As we all know, there ain't no party like a free party. There ain't no party like a free swing dance party, either. To help wrap up this year's Wonderland festival, Brisbane Powerhouse is stepping back in time to the 20s. Yes, the 1920s. Because things were weird and wonderful then, too. With music from all-female jazz ensemble Yas Queen, Swing On In will have you flapping the night away. It also wants you to dress up in your best flapper attire, with prizes on offer. Dig out some pearls and feathers, do the Charleston and dance like it's almost a century ago. And if you need a little sustenance, liquid or otherwise, to go with your merriment, remember to bring your wallet.
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? Don't want to celebrate the festive season in the usual manner? 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 returning Big Band Cabaret. This time, it's Christmas-themed. Taking place in the Valley venue's Rose Room on two Thursdays — from 6.30–9.30pm on November 30 and December 14 — the decadent shindig will have you and your loved one dancing to the Swing Central Big Band featuring Brad Leaver, and lapping up burlesque performances — all while eating your way through a three-course meal and enjoying a three-hour package of beer, wine and sparkling. It has been such a hit on previous occasions that it's no wonder that Cloudland keeps bringing it back back — and twice for this particularly merry occasion. Tickets aren't cheap at $119 per person, but it's certain to liven up your pre-Xmas routine with something you don't enjoy every day.
Beer halls aren't just for drinking brews, at least where Felons Brewing Co is involved. The Howard Smith Wharves mainstay regularly puts its barrel hall to a range of other uses, whether by hosting movies or markets — or the Seasonal Fruit music festival. On Sunday, December 3 from 3pm, the latter is on the agenda for its summer 2023 edition, with this riverside fest curated by Jet Black Cat Music. Here's one way to start summer: with a sultry lineup of international and local acts taking to the stage over one blazing afternoon. Leading the bill: Allah-Las and Sylvie from the US, Indonesia's Ali, and Pachyman from Puerto Rico — plus Bananagun, Floodlights, Lunar Dirt and Nice Biscuit. And for the sips? Well, you will be in a brewery after all, with Felons' beers on offer. Doors open at 2pm, tickets cost $69.10 for the gig, and you'll pay for your beverages on top.
One of the best things to do in Brisbane right now is to get lost in the Gallery of Modern Art's Fairy Tales exhibition, which is as spellbinding as it sounds. But, sadly, we can't all spend every day inside the showcase until autumn. Also, it closes at night. So after you've ventured into those woods, you might want to hop over the river to Brisbane Quarter to check out how it's getting in on the action. The main attraction, which is free to see: Nearly Midnight by Rachel Burke, with the local artist taking her cues from magical stories. Accordingly, 300 George Street is now temporarily home to a forest of blue and silver tinsel, a tinsel and tulle dress that lights up, and a giant two-metre-high slipper that features more than a million miniature glass tiles. Entranced by the larger-than-life shoe? You can even climb into it to sit (and, yes, take photos). You'll just need to head to podium one before Wednesday, March 27, when everything will disappear like an enchanted pumpkin carriage. As happens whenever Brisbane Quarter embraces a theme, a heap of the site's bars and eateries are also joining in. W Brisbane's Living Room Bar is doing an Ever After high tea from $79, Persone has fairy floss-topped cocktails for $25 and Brisbane Phoenix is pouring Blue Sand boozy sips that are sprinkled with gold sugar dust for $28 — and serving up wagyu with scampi caviar for $128. Phat Boy's pink-hued Will You Marry Me cocktail will set you back $18, and Tenya's yuzu and bergamot liqueur tipple is $25. And over at Meet Tea & Coffee, you can tuck into egg-shaped waffles with cheese, chocolate and sweet red bean paste fillings. Per box, they cost $15 with just one flavour and $18 for two flavours.
Deck your stomach with a delicious banquet and bottomless drinks: that's the tune at Massimo Restaurant and Bar for 12 days. The riverside venue is no stranger to serving up a hefty lunch spread with non-stop beverages, but usually only does so for lunch Friday–Sunday. The festive season is about treating yo'self, though, so it's plating up almost a fortnight's worth of feasts for the occasion. On offer from Thursday, December 21–Tuesday, January 2 for $99 per person is a midday meal that spans raw kingfish, flash-fried calamari, chargrilled lamb with truffle risotto and eggplant parmigiana, as well as sand crab cavatelli, half or a whole chicken (depending on how many people you dine with), and dessert. To wash it all down, you'll also sip your way through two hours of beer, wine and sparkling — putting the "cheers" into seasonal cheer. The caveats: you do need at least two people, the food is for the whole table, and dining on weekends and public holidays comes with a surcharge. You can also level up your lunch to $110, which changes your dishes, and add an extra hour if spending a mere couple wining, dining and getting merry isn't enough. Images: Markus Ravik.
Maybe you jumped on the Saltburn bandwagon early, catching Promising Young Woman filmmaker Emerald Fennell's second feature when it was in cinemas. Perhaps you saw the Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin)- and Jacob Elordi (Euphoria)-starring thriller when it hit streaming over Christmas. Either way, once you watched the movie, you were probably as obsessed as Oliver Quick is about Felix Catton — and after you've ordered your Jacob Elordi's bathwater candle, you can hit up a party that's all about paying tribute to the instant cult-favourite flick. A series of shindigs is touring Australia, including to Brisbane. Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 2, when you'll be heading to The Wickham from 8pm. What does celebrating one of 2023's best movies at a boozy party entail? Dressing like it's Oliver's birthday party, for starters. From there, you'll enjoy a 'Murder on the Dancefloor' sing-along — even though you won't be dancing naked around a mansion — as well as crooning karaoke and hearing 'Mr Brightside', all while sipping Bathtub Brew, Grave Grinding Gulp and Felix's Fangirl Fizz drink specials. If you're keen to add some sparkle to your look while you're there, there'll be a free glitter bar. And the best-dressed attendee at each shindig will win a prize. Tickets start at $21.59.
Winter and comfort foods always go hand in hand, but fans of doughnuts should find the start of the frosty season particularly delicious. Each year, to kick off June, National Doughnut Day arrives. And, when the date hits, free round orbs are often on the menu. In 2023, on Friday, June 2, Donut King will be handing out freebies — and keeping Australians happy with their eponymous blend of sweets and carbs. The chain is known for its hot cinnamon doughnuts, and that's exactly what it'll be giving away at every store Australia-wide. Donut King hasn't advised exactly how many doughnuts are up for grabs, and it is a while-stocks-last affair. That said, the brand is intending to serve up a whole heap of its number-one treat to customers in exchange for zero cash, beginning at 1am AEST — if that's when your local store opens — and running through until 11.59pm AEST. The big caveat, other than the first-in-best-dressed rule: there's a limit of one free hot cinnamon doughnut per person. Also, you do have to hit up a Donut King shop in-person, with the giveaway not available for deliveries. To snag yourself a freebie, folks in Brisbane can make a date everywhere from Indooroopilly and Carindale to Chermside and Mt Gravatt. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Donut King (@donutking_au)
For lovers of art and design, May in Brisbane is a mighty fine time, with both Brisbane Street Art Festival and Brisbane Art Design taking over the River City for 2023. Wherever you head around town, it's likely that one, the other or both will be brightening up the place — and on one night, on Saturday, May 20, they're officially joining forces. With BSAF launching back on Saturday, May 6 and ending on Sunday, May 21, the Brisbane Street Art Festival Felons Party is a closing shindig. From 6pm–12am, the street art-loving fest and BAD will turn Felons Brewing Co's Barrel Hall into a hub for art and music, with entry free. Scribble Slam will be back, too, for another big art battle. This year, Vance and Jasmin Crisp are going head to head — and you can help choose who wins. Among the fun, you'll be sipping the official BSAF 2023 beer while revelling in how creative this city of ours is. Now that's worth saying cheers to again and again. [caption id="attachment_718697" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Aimee Catt[/caption]
Here's a job that no one would want: choosing just eight of Martin Scorsese's movies to celebrate. Palace Cinemas have done just that, though. How the chain's team whittled down the iconic auteur's efforts to just that many, we don't know — but Brisbanites can now see the results on the big screen at Palace Barracks. Film buffs, get ready for Scorsese Season — because who needs spring or summer anyway? This retro showcase will run on Friday nights at 6.30pm from Friday, November 4–Friday, December 23, and it's all must-sees all the way. Given that the selection includes the seminal gangster flick Mean Streets and the Joker-influencing The King of Comedy, viewers are in for some Scorsese gold (and yes, Robert De Niro is as much of a feature as the director, with Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Casino screening as well). For those after a slice of Scorsese's later-career flicks — and his collaborations with Leonardo DiCaprio — then The Departed well and truly ticks that box. Rounding out the lineup: concert film The Last Waltz, aka one of the best examples of the genre you'll ever see
When the Ekka was cancelled for the second year in a row in 2021, no one got to throw a ball in a clown's mouth. Hopping on rides, seeing fireworks and browsing for showbags were all scrapped, too. That's obviously no fun at all; however, for the farmers who were due to exhibit at Brisbane's annual show, the impact cut far deeper. So, in response, an idea was born: the Scenic Rim Farm Gate Trail. It first appeared twice in 2021, encouraging Brisbanites to head south, hop between properties and enjoy local wares. And, although the Ekka occurred in 2022, the trail has returned — including making a third comeback for the year on Sunday, October 30. Fancy throwing a little love towards the Scenic Rim's primary producers? Keen on a day out of town? Farmers in the region will be rolling out the welcome mat from 9am–3pm on. Follow the itineraries and you'll be hitting up the likes of Scenic Rim Mushrooms, Scenic Rim Brewery, Tommerup's Dairy Farm, Bee All Natural Honey, Witches Falls Winery, The Overflow Estate 1895 and Tamborine Mountain Distillery. That's just a taste of the list of producers involved — and if you'd like to get up close to some camels and alpacas while you're in that part of southeast Queensland, or wander around an elderflower farm, that's on the cards, too. The full trail includes 19 stops, many of which are dog-friendly. Also, White's Farm goes big on pumpkins — and this last trail for the year is happening on the day before Halloween. Top images: Markus Ravik.
Another year, another rainbow-filled February and early March. 2023's Sydney Mardi Gras isn't just a usual Mardi Gras, however — it coincides with the Sydney WorldPride, which is the first WorldPride to ever be held in the southern hemisphere. Whether you're making the trip down south to celebrate or partying along from home, it's a big few weeks. And that means that you might need to wind down at a Mardi Gras recovery pool party. The venue: W Brisbane, at the opulent hotel's fourth-level rooftop pool and wet deck area. The reason: adding another shindig to this vibrant time. The setup: DJ-spun pride anthems and spritz cocktails, all from 3–7pm on Sunday, March 12. On the decks, DJ ENN and DJ Dan Murphy will be keeping the vibe pumping. Drinks-wise, everyone receives a Squealing Pig rosé spritz upon arrival — and you'll buy your cocktails and bites to eat from there. Tickets cost $60, and bringing your togs is obviously essential. [caption id="attachment_889814" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marriott International Hotel[/caption]
Easter in Sydney doesn't just mean chocolate, hot cross buns and whatever other sweet treats the city's eateries happen to come up with at this time of year — it also means the Sydney Royal Easter Show. And, while you won't find the latter at El Camino Cantina's Tex-Mex joints in Brisbane, of course, the chain is getting into the spirit of the event nationwide with its returning limited-edition margarita menu, which it has dubbed The Greatest Rita Show in 2024. For its latest batch of creative flavours, El Camino Cantina is serving up cream'n soda, sour lemonade, bubblegum, sour grape cloud, cherry bomb and chilli triple-buttered popcorn versions, too. The six showbag-inspired ritas are on offer from Monday, March 18–Sunday, April 7, in both 15-oz and 24-oz glasses — and they also come with new drunken bears, which are gummy bears infused with tequila and Grand Marnier. If you'd like to pair your sips with tacos, you'll find The Greatest Rita Show food menu on offer as well. Ever had a puffy taco? It's also a fresh limited-time addition, features a puffed-out taco shell, and comes filled with your choice of steak, marinated prawns, brisket, pulled pork and grilled chicken. To round out the bites, banana fritters are your dessert choice. In southeast Queensland, you'll find The Greatest Rita Show tempting your tastebuds at El Camino in Bowen Hills, South Bank and Chermside in Brisbane; Robina and Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast; and Sunshine Plaza on the Sunshine Coast.
No matter how you feel about winter in Brisbane — too warm, cold, sunny, unpredictable? — the River City's bars love embracing the frostier side of the season. Our watering holes might be designed around our usually sultry weather, but they still know how to get into the chilly spirit. The latest doing just that: South Bank's Soleil Pool Bar with its Après Soleil menu. No one is going skiing in Brisbane, but you can pretend that you've just come back from hitting the slopes while eating fondue and sipping mulled wine. That's one of Après Soleil's combos for two, or you can bring two more pals and grab a mulled wine pot for four to heat up your insides. Still with group hangs, the pinot noir box comes with a charcuterie platter for four. No matter how many folks you're heading along with, you'll also find loaded Swiss cheese fries; pizzas with bacon bites, onion and creme fraiche; pineapple and jalapeño sour beers from Sea Legs; jugs of Stone & Wood, Heineken and Kirin brews; and Mumm champagne on offer. Wearing a puffer jacket, ugg boots and beanie is optional, but there'll be fires to warm up by, booths near them, faux mink blankets to get cosy under and live entertainment either way. Après Soleil runs until the end of winter at the Rydges venue, which is open Thursday–Sunday.
Whatever kind of workout gets your blood pumping and pulse racing, it does your own health and wellness a big favour. Exercise: it's a wonder, and it's always recommended by doctors and health experts for a good reason. Your next stint of getting sweaty could assist others in need, too, however — and you can drop in to bend and stretch all day and night. 24-Hour Pilates for Mental Health makes its case right there in its name. Accordingly, KX in Newstead is hosting pilates classes for 24 hours to raise money for Lifeline's 24/7 support services. The sessions kick off at 7am on Saturday, July 22, and run in 50-minute blocks — with ten-minute breaks between each — all the way through to the next morning. Whether you're keen on the initial class, eager to join in on a Saturday night, wondering about 2am pilates or curious what the last session at 6am on Sunday, July 23 will be like, you've got options. Also, you don't need to be a pilates expert — all sessions are set at the beginner level, and cater to first-timers, casual attendees and seasoned pros alike. You'll pay $39 to head along, 100-percent of which will go to Lifeline. And why that fee? Because that's the average cost to fund one call to the organisation's support lines.
Take American cinema's many depictions of suburbia, splice them together, but morph them into a savage musing on America's political landscape between 2016–21. Hello film lovers, you now have one of the most stunning Australian movies of 2023: Hello Dankness. Hailing from Soda Jerk and marking the duo's first feature since TERROR NULLIUS roared across screens in 2018, it's another treasure trove of clips edited together to make a statement. It's "a suburban stoner musical rendered in the form of a cybernetic Greek tragedy" as well, as Soda Jerk themselves have dubbed it. More than 300 film and TV clips get a spin, plus around 250 audio grabs. Among those featured: everything from The Burbs, Wayne's World, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar and The Social Network to American Beauty, Friday, Napoleon Dynamite, This Is the End, Euphoria and PEN15 as well. Hello Dankness also includes Donald Trump's Access Hollywood tape and Kendall Jenner's Pepsi ad, and features songs from Cats, Les Misérables, Annie and The Phantom of the Opera, all across a wild 70 minutes. The film has been doing the festival rounds, enjoying its international premiere at the 2023 Berlinale, winning the Best Narrative Feature Award at this year's Atlanta Film Festival, then hitting Dark Mofo and the Sydney Film Festival. Now, it's Brisbane's turn at the Gallery of Modern Art's Australian Cinematheque on Saturday, July 1. Head by at 1.30pm for a free screening, plus a Q&A session with Soda Jerk in-person. We guarantee that you'll have plenty of questions. We did too — read our interview with Soda Jerk.
Treating yo'self to tastebud-tempting dishes is what winter is all about — and for one entire month, Salt Meats Cheese is serving up a rather appetising menu that'll do the trick. That'd be its Everyday We're Truffling — Truffle Month lineup, with truffles popping up in all kinds of dishes. Yes, that includes truffle cocktails. Before 2022, SMC only celebrated truffles for a week of the year. But, to the delight of your stomach, it expanded the deliciousness across all of July last year — and it's doing the same in 2023. Accordingly, from Saturday, July 1–Monday, July 31, the Italian chain will be adding truffles to crostini, cacio e pepe, lasagne, pizza and porchetta — so that's five Italian staples covered. And, you can add shaved truffles to any a la carte menu item for $9 as well. You'll need something to wash all of the above down with, so truffle margaritas and truffle martinis are also on offer. Or, you could opt for a non-boozy hibiscus cooler. For dessert, there's truffle cheesecake, aka your new favourite type of cheesecake. Everyday We're Truffling is taking place at all SMC venues during its month-long period, which spans Newstead and Surfers Paradise in Queensland, although the menu varies per venue. And if you're wondering why the Italian chain has suddenly gone truffle crazy, it's to celebrate the Australian truffle season — which is as good a reason as any.
When a food-themed day is worth celebrating, it's usually focusing on a dish you'd eat any day (and wish you could tuck into every single day, in fact). World Burger Day is one such occasion, and it's coming in strong for 2023 with free burgs. The catch? You do have to buy a glass of wine, which you'll surely be fine with. If you usually pair your burgers with beer, wine label Greasy Fingers is well-ware. That's one of the reasons that it's behind the giveaway. This drop is made to go well with burgs and whichever other greasy meals happen to tempt your tastebuds, no matter whether you opt for the shiraz, shiraz grenache or chardonnay. [caption id="attachment_902457" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Will Salkeld Photography[/caption] So, buy a glass at Virtue Bar & Eats on the Sunshine Coast and Tropic Vice on the Gold Coast on Sunday, May 28, then get your free burg. That's all there is to it, although you'll need to get in quick. The other key caveat: there are only 100 free burgers available at each venue, so it's a case of first in, first served.
The strangest public holiday of the year is upon us, Brisbanites: the Ekka public holiday. August is here, the Royal Queensland Show arrives with it, and we all get a day off to celebrate and eat strawberry sundaes. It's still all a bit odd, though — as smacking a public holiday in the middle of a late-winter week has always proven. No, that isn't a complaint. Yes, if nothing feels ordinary around your Ekka day off, thats understandable. Here's something that'll help you kick things off in style the night before, though: the return of the Hekka Festival to Greaser. Live tunes will hit the Fortitude Bar's garage stage, with the fest starting at 5pm and keeping on keeping on till late. On the bill: The Dandys, LOVELOVELOVE, Cry Baby, Somewhat Strange and Indigo Hue. This year, entry is free, too, if you need any more of an incentive. Images: Anwyn Howarth.
2023 marks has been nine years since La Macelleria set up shop in Brisbane, gifting the city's residents with an array of inventive gelato and sorbet flavours. Over that period, it has taught ice cream lovers how to make their own, served up all-you-can-eat sweet treats and expanded its footprint by adding more than a few new shops — and, as it likes to whenever it's birthday time, now it's throwing a big Italian fiesta on Sunday, July 23 to celebrate. To mark the latest huge milestone, La Macelleria will spend a day doing what it does best, but also doing more than that. Gelato will be on the menu, obviously. The venue will be pump out signature flavours such as stracciatella, pistachio, coconut white chocolate and raspberry IPA. Also, it's whipping up prosecco sorbet, with 100 servings on offer 5pm till they've all been snapped up. Why drink your favourite sparkling tipple when you can eat it in frosty form? With the merriment running from 11am, there'll also be Scugnizzi serving up Roman-style pizzas, and Casa Motta stretching mozzarella and burrata live. And, expect gifts — aka giveaways, such as winning a year's supply of gelato or a behind-the-scenes tour of La Macelleria's workshop.
NAIDOC Week festivities at Queensland Museum are a two-for-one affair in 2023. Not only is the South Bank venue marking the occasion, and embracing this year's theme 'for our elders' — it's also farewelling its Connections Across the Coral Sea: A Story of Movement exhibition. How? QM is ticking both boxes with three-day celebration Mangal Bungal: Clever Hands. From Friday, July 7–Sunday, July 9, the museum's cultural events will be by the Dingaal community, which sits at the heart of Connections Across the Coral Sea. The exhibition, which wraps up on Sunday, displays archaeological findings about Papua New Guinea, Torres Strait and the northeast coast of Queensland's seafaring cultures. Here, diving into how people moved across the titular waterway — and how trade occurred — is on the agenda. Attendees can plunge into both scientific evidence and the Dingaal clan's traditional knowledge. Free to attend — although some events do require bookings — the Mangal Bungal: Clever Hands lineup starts with a Welcome to Country on the Friday, complete with traditional dance and didgeridoo performances. Storytelling by elders, including hearing Dreamtime tales firsthand, is on offer on both Friday and Saturday. The On Country planetarium experience over the entire three days will see you surrounded by Dingaal Country's sights and sounds, with the dome-style setup taking participants to Jiigurru (Lizard Island). Also on offer: a drop-in zone dedicated to Dingaal totems, stories and artworks; ceremonial jewellery making with Dingaal women; and a closing ceremony headlined by Dingaal men doing traditional dances. Images: Queensland Museum.
Soaking away the day, your troubles and your worries is Soak Bathhouse's speciality. At the chain's venues in Mermaid Beach and West End, heading in for a dip means seeing your woes dissipate in warm water — at least temporarily. As everyone who has sat in heated H2O knows, there are other few things as calming in life. On Wednesday nights all throughout winter, however, this wellness brand has found a way to ramp up the relaxation even further at its Gold Coast site. From 5–8pm each hump day, to help you forget about your midweek work stresses, Soak Bathhouse is doing Winter Soak & Sound sessions in Mermaid Beach. On offer: a soak, of course, plus calming live music and hot drinks. The event takes its cues from après-skí hot-tub sessions — and, while there's no snow, you will still get the warm water part of the equation, plus acoustic tunes and beverages. Bookings are required, just for a $49 soak session during the three-hour window. Do that and you'll get the Winter Soak & Sound experience thrown in at no extra cost.
Thanks to the success of Beef, the past year has been huge for Ali Wong. It was back in April 2023 that the hit series arrived, getting audiences obsessed and sparking plenty of accolades coming Wong's way. She won Best Actress Emmy, Golden Globe, Film Independent Spirt and Screen Actors Guild awards for playing Amy Lau, who has a carpark altercation with Danny Cho (Steven Yeun, Nope) that neither can let go of — and that changes both of their lives. The last 12 months have also been massive for the American actor and comedian onstage, all thanks to her Ali Wong: Live tour. Wong has been playing to full houses in the US, and also in Paris and London — and Brisbane audiences can see her this winter at two gigs from Monday, July 22–Tuesday, July 23 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. [caption id="attachment_893741" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Cooper/Netflix © 2023[/caption] Behind the microphone, Wong's comedy career dates back almost two decades, including three Netflix stand-up specials: 2016's Baby Cobra, 2018's Hard Knock Wife and 2022's Don Wong. And, as an author, Wong also has 2019's Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life to her name. On-screen, Wong doesn't let go of grudges easily, at least in Beef. In rom-com Always Be My Maybe, she's also been romanced by Keanu Reeves. Tuca & Bertie had her voice an anthropomorphic song thrush, while Big Mouth sent her back to middle school. Beef, on which Wong was also an executive producer, earned just as much love for the show overall — including the Emmy for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series; Golden Globe for Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television; Gotham Award for Breakthrough Series under 40 minutes; Film Independent Spirt Award for Best New Scripted Series; and PGA for Outstanding Producer of Limited or Anthology Series Television. [caption id="attachment_946690" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andrew Cooper/Netflix © 2023[/caption]
No one ever needs an excuse to escape their daily routines with a stint of mini golf, ten-pin bowling or sleuthing through a challenge room, but on Tuesday, September 5, Funlab's venues are giving you a mighty great reason to anyway. That's when the company's Day of Fun rolls around for 2023, and lets you get putting, rolling and puzzle-solving for $5 a pop — all to help Headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation. All day at 44 venues Australia-wide, including in Brisbane, Funlab will donate all of its proceeds to the charity, which provides early-intervention mental health services to 12–25 year olds across Australia. So, you'll be aiding your own headspace — tap, tap, tapping your way around an indoor mini golf course will do that, for instance — and also showing some love to a great cause. Funlab's Brisbane's sites include multiple Holey Moley and Strike Bowling joints, plus B. Lucky and Sons and Chermside's Hijinx Hotel — and the $5 deal covers bowling, darts, laser tag, an hour of games and nine holes of golf (all at $5 per activity). Booking in advance is recommended, but Archie Brothers and B. Lucky are doing walk-ins only. Obviously, if you'd like to add a few drinks — these venues serve plenty — that'll cost you extra. [caption id="attachment_681171" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jagt[/caption]
Here's something that you don't get to do every day: see the latest film from Japanese filmmaker Ryûsuke Hamaguchi before it hits cinemas in general release, and fresh from it winning a Silver Lion — for the Grand Jury Prize, in fact — at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival. After nabbing the Oscar for Best International Feature in 2022, and also being nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay — all for Drive My Car — the director is back on-screen with Evil Does Not Exist, which closes out 2023's APSA screening program. Every year, southeast Queensland plays host to the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, which hands out gongs to the year's best films from around the region. There's a star-studded ceremony, which takes place at HOTA, Home of the Arts on Friday, November 3 in 2023, and celebrates movies specifically from the 70 countries and areas within its chosen remit. If you're keen on catching some of the flicks nominated (and hopefully, some of the winners), there's a cinema program as well — including Evil Does Not Exist. The 2023 film screenings lineup is also gracing HOTA from Wednesday, November 1–Saturday, November 4, and it's well worth a trip down the highway. Kicking things off: body-horror film Tiger Stripes, which is set in the Malaysian jungle and won the 2023 Cannes Critics' Week Grand Prize. Elsewhere on the bill, there's Riceboy Sleeps, which spends time with a Korean single mother and her son as they start a new life in Canada in the 90s; Tora's Husband, about the titular character's quest for self-improvement, and to handle everyday ups and downs; and coming-of-age drama A Song Sung Blue. Top image: 2023 NEOPA, Fictive.
In The Hunger Games and its sequels and prequels, a post-apocalyptic totalitarian state enforces order by murder, picking children via lottery to compete until just one remains standing. Before it reached pages and screens, The Running Man, Battle Royale and Series 7: The Contenders were among the stories that got there first, always with kill-or-be-killed contests at their cores. Now Boy Kills World enters the fray, but in a city ruled over by despot Van Der Koy matriarch Hilda (Famke Janssen, Locked In), with a group of candidates chosen annually, then slaughtered at big televised display that is The Culling no matter what. The titular Boy (played by the US Goodnight Mommy remake's Nicholas and Cameron Crovetti as a kid) is the rare exception: after witnessing his sister and mother's execution in this nightmarish realm, he's simply left for dead. Making his feature debut, director Moritz Mohr (TV's Viva Berlin!) holds tight to another big-screen staple: a revenge mission. As an adult, that the role of Boy falls to Bill Skarsgård fresh from John Wick: Chapter 4 says plenty. The vengeance that's always fuelled that Keanu Reeves (The Matrix Resurrections)-led franchise, and fellow influence Oldboy as well, mixes with cinema's wealth of fight-to-the-death tales. Also thrown in with the fervour of a fan mixing together his favourite things — which is Mohr's unapologetic approach from start to finish — is a colour scheme that Kill Bill also deployed, Deadpool-style humour and violence, notes cribbed from Matthew Vaughn's Kingsman movies and Argylle with its carnage, and nods to video games and Hong Kong action fare plus Looney Tunes and anime. Accordingly, the make-what-you-adore school of action filmmaking gets another spin with a first-time helmer in 2024, alongside Dev Patel's Monkey Man. Revelling in cartoonishness is unique to Mohr's flick, however — right down to enlisting H Jon Benjamin, aka the voice of Sterling Archer and Bob Belcher in Archer and Bob's Burgers, respectively, as Boy Kills World's narrator. He's Boy's voice, in fact. When we said that Skarsgård's casting says much, it has to; his steps into the red vest of a protagonist who is deaf and mute, and his is a physically expressive instead of vocal performance. Cue Benjamin to utter Boy's explanatory inner monologue, and cue the makings of a modern-day silent-film star in Skarsgård (his next part is a remake of silent classic Nosferatu by Robert Eggers, who directed his brother Alexander in The Northman, and it has the perfect lead if ditching dialogue like the OG movie was on the cards). As penned by Tyler Burton Smith (2019's Child's Play remake) and Arend Remmers (Oderbruch) — based on a story by Remmers and Mohr, and also a proof-of-concept short that helped the pair get iconic Evil Dead filmmaker Sam Raimi (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) onboard as a producer — Boy Kills World's script is as busy as the movie's list of influences. Mostly, it's packed with characters, and mainly with adversaries for Boy to smash, crash and bash his way through. After experiencing the life-changing trauma of losing his kin at such a young age, he gets set on his course for retaliation by training in the forest with the Shaman (and yes, that The Raid, The Raid 2 and John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum's Yayan Ruhian is in the role is also telling about Mohr's inspirations). Boy is primed for clash after clash (after clash after clash), then, as his campaign for eye-for-an-eye retribution kicks into gear. Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey: A New Era) as Hilda's sister Melanie, Sharlto Copley (who was also in Monkey Man) as Melanie's husband Glen, Jessica Rothe (the Happy Death Day franchise) as family enforcer June27: they're all in Boy's way. By his side, he has a hallucination of his sister Mina (Punky Brewster), as well as resistance fighter Basho (Andrew Koji, Warrior) in the flesh. A knack for casting also pumps through Boy Kills World beyond its star, but this is always Skarsgård's show. Bill kills. He's traversed dystopias before in Allegiant, grappled with the complexities of a ruling class in Anna Karenina, been immersed in a single-minded mission in Atomic Blonde, given the Deadpool vibe a spin in Deadpool 2, and conveyed everything through his eyes as IT and IT: Chapter Two's Pennywise — and, sporting an action-star physique, he's a find-someone-who-can-do-it-all lead as Boy. If you need an actor to play a literally silent-type hero and play the hell out of it, Skarsgård is clearly your man. Three questions linger at the heart of Mohr's film, though, two within the storyline and themes, and one for audiences. The first: what makes the action archetype at Boy Kills World's centre truly tick? The second: in a bloodthirsty crusade for reprisals, what's genuinely right and what's wrong? And the third: although this is an impressively choreographed affair that values stunts as much as The Fall Guy (Black Widow and Kingsman: The Golden Circle alum Dawid Szatarski is responsible for the flick's spectacle as its action director and designer, and also fight co-ordinator), would its genre mashup work without Skarsgård's magnetism? The initial pair of queries are thought starters rather than inquiries that receive a firm answer; they're Boy Kills World's efforts to note that revenge tales and their unspeaking protagonists could use some unpacking. The third question, unsurprisingly, earns a hearty no. Skarsgård gives Boy Kills World its strongest element, and leaves it with a calling card as both an action force and a silent wonder. Mohr ends the feature with his own as an enthusiastic filmmaker giving his all to a highly stylised and slapstick love letter. And for viewers? The quippy humour is spotty, as is the relentlessly frenetic cinematography (by Dark Satellites' Peter Matjasko) that can swing from feverish to exhausting — and, while jam-packed, the film feels its 111-minute length. Still, being entertained by the sheer delirious display of it all, with the picture's B-movie energy, love of gore and unwillingness to hold back, is as easy as inserting coins into an arcade machine.
Have you ever poured frozen gin made using oyster shells into an oyster shell that's freshly empty — because you've been a-slurping — then knocked it back? It's called a shelly, and it's one way to consume Never Never Distilling Co's Oyster Shell Gin. It's also on the menu at Frog's Hollow Saloon on Wednesday, April 17, at an event that the Brisbane CBD bar is calling Foursies at Frog's, given that it kicks off at 4pm. Here's a reason to call it quits early for the day, and a way to liven up the middle of your work week. For the afternoon until 6pm, you can learn about Never Never's unique tipple from Head Distiller Tim Boast and Brand Director Sean Baxter over martinis, oysters and shellies. Entry is free, but you'll be paying for whatever you drink while enjoying full bar service — and, as the brains behind the South Australian spirits outfit will be behind the bar, chatting with them about gin production as well. If you're new to Oyster Shell Gin, Kangaroo Island oyster shells do indeed go into making it, as well as waxflower, Tasmania wakame and coastal daisy bush, plus saltbush and round mint. Oyster Shell Gin images: Meaghan Coles, Now and Then Photography.
The weekend blues don't exist — but if they did, this Saturday afternoon snack and a spirit-heavy session would banish them. Like dumplings? Like martinis? So does Chu the Phat, which is pairing them from 3–5pm weekly. Dumplings and martinis: that's the menu for the arvo, and for just $25. The deal nabs you one drink as well as a selection of those delicious parcels that no one can ever get enough of. And, if you have a big night planned, it won't put much of a dent in your budget. The regular menu will be on offer as always, so you can always stop by the South Brisbane joint for a bite and a beverage, see whether your hunger (and thirst) grows, and then settle in for the longer haul. When it comes to dumplings, Chu the Phat serves up wagyu with XO and lime, as well as sweetcorn with coriander.
If you're of an age when you can remember burning your friend's So Fresh CD so you could stay up to date with the coolest songs of the season, congrats. You're old now. But also, congrats, because you will seriously enjoy this So Fresh shindig. Returning for yet another round, the old-school get-together to end all old-school get-togethers is coming to Eaton's Hill Hotel on Saturday, December 11, and it'll be playing bangers strictly of the 2000s vintage. You can expect a disturbing percentage of Channel 10 alums (Australian Idol winners/losers and ex-Neighbours actors) as well as way too much Nickelback for polite company. Also, just throwing this out there: we're desperately hoping for a timely comeback of the Duff sisters duet 'Our Lips Are Sealed'. As always, the retro tunes will come with plenty of party fun — there's usually a ball pit, jumping castle, silent disco and face-painting, and even free fairy floss and lollipops. Tickets are on sale now, and of course it's obviously 18 and over — because if you're under 18 you definitely don't know what So Fresh is. Or CDs, probably. And if you need some motivation, let the Duff sisters take care of that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRfvBPkIQ9M
Brisbane's picnic baskets have had quite the workout so far in 2021, but one of their biggest moments to shine is about to arrive for another year. When Moonlight Cinema sets up its outdoor screen in Roma Street Parkland from late November, it's officially cheese, snack and openair movie-viewing season. The end-of-year mainstay returns from Friday, November 26–Sunday, February 20 with an impressive batch of films gracing its outdoor setup. Get ready to catch a heap of recent blockbusters, a smattering of brand new flicks and a lineup of Christmas movies. You can't run an openair cinema at the jolliest time of the year without the latter, obviously. The Suicide Squad opens the bill, with the lineup including Cruella, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Free Guy, Black Widow, Jungle Cruise, A Quiet Place Part II, Eternals, Red Notice and The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard as well. Also screening: Edgar Wright's new movie Last Night in Soho, animated sequel The Boss Baby: Family Business, Disney newbie Encanto, stage-to-screen musical Dear Evan Hansen and the family-friendly Clifford the Big Red Dog. Among the retro fare, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Greatest Showman and Dirty Dancing are all on the program; it would't be a Moonlight Cinema season without them, either. And, for your merry outdoor movie-watching pleasure, the Christmas selection includes Love Actually, The Holiday, Elf, The Grinch, Die Hard and Home Alone. It's also worth remembering that there'll be food, snacks, a bar and (if you'd like to pay for them) bean bags as well. And, in great news for movie-loving pooches, you can bring them along, too.
If your idea of comfort viewing involves gorgeous, heartwarming animated movies that instantly conjure up a big dose of nostalgia, you're not alone. And while you can easily revisit these kinds of flicks at home thanks to the wonders of streaming, watching a beloved film on a big screen will never get old — especially after 18 months or so spent glued to our TVs a little more often than usual. Enter the Pixar Film Festival, Dendy Cinemas' latest excuse to get everyone heading to either Dendy Portside or Dendy Coorparoo. Make the trip to either between Saturday, September 18–Sunday, October 3, and you'll be able to treat your eyes to a heap of the acclaimed animation studio's movies, including it's greatest feat yet — that'd be Wall-E —plus Inside Out, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo and Onward. Tickets only cost $10, or $8 if you're a Dendy member. The one caveat: this is a family-friendly festival, so you might have plenty of pint-sized company. But no one ever grows out of Pixar flicks, to this event is definitely for viewers both young and young at heart
If you're making the trip to one of Harajuku Gyoza's Brisbane eateries — in Albert Lane in the CBD and at South Bank — then you're probably hankering for its titular food. But the dumpling chain doesn't just serve up bite-sized savoury dishes, or just gyoza. And if you're fond of its desserts, you can tuck into them for half the usual price during the entire month of September. From Wednesday, September 1–Thursday, September 30, the chain is celebrating Sweet Treat Month and serving up its desserts for $5 a pop. The catch: you do have to buy something else, so you really will be having its dessert dishes to cap off your meal. On the menu: the brand's famed raindrop cake, which has earned Harajuku Gyoza fans for years now, and two types of sweet gyoza. The salted caramel gyoza comes in serves of five, and features fried dumplings filled with salted caramel filling, then topped with popcorn and honeycomb pieces. Or, there's the adzuki bean gyoza, which arrives in the same serving size — this time filled with adzuki beans, then nestled in a pot of warm matcha, and finally covered in white chocolate sauce and whipped cream.
For two nights in October, your plans can include checking out some of the best European art that's ever been made. While the Gallery of Modern Art had to ditch its Up Late sessions during its current European Masterpieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York exhibition due to lockdowns and restrictions, it's still staying open after hours on Saturday, October 9 and Sunday, October 10. On both days — across a weekend GOMA has dubbed Met Mega Weekend — you can rove your eyes over the exceptional exhibition between 9.30am–9.30pm. And, if you'd like to combine all that art with dinner and drinks, the Bodhi Tree Terrace Bar will also be open from 5–9pm. Given that works by Titian, Caravaggio, Vermeer, Turner, Degas, Renoir, Van Gogh and Monet form part of the exhibition — and they're just some of the names of the list — you won't be short on things to look at. In total, 65 different masterpieces are currently on display. But if there's one way to make this impressive showcase better, it's by keeping the doors open late, obviously. European Masterpieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York closes on Sunday, October 17, so this is one of your last chances to head along, too. Images: European Masterpieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 12 Jun 2021 – 17 Oct 2021, Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane. Photographs: Chloë Callistemon / K Bennett, QAGOMA.
There are two ways that you can spend a Thursday night: wishing it was Friday already, or pretending that it is. The latter is much more fun, clearly, and it's exactly what overwater bar Will & Flow is serving up at its new weekly Beats and Eats sessions. Here, you'll sit atop the river — on the CBD side, opposite South Bank — and you'll pair pizzas, cocktails, a DJ-spun soundtrack and that killer view. It all kicks off at 4.30pm each week, which is perfectly timed to stop in after work and make an evening of it. On the food menu, five types of slices will tempt your tastebuds. Whether you fancy pepperoni, ham and mushroom, chicken and bacon, all-vegetarian toppings or meat, meat and more meat, you can nab a pizza and a glass of prosecco for $20. The rest of the drinks lineup includes passionfruit spritzes, elderflower spritzes, blood orange cosmopolitans, gin fizzes and espresso martinis, and you'll find DJs Nik Conomos, Alexander J and Marea on the decks, depending on the week. Entry is free, but you'll pay for whatever you'd like to eat and drink.
Have you ever lost an entire evening to watching Rage? Have you stumbled in after a night out, turned on the TV, spied a few songs you love and just kept watching? Of course you have — because we all fall into that category. So, you already know just how ace music videos can be, and that they're an artform all by themselves. Taking over The Tivoli on Wednesday, October 27, Reel Music Video Festival is all about that winning combination of sound and vision. It's also a bit of a combo event itself. You'll watch music videos, see bands play live and also be on hand to find out who wins a heap of the fest's awards. Those gongs are all about celebrating Queensland's best new music vids, including the people behind them — as is the entire one-night fest, too. Tickets cost $35, creative discussions are also on the bill, and you'll see prizes awarded for Best Direction, Best Regional, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Student, Best Creative and Audience Choice — with Cub Sport, Jarryd James, JFDR, Clea and All India Radio among the nominees.
Floral bursts of sunshine are blooming all across a farm in the Scenic Rim, and they're ready for you to wander through, take plenty of snaps and pick till your heart's content. We're talking about sunflowers, of course — the undeniably cheeriest of all flowers — which are currently on offer just under 90 minutes drive from Brisbane. Exactly what a visit to Kalbar Sunflower Farm entails is rather obvious. Prepare to get frolicking — and picking — among 80,000 flowers. You'll need to pay $2 per sunflower on top of your $12.64 entry ticket, but you can nab as many as you like. You'll also want to wear boots, and bring your own secateurs or scissors — and a bucket to take your flowers home in. You'll be on a farm, so be careful to look out for bees in the field as well. Other than that, you'll have some eye-catching Instagram photos and a bunch of golden flowers in no time. Kalbar Sunflower Farm is opening to the public across three weekends: Saturday, October 23–Sunday, October 24, Saturday, October 30–Sunday, October 31 and Saturday, November 6–Sunday, November 7. Two sessions run daily, from 8.30am–12.30pm and 12.30–4.30pm. And, if you'd like to do more than nab golden-hued flowers, look at them, walk among them and take photos of them, yoga sessions, car rides with grazing platters and picnic boxes are all on offer for an extra cost.
Back when Welcome to Bowen Hills was up and running, the inner-city spot was also home to the annual Brisbane Gin Festival. The venue has had a name change and a revamp in 2021, but it's still showing the love for juniper spirits — this time, thanks to the Summer Gin Festival. The rebranded fest will make a boozy comeback from 12–6pm on Friday, November 5 and Saturday, November 6, with tickets costing $20 per session. Plenty of gin will be flowing, all thanks to a heap of different stalls serving up tastings and bespoke cocktails. So, if you're a fan of Australian Distilling Co, Cape Byron, Long Rays, Wolf Lane, Larrikin and more, your tastebuds will be happy. There'll be food onsite as usual, with Zero Fox doing the honours. Obviously, gin lovers can expect to get sipping and sampling, and to chat with the makers behind the tipples as well. Plus, Lyre's range will also be on offer, if you heading to a gin fest but won't be hitting the hard stuff. Top image: Wolf Lane Distillery.
On any given Saturday morning across Brisbane, plenty of pooches can be found descending upon the city's markets. Come 6am–12pm on Saturday, October 9 in Carseldine, dog lovers and their furry four-legged BFFs will be doing what they usually do — with the added bonus of attending the northside spot's returning Barktoberfest. What do cute canines have to do with celebrating this time of year? Nothing, but don't let that get in the way of a dapper doggo-friendly morning out. As well as the usual food and fresh produce, an array of pet-related stalls will ramp up the fun to barking great levels. There'll also be a pupper fashion parade and a pawparazzi photo contest — to determine just which canine cutie friend is the most adorable. New this year is a pooch splash zone, which is being set up by the Animal Welfare League Queensland. Yes, that means pools for your doggo. It is getting warm again, after all, and we're betting that your pupper also feels the heat. Entry is free, and live entertainment is part of the market as well.
When a story hasn't just been around for a while, but is actually considered a myth, something exciting happens each time that it's retold. No one wants to merely recreate the same narrative twice and relay it in the same way as everyone who has come before them, of course, because no one overly wants to see that happen. So, this is how creative interpretations that tinker with the details, adapt and reshape entire classics, and work out how to tell familiar tales in a particularly striking way are all born. Maze definitely definitely doesn't treat its dive into Greek mythology as just another standard show, for example. This eye-catching visual theatre work dives into the story of the minotaur with light-wire puppets and striking LED lighting design. Accordingly, even if you think you've heard all the details about Pasiphae, King Minos of Crete and Asterion before, you're in for a surprise. Created by theatre collective The Naughty Corner — and initially getting support from Dead Puppet Society — Maze takes over Brisbane Powerhouse's Underground Theatre from Wednesday, September 29–Saturday, October 2. [caption id="attachment_827164" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Top image: Sean Dowling.
As dairy fiends already well and truly know, adding burrata to any meal automatically levels it up several notches. Add the delicious blend of mozzarella and cream to every dish as part of a six-course dinner and, well, you've got yourself quite the cheesy, indulgent and delicious feast going on. That's what's happening at Burrata Night. Nope, that name doesn't disappoint. Salt Meats Cheese's Newstead store is whipping up a heap of burrata-topped options on Tuesday, September 28, then letting you eat your way through them. This is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of dinner, so you can pick as many — or as few — options as you like, and pay accordingly. Your options include burrata on top of meatballs, burrata on rigatoni nduja pasta, and burrata paired with salted caramel sauce and honeycomb. Yes, there's dessert burrata this time around (because SMC hosts burrata nights every now and then, and the menu always changes). Taking the plate-by-plate, you'll pay between $14–24 a pop. It all kicks off at 5pm, and booking in advance for this one-night-only menu is essential.
There's a film festival for everything, or so it can sometimes seem — and that includes science fiction cinema. Like flicks about the future, artificial intelligence, where technology might take us and dystopian worlds? That's what's on the bill at the Sci-Fi Film Festival. The event has been going strong in Sydney for more than a few years; however, in 2021, it's making two big changes. Firstly, it's jumping into the online realm. as plenty of other fests have been already this year. Secondly, because that's one of the perks of being digital, it's streaming its 80-film program nationwide. Even better: you can access that huge number of flicks with a $29.99 all-access pass. No, you definitely can't say you don't have anything to watch between Friday, October 15–Sunday, October 31. That lineup includes 13 features and 67 shorts, and spans films from 28 different countries — including Say Yes Again, a Taiwanese title that riffs on Groundhog Day; Tales of Tomorrow, which sees a teenage boy from 1999 tasked with saving human civilisation in 2165; Steampunk Connection, a Canadian documentary about the titular blend of sci-fi and Industrial Revolution-era technology; and Infinite Light, about possibly bringing back the dead. Or, if you like your movies short, you can dive into seven different sessions. The themed programs cover everything from animation, dystopian dreamscapes and the future to humanity's battle against technology and the dark side of our nature.
Last Christmas, Woolloongabba's South City Square did what plenty of other patches of Brisbane tend to when things get festive. Yes, it played host to a sprawling market setup. It isn't that time of year again yet, but the site is still welcoming in a collection of stalls selling plenty of items — this time from 9am–1pm on Sunday, September 26. That's when The Market Folk will once again take over the place, putting on a spring pop-up. We hope you like clothes, jewellery, ceramics, plants, pots, homewares and art, because you'll find it all here. Expect a big focus on design — so you won't be browsing and buying just any old wares. It all tales place in a brick-lined, industrial-style space, which'll make you feel like you're wandering around a European-style market. As well as the shopping, there'll be live music and creative workshops. There'll be bites to eat as well, thanks to a range of food trucks.
First, the expected news: if you'd like to check out the latest and greatest in Irish cinema in 2021, you'll need to do so virtually. Now, the exciting news: returning for another year, and for its second virtual fest in a row, the Irish Film Festival will unleash an impressive and varied lineup upon your small screen of choice from Friday, September 3–Sunday, September 12. Wolfwalkers, one of the best movies of the past year and an absolute gem of an eco-conscious animated feature, sits at the top of IFF's must-see list. Set centuries ago, and following a young wannabe hunter by the name of Robyn Goodfellowe (voiced by Honor Kneafsey), it charts a friendship with a girl called Mebh (Eva Whittaker) who just might be a member of a mythical tribe that's able to shapeshift into wolves while they're dreaming. Other highlights include Wildfire, about a dramatic reunion between sisters; Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan, which lets the punk poet and The Pogues frontman tell his own tale over a few brews; the Australian premiere of Phil Lynott: Songs For While I'm Away, about Thin Lizzy's lead singer and songwriter; and horror-comedy Boys from County Hell, which sees a father-son duo accidentally awaken an ancient Irish vampire in rural Derry. Or, as part of a 12-film program, there's also the Gabriel Byrne (Hereditary)-starring Death of a Ladies Man; Deadly Cuts, about Dublin hair salon stylists who take on a criminal gang; and The Bright Side, which focuses on a cynical comedian tackling cancer.
Comfort food season is almost behind us, but there's never a bad time to tuck into a bowl of gnocchi. Salt Meats Cheese isn't just spending a night celebrating one of the most stomach-warming dishes there is in its regular guise, though. This time, it's dedicating an evening to vegan gnocchi — and lots of it. From 5pm on Tuesday, August 24, the Italian eatery chain's Newstead outpost is hosting a vegan gnocchi night. Prices start at $12 per dish, and there'll be five different types available, as well as a vegan gnocchi dessert. On the menu: deep-fried gnocchi with eggplant and sweet and sour tomato salsa, sweet potato gnocchi topped with shaved truffle, ragu gnocchi with braised shiitake mushroom and napoletana sauce, gnocchi verdi and a hazelnut pesto gnocchi. Ever had dessert gnocchi? That's on offer as well, all thanks to SMC's gnocchi doughnuts — which come with wild berries, jam and vanilla custard. Bookings are recommended, as this is a one-night-only affair.
No one likes eating just a couple of wings. Those easy-to-devour poultry pieces aren't really designed with restraint in mind anyway — they're so small and tasty and moreish, and they come in so many different flavours, that keeping munching just comes with the territory. So, at Fritzenberger every Friday–Sunday, you can just keep eating. Don't know how many wings you can feast on in two hours? This is your chance to find out. Each weekend — and yes, the weekend starts on a Friday — the burger chain is doing bottomless beer and wings at its Petrie Terrace, South Bank and Wilston stores. You will need to head in before 6pm, though, so you'll be devoting your time to chicken while the sun is still shining. The deal will set you back $48 per person, which includes bottomless pints of Fritzenberger's own pale ale, lager and dry apple cider — and Aperol spritzes and house wines as well. Booking is obviously recommended, because this town sure does love chook pieces, brews and indulging in plenty of both.
Fashion, art, homewares and handcrafted goods as far as the eye can see — that's usually what's on the agenda at The Village Markets on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane. The event is taking a break under current circumstances; however that doesn't mean that you can't shop from home. In fact, that's where its first Insta Market comes in. Across the weekend of Friday, March 27–Sunday, March 28, the Village Markets Insta Market is showcasing designers, artists and curators — and highlighting just what you can buy with the click of a few buttons while sitting on your couch. Whether you're after new threads, something to pop on your shelf or some goodies for your pet, you'll find it here, as well as special offers and discounts. And, because it's all online, it's available to everyone — even if you're not in southeast Queensland. By taking part in the Insta Market, you'll also be supporting more than 70 creative small businesses — who, like many folks across many industries at present, have seen their whole lives change suddenly. If that's not a great excuse to spend a couple of days scrolling through your Instagram, then we don't know what is.
It's time to mark another food-based commemorative occasion. Yes, another one. By now, we all know that they're just excuses to eat more of a certain dish — and there's so many of them that you really could use them to plan your daily eating choices. But we keep celebrating dates like World Fish 'n' Chip Day because they're both tasty and fun. At Kangaroo Point, One Fish Two Fish is getting into the spirit of this seafood extravaganza in 2020 by, well, serving up seafood. And it's doing so across three days — from Friday, June 5–Sunday, June 7 (which is actual World Fish 'n' Chip Day). Make plans for lunch or dinner, with $12 takeaway cod meals on offer. For less than a lobster, you'll eat your way through a serving of battered, grilled or crumbed cod (your choice), shoestring fries, garden salad and housemade tartare sauce. You can pre-order in advance if you like, but you don't have to — so you can either book the special, then head by to pick it up, or drop in, order and take your classic fish 'n' chip feast home with you.
Things are getting creepy at Fortitude Valley's Institute of Modern Art, with a horror movie marathon taking over the Brunswick Street venue for a whole day. Just because it'll still be light outside, that doesn't mean this feast of fear-inducing cinema won't scare up a few frights. Get things started at 11am on Saturday, April 18 with a bona fide classic — and a film that is a whopping 98 years old. Silent German Expressionist masterpiece Nosferatu isn't quite Dracula, but Count Orlok is clearly inspired by the world's most famous vampire. And what better to pair it with than another absolute pioneer of the genre (and based on another seminal gothic horror text, too), aka the 1931 version of Frankenstein at 12.30pm? That's the black-and-white part of the proceedings. When 2.30pm rolls around, colour will hit the IMA's big screen via buckets of blood. That's what Brian de Palma's adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie splashes about — and its supernatural story will be followed at 4.30pm by the series of Australian Indigenous ghost stories that is Tracey Moffatt's BeDevil. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VggXS-6_-YU Entry is free — and you can settle in for the whole marathon or just drop by whenever suits you. Image: Carrie, 1976, Director. Brian de Palma, courtesy of NFSA.
Given the current state of the world, holidays aren't on many folks' agendas at present — but, as always, you can pretend. For the entirety of March, Riverbar and Kitchen wants Brisbanites to feel like they've ventured to Latin America, turning the whole month to one huge Cuban Nights party. Every day of the week, that means cocktails and Cubano sandwiches. Sip your way through a Stormy Spritz with white rum, triple sec, coconut syrup, lime juice and ginger beer, or opt for a Malecon Mai Tai with white rum, orgeat, orange juice, yuzu soda and grenadine — all while you're eating a sanga stuffed with smoked ham, pulled pork, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. If you're just in the mood for a snack, there's also plantain chips with mojito dip. Why just drink mojitos when you can eat them, obviously. From Thursday–Sunday each week, Cuban Nights is also putting on live music — and if you're keen on doing the salsa (and learning how), you'll want to end your weekend there. On Sundays from 4pm, you can take a free dance class, with a three-piece Latin band playing live afterwards from 5–7pm. If you're choosing to go out and support local businesses, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health.
For years, Brisbanites keen to watch movies in their cars have zoomed down the highway to Yatala. Lovers of the drive-in experience now have another option, though — Park-In Pictures, a 75-vehicle pop-up drive-in by Get Parked that's taking over a vacant parking lot in Hendra. On Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17 — and on future dates as well, if it's popular — Park-In Pictures will set up a ten-metre-wide, six-metre-high big screen at 490–500 Nudgee Road. And, it'll play a number of recent flicks. If you fancy a bit of candy-coloured, female-focused comic-book action starring Margot Robbie, you can watch Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). Other options include Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen, so break out your tartan tracksuits and prepare to start speaking in Cockney rhyming slang — plus the family-friendly My Spy, the latest movie to pair a big burly action hero (Guardians of the Galaxy's Dave Bautista, in this instance) with a kid for comedic purposes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygzqL60kvwU There'll also be snacks on offer, with popcorn, lollies, ice cream, hot dogs, burgers, chips and drinks all brought to your vehicle. Social-distancing measures will be in place — although many are already part and parcel of the drive-in concept — and your ticket covers up to six people. It'll cost you $39 if you want a 'gold' parking bay to watch the film, or $33 otherwise.
Forget worms — the early bird gets gourmet bites to eat, farm-fresh produce to line the cupboards, and an enjoyable morning of browsing and shopping at Milton Markets. Every Sunday morning, more than 80 stalls descend upon the corner of Cribb and Little Cribb streets in the inner western suburb to sell tasty wares. From 6am–12pm in warmer months and 7am–1pm, you can wander through massive fig trees to join them. Once a season, the Milton Markets also celebrates the change of weather — and all of the food that goes with it. On Sunday, March 29, it's doing so with Milton Markets: Autumn Seasonal Flavours, which'll showcase the tastes that make everyone think of this time of year. If fresh seasonal fruit gets your stomach grumbling, you can stock up here. If vegan eats do as well, you're in luck again. Expect themed gourmet food stalls, plus decorations to suit the occasion — and live entertainment and music are on the agenda too.
