the kind of creative endeavours that don't always grace other gallery walls — think architecture, jewellery, fashion, weaving, industrial design and public art, just to name a few disciplines. For its latest exhibition, Artisan is continuing that mission while also showing how craft and design are intertwined. On display from April 21 to June 9, Expanded Discrete States: Craft + Design demonstrates how one really can't exist without the other. The showcase highlights the work of six practitioners — Ari Athans, Chantal Henley, Clare Kennedy, Gail Sorronda, Belinda Smith and Anna Varendorff — with Henley, academic and redirective designer Nora Kinnunen, and industrial designer Leon Fitzpatrick also participating in a free panel discussion at 11am on April 21. Not only is it a completely fitting display to grace Artisan's walls, but it's an appropriate choice to deck out its new digs. From the exhibition's opening date, the gallery will be celebrating its move from its Brunswick Street base of the past two decades to its new home at 45 King Street in Bowen Hills.
Feel like you've experienced every date option that Brisbane has to offer? Run out of new ways to spend an ace night with your mates? If glitz, glamour, drinks, dinner and feeling like you're in a speakeasy several decades ago amount to your idea of a good — and novel — time, then make a beeline to Cloudland's Big Band Cabaret. Taking place in the Valley venue's Rainbow Room, the decadent shindig will have you and your loved one dancing to the Swing Central Big Band and lapping up performances by Jacqueline Furey's Burlesque Ensemble, all while eating your way through a three-course meal and enjoying a three-hour package of beer, wine and sparkling. It was such a hit last year, it's no wonder that Cloudland have brought it back — and, as a regular series as well. Tickets aren't cheap at $110 per person, but it's certain to liven up your Friday night with something more than a little different.
On two separate occasions, Black Bear Lodge has hosted what might be the greatest '80s-focused music event ever held: an evening of nothing but Toto's 'Africa' on repeat. That's not on the agenda on April 24, but the venue is getting into the public holiday spirit in a similar fashion — with a Soft Rock Cafe dedicated to the kind of tunes your parents grew up listening. Think Toto, obviously, but also Hall & Oates, The Eagles, Steely Dan, the Steve Miller Band and Kenny Loggins — which, yes, means that both 'Footloose' and 'Danger Zone' should get a spin. Is it possible to feel nostalgic for a time you didn't live through, or can only barely remember because you were a toddler? Based on this ace evening, we'd say it is. It all kicks off at 8pm, and entry is free — as is the inevitable feeling that you've time-travelled back to the '70s and '80s.
Some like it hot at The Caxton. On May 6, everyone will. Spicing up the long weekend, the Caxton Street watering hole is dedicating the day to all things spicy — think chilli dishes, chilli sauces, chilli spices, chilli jerky and just saying the word chilli so much that it'll lose its meaning. Yes, Hothead Chilli Fiesta will get you all hot and bothered from 12pm, and in the tastiest possible way. In fact, there'll be no fewer than six chilli sauce merchants selling their wares, with chilli plants, chilli chocolate and chilli chocolate steamed puddings also on offer. Plus, The Caxton's kitchen will be pumping out a chilli-filled menu from, and an array of chilli-serving food trucks will be doing the same. Of course, there's also the big event — the one that'll get your inner Homer Simpson running, screaming and seeing space coyotes. That'd be the chilli-eating competition, which costs $10 to enter. If you're keen, contact the venue to pay and register in advance.
Music is best when it is live and loud, and Brisbane has the event to prove it. That'd be the aptly named Brisbane Live Music Week, a seven-day celebration of the city's sonic shenanigans presented by community radio station 4ZZZ. Sure, any and all gigs taking place in Brisbane from March 25 to 31 technically fit the bill, but it wouldn't be BLMW without something special joining the fold. This year, 4ZZZ are bringing the party home with a Good Friday gig in their car park, which will all be broadcast live on air. Yes, that means you can still listen if you can't make it along, but you know that being there will be oh-so-much better than tuning in. Catch Sweater Curse, Marville and Eyes Ninety from 1pm on March 30, in what promises to be a free, fun way to spend the public holiday. And if you need some excitement in the lead-up, the Zeds will also be showcasing their live recorded sets all week too, including the likes of Courtney Barnett, Hiatus Kaiyote, Radio Birdman and The Go-Betweens.
It's an occasion worth breaking out the bubbly for — south-east Queensland's sparkling wine festival is back. All things fizzy and alcoholic are in the spotlight at Effervescence, after all. Indeed, the event's name both nods to its favourite type of beverage and describes the sensation champers-swilling attendees are bound to experience. And yes, we really do mean champagne, as in the sparkling wines specifically from France's Champagne region. In fact, it was a trip to the area that gave champagne enthusiast and educator Amanda Reboul the idea to start the festival. Fellow fizz lovers have two options to get their drink on at Spicers Hidden Vale: walk the Champagne Trail, or hunker down for the weekend-long VIP package. The former offers an at-your-own-pace wander between themed tasting stations, complete with bread, cheese and charcuterie, plus games of boules, live music, cooking demonstrations and other activities. The latter serves up all that, as well as expert masterclasses, lunches, a degustation dinner and a cocktail evening — but only if you have a spare couple of grand to really treat yo'self and then some.
Trivia nights mean gathering your mates around, enjoying a few beverages and trying to convert your respective stores of knowledge into glory. At this particular trivia night, you'll do all that, but there'll be a particular emphasis on your pals. Given that the topic of the evening is a certain sitcom about a band of best buddies, celebrating your chums is the thing to do. Yes, Friends is in the spotlight at Hotel West End's next battle of pop culture tidbits, aka The One With The Trivia Night. If you think you know everything there is to know about the show that caused viewers to agonise over whether Ross and Rachel would get together, wish that Joey and Chandler lived next door and get their hair cut like Jennifer Aniston, here's your chance to prove it. Prizes are on offer for the top three placed teams, and there'll a themed mini-games, a food menu that takes inspiration from the show of the moment and drinks special, too. Remember, though, it has been 14 years since Friends was on TV, making the contest not just a test of trivia, but a workout for everyone's memories. No one told you that watching endless television reruns could turn out this way. Entry costs $30 per person and bookings are required.
Come June 15, it's time for a night at the museum — but you won't find Ben Stiller roaming the halls here. Given what's currently on display at Queensland Museum, here's hoping the revelry doesn't actually awaken the exhibits either. Walking, talking, drinking and partying like an Egyptian, QM's latest After Dark shindig is all about mummies as part of the museum's Egyptian Mummies: Exploring Ancient Lives exhibition. There'll be music, drinks and demonstrations — plus attendees will get free reign of the space, peering not only at the six real-life mummies dating back to 900BC, or at the almost 200 objects on show with them, but also the rest of the joint's displays. You'll be knocking back beverages, examining pieces that have seen thousands of new years go by, and trying to unlock ancient mysteries like you're Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz or Tom Cruise – but a word of warning, the last one sold out quickly so you'll want to nab a ticket asap. Also a highlight: a talk called Brew like an Egyptian: Ancient Egyptian Beer Making by Dr Serena Love, should you want to learn a new skill too. Image: Queensland Museum via Facebook.
