Partway into Unfinished Business, three Americans go to Berlin. It’s a busy week in the German capital, with hotel rooms hard to come by. The youngest of the trio, Mike Pancake (Dave Franco), books into the only place he and his 67-year-old colleague, Timothy Winters (Tom Wilkinson), can afford: a youth hostel. Their boss, Dan Trunkman (Vince Vaughn), unknowingly opts for a “habitable work of art”, where he’s on display in a museum. The level of comedy shown here, of the “old folks doing young things”, “look how mismatched everyone is” and “isn’t this a ridiculous idea” variety, are actually some of the film’s best work. That’s not a compliment. But when much of the movie makes fun of unusual names, of a man wearing women’s clothing, and of the difficulties someone identified as challenged has in understanding certain words, well, the bar hasn’t been set very high. Also on the hit-list of Unfinished Business’ allegedly humorous subjects: gawking at naked women, the stereotype of women acting like men to make it in business, women compared to vending machines, gay nightclub culture and steam rooms. Contrast that with the film’s supposedly softer side, attempting to address bullying, fitting in, standing up for yourself and chasing what you believe in. That the combination of crassness and schmaltz is as muddled and messy as it is ill fitting is hardly surprising. The plot stems from a Jerry Maguire moment, as family man Dan quits his job selling metal shavings to go out on his own, and Mike and Timothy follow. A year later, they’re up for a lucrative contract – but despite being told the gig is theirs by their contact (Nick Frost), they’re pitted against Chuck (Sienna Miller), their previous employer. Though both teams travel to Berlin, it seems that smarmy exec Jim (James Marsden) has already made up his mind. Dan is forced to take drastic action to succeed, and to take care of everyone counting on him. Why Hollywood is convinced that audiences want to see Vaughn making the same kind of movies – especially these kind of movies – remains a mystery. He’s a likeable enough presence, but continually playing a big-hearted underachiever trying to get his life back on track via fratboy-like antics doesn’t do anyone any favours. Vaughn and his director Ken Scott obviously disagree, re-teaming after the thematically similar Delivery Man. If you’ve seen that, or The Internship, then you know what you’re in for here. The scattershot approach shown in the script doesn’t help matters, rushing from one scene to the next as fast as it can, even though the film always feels like it is dragging. Nor does the insistence that more is more: more crude gags, more cliches, more over-the-top exploits and more drama. And then there’s poor Franco and Wilkinson, saddled with one-note characters, but trying hard. At least someone is. Otherwise, Unfinished Business is an overstuffed, underdone mess that lives up to its name – and a film easily bested by its stock image marketing campaign.
Forget finding a golden ticket — while scoring a free pass to a chocolate factory was everyone's fantasy as a kid (and, let's face it, is still a fantasy now), there are other ways to indulge your Willy Wonka dreams. Cakes as far as the eye can see, classes on how to make them and a dedicated sweet zone aren't just things that floated through your head while you were asleep. They're real, and they're part of the returning International Cake Show at the Royal International Convention Centre. From Friday, April 14–Sunday, April 16, Brisbane's Ekka precinct becomes the sweetest place in the city, so prepare your tastebuds and stomach accordingly. The three-day show will feature a mixing bowl worth of live cake-making and decorating sessions, how-to demonstrations, hands-on classes and a two-day cake sculpture challenge — as well as hosting the Australasian Cake Oscars, the tastiest awards you're ever likely to come across. [caption id="attachment_893571" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trina Thomson, Sweet Ruby Artisan Cakes[/caption] Other highlights include 60-plus stalls and shops, which'll help you bake up a storm at home, and plenty of tasty fare to devour. Basically, when you're not learning how to make sweet treats, you'll be eating them. Oh, and you'll be looking at them, too — and not just your regular old desserts. Get ready to scope out a life-sized Bumblebee Transformer made out of sugar cake, and The Lion King as well. Rosie Dummer will whip up a life-sized edible Paddington Bear, and there'll be an attempt to build the world's largest cookie tower. Yes, these are sweets that sugar dreams are made of.
If you're going to watch a romantic film with your other half this Valentine's Day, you may as well do so while you're splashing around in a pool — especially if that's the kind of watery movie date that you've never had before. That's what's on the bill at Brisbane's returning outdoor cinema pop-up, aka the fittingly called Float-In Cinema. Once again setting up at W Brisbane, it's taking over the riverside hotel's WET Deck for three nights in February to pair swim-in flicks with food and cocktails. Screening from Monday, February 12–Wednesday, February 14 — with a 6.30pm seating time for a 7.15pm start — Float-In Cinema costs $115 per person. For that price, you'll float on the water in an inflatable lounger, watch the movie (obviously), tuck into your choice of three grazing boxes, sip a glass of bubbles or a One in a Melon cocktail upon arrival, and enjoy unlimited sweet or salty popcorn. Those food options include a cheese box packed with aged cheddar, double brie and blue cheese; a savoury box with prosciutto, bresaola and truffled salumi; and a sweet box with macaroons, mini tarts and mini cakes. Whichever you select, you'll need to email the venue in advance to make your pick. If you're keen, you might want to get in quick, as seats are limited per session. And as for what you'll be watching, romance is the natural theme. So, that means La La Land, The Notebook (because as Barbie demonstrated, there's no such thing as too much Ryan Gosling) and — yes, on the day itself — Valentine's Day.
Tenth birthdays are a big deal, especially when you're an Australian music festival that's been navigating a pandemic and the resulting difficult time for the industry for half of your run, and also grappling with the impact of La Niña. Yours and Owls has been on quite the rollercoaster ride across the past decade, clearly, so of course it's celebrating its milestone birthday with a massive lineup. Fontaines DC, Denzel Curry, The Kooks and Goo Goo Dolls lead the roster of talent taking to the stage in Wollongong across Saturday, March 1–Sunday, March 2, 2025. Orville Peck, Hockey Dad, The Jungle Giants, Peach PRC and The Veronicas are also on the bill, as are Elderbrook, Honey Dijon, JPEGMafia and Salute — and plenty more. When Yours and Owls revealed that it wasn't going ahead in 2024, joining the long list of music festivals scrapping plans for this year, it thankfully only put its fun on hold for 2025. Returning in 2025 was always the intention — and this is a lineup worth waiting for. Yours and Owls didn't completely sit 2024 out, however. Earlier in October, it held a pre-party, aka the event you put on when you can't put on the full festival experience at your usual time of the year because it doesn't work for your headliners' calendars. So, a tunes-filled shindig still took over the University of Wollongong campus — complete with Golden Features, Peking Duk, Alice Ivy, Anna Lunoe and more — to keep things warm for next year. Affectionately labelled "Gong Christmas", Yours and Owls 2025 will feature four stages across its two-day run, plus a feast of local arts — and food and drinks — beyond the tunes. [caption id="attachment_976058" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Theo Cottle[/caption] Yours and Owls Lineup 2025 Fontaines DC Denzel Curry The Kooks Goo Goo Dolls Elderbrook Hockey Dad Honey Dijon JPEGMafia The Jungle Giants Orville Peck Peach PRC Salute The Veronicas Allday Babe Rainbow Coterie Cyril Dice The Dreggs Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn Grentperez Isabel Larosa Magdalena Bay May A Mark Blair Pond Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners Sam Tompkins San Cisco Slowly Slowly Sycco Wunderhorse Battlesnake Bean Magazine Bodyjar The Belair Lip Bombs C.O.F.F.I.N Crocodylus Keli Holiday Kitschen Boy Le Shiv Miss Kaninna Nick Ward Ra Ra Viper Satin Cali Total Tommy Y.O.G.A Top Yours and Owls image: Ruby Bowland.
Rave culture meets the roller rink at Roller Dance Australia's first-ever Roller Rave, where getting your skates on and dancing to DJ-spun tunes is on the agenda. You'll glide, you'll make shapes and you'll feel like you've been transported back to the 90s. And no, this isn't just a roller disco under another name — because recreating the rave vibe is one of the event's number-one aims. Behind the decks: DJ Phil Smart, who was indeed helping get raves pumping three decades back. To provide the soundtrack, he'll be joined by DJ Void and Truffles Bootcamp. And while they spin live sets, the visuals will also throw it back like you're in a warehouse in the era of classic flicks Go and Human Traffic. It's all going down from 6–11pm on Saturday, January 20 at Northshore Brisbane's Superordinary, with entry costing $30 and pre-booked skate hire on top setting you back another $5. No matter your skating level, or if you just want to dance without strapping on wheels, everyone is welcome. And as well as a roller rink and a dance floor, there'll be a skate ramp, a graffiti wall and an art exhibition, plus food options. Images: Marta Andrzejewska from @youartmore.
There's only one problem with cheese — there's never enough of it. So no matter when, where or what type you're eating, your dairy-devouring experience always comes to an end much too soon. Thankfully, that's not usually an issue at Fromage the Cow, Milton's dedicated cheese haven; however it's even less of a worry at their regular Raclette Nights. Pay $59, sit down for dinner and the gooey goodness just keeps coming. Yes, it really is unlimited. Here's how the three-course feast works: you'll get a starter to kick things off, and dessert and a glass of house sparkling to wrap it all up, but this meal really is all about the main. Shared raclette stations are set up, managed by the eatery's team, where you can get your plate slathered in raclette — oozing all over the top of accompaniments like potatoes, charcuterie meats, roasted onion, baguette and pickles underneath. The next cheesy delights occur on Wednesday, March 20 and Wednesday, April 24, but keep an eye out for others. Bookings are essential, and it all starts at 6pm for 6.30pm. Wearing something stretchy is probably essential as well. Image: Fromage the Cow. Updated March 6.
If you and your mates were to open up a small bar in the suburbs, you'd probably want it to turn out like this. Think cosy and brimming with character. Think chairs you can sink into, and a beer garden likely to steal away many an afternoon and evening. You'll find all that at Mr Henderson in Sandgate — and you'll also find a large drawing of a shoe on their wall, too. That's a nod to the site's former history, with a boot repair place previously calling the building home. Of course, décor and atmosphere is one thing; a bevy of beverages and a flurry of food is another. Don't worry, you'll find all that here too, including eight beers on tap, plenty more in the fridge, and an expertly curated list of wines and spirits. Mr Henderson's dining menu might only boast six options — vegetarian mushroom pate, octopus marinated in chilli and lime, and a cheese selection among them — but that's because they're always calling in a little help from their friends. Don't be surprised to see a food truck outside, with the rotating array of street eats all part of the bar's charms.
While you might feel decades too old to be partying along with the current cast of The Wiggles — even though they're now Hottest 100 winners — anyone who grew up in the 90s will be well familiar with the kids' band's OG gang: Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Greg Page and the ever-sleepy Jeff Fatt. And now, you can get ready for a serious dose of nostalgia, when the four entertainers return to the Brisbane stage for a time-tripping reunion show. After doing the same for bushfire relief in Sydney back in 2020, The OG Wiggles hit the Brisbane Entertainment Centre from 8pm on Saturday, April 30, inviting you to relive some big childhood memories as you dance up a storm to some favourite old-school tunes. Get grooving to classics like 'Wake Up Jeff!', 'Fruit Salad' and 'Hot Potato', all without a single toddler in sight. Even better: DZ Deathrays are the support act, because this Wiggles concert really is for adults — well, audiences over the age of 15, to be specific. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRqLtxqxmKI Image: WikiCommons
It's been 12 years since the Red Hot Chili Peppers last made a headline tour of Australia. And they're finally on their way back down under. In February and March 2019, the LA-based rockers will play all over the country, including a one-off A Day on the Green and their first-ever show in Tassie. To catch them on the Green, get yourself to Mt Duneed Estate, Geelong, on Saturday, March 2. You can expect to hear tunes from the Peppers' new (and eleventh) studio album, The Getaway, as well as old hits, like 'Californication', 'By The Way' and 'Under The Bridge'. Since making their first release — a self-titled EP — in 1984, the band has sold more than 60 million albums, won five Grammys and entered the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. Outside of its one-off A Day on the Green appearance — an Aussie-wide festival that is also playing host to our own Kyle Minogue — the Peppers will also be playing headline shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth and a smaller show out on Hope Estate in the Hunter Valley. If you fancy a trip down south, or are maybe hanging around after Mona Foma, the Peppers are heading to Tasmania for the first time ever, to perform at a rare intimate show — with a capacity of just 1290. Supports acts for all shows will be announced soon. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS 2019 DATES Tasmania — Derwent Entertainment Centre, February 17 Sydney — Qudos Bank Arena, February 19 Hunter Valley — Hope Estate, February 23 Brisbane — Brisbane Entertainment Centre, February 25 Melbourne — Rod Laver Arena, February 28 Geelong — A Day on the Green, Mt Duneed Estate, March 2 Perth — NIB Stadium, March 5 Pre-sale tickets for A Day on the Green will be released at 10am on Wednesday, November 22, with all other Live Nation pre-sales going live at midday on Thursday, November 23. All shows go on sale to the public at midday on Monday, November 26. Image: Steve Keros.
By now, every Brisbanite should've heard of the Urban Wine Walk, aka your excuse to mosey around town and drink vino at various bars across a mighty fine afternoon. Prefer hopping around a particular patch of the city to drink cocktails instead? Meet the Urban Cocktail Trail, which is exactly what it sounds like. This time, from 1–5pm on Saturday, October 22, you'll make your way around the Fortitude Valley to sip cocktails. Your destinations: Baja Modern Mexican, The Prince Consort, Summa House, Savile Row, Osbourne Hotel, Gerard's Bar, Baedeker and Dirty Sultan. All eight spots will each be making their own special cocktail for the occasion, so you'll basically be venturing to them all and catching those different drinks like Pokémon. [caption id="attachment_820769" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Millie Tang[/caption] Passionfruit mojitos, tequila concoctions with elderflower and jalapeño syrup, a Hey Jude with coconut oil-washed gin and Midori: they're some of the one-off tipples you'll be sipping. Tickets cost $84.04 and are on sale now, with places limited. You can choose where you kick off, and you'll get a glass of bubbles and something to eat at your initial port of call. After that, you'll be able to redeem five vouchers for five cocktails at whichever participating places you feel like visiting. Or, there's also a $69.46 option, which only includes three cocktail vouchers.
Yatala's latest retro movie night poses a dilemma. On your next trip to the drive-in, will you show your 90s love, chat about Bettys and Baldwins, exclaim "as if?" and remember that Paul Rudd (Only Murders in the Building) doesn't age? Or, will you wish 00s-era Lindsay Lohan (Our Little Secret) was your best friend, wear pink even though it's not a Wednesday and write in a burn book? Of course, if there's a way to show your affection for both Clueless and Mean Girls, then that's an option — both films are on the bill (the OG, not the musical remake in the latter's case), after all. One borrows from Jane Austen and made a star out of Alicia Silverstone, the other is based on a self-help book and boasts Tina Fey as a screenwriter, and they're each considered high-school movie classics for a reason. They'll also be playing from 7pm on Saturday, March 29, 2025 — to celebrate Clueless' 30th anniversary this year, in fact — which sounds like a fetch way to spend your Saturday night. Tickets cost $50 for a carload of six or $25 per adult, so gather the gang, jump in the car and motor down the highway.
UPDATE, MAY 13, 2022: Due to forecast wet weather, Brisbane Kite Festival has been postponed from Sunday, May 15 to Sunday, August 21. This article has been udpated to reflect that change. Brisbane's big blue sky is about to get brighter — no, summer isn't here again, but Brisbane Kite Festival is. From 10am–3pm on Sunday, August 21, the high-flying event will take over the Murarrie Recreation Reserve, filling the air with colourful structures flapping in the wind. It's a family-friendly affair, but kids small and big are welcome to roll out their kite and watch it float in the wind — and, if you need some help, there'll be kite workshops onsite, too. Plus, if you want to be part of the fun, but don't have your own kite, there'll be some for sale on the day, as well as professional kite flyers (yep, that's a thing) to give you a hand. When you're not holding a string and staring at the clouds, you can also grab something to eat or do a little browsing, with the festival also featuring markets and food stalls. Entry is free — and pets are welcome, so bring your doggo along.
Another week, another cookie pie — again. That's how it often feels thanks to Gelato Messina's beloved dessert specials, but no, we're not complaining. After the gelato chain first introduced its cookie pies to the world in 2020, it has kept bringing the OTT dessert back over and over. We all need an extra dose of sweetness every now and then, clearly, including while both Sydney and Melbourne are in lockdown. So, it should come as no surprise that Messina is serving up the decadent dessert once more. This time, it's one of the chain's Frankenstein's monster-style desserts (although cookie pies generally fall into that category anyway). This version is also a returning favourite — and, if you like all things red velvet, prepare to get excited. Hang on, a cookie pie? Yes, it's a pie, but a pie made of cookie dough. And it serves two-to-six people — or just you. You bake it yourself, too, so you get to enjoy that oh-so-amazing smell of freshly baked cookies wafting through your kitchen. Now that you're onboard with the overall cookie pie concept, the red velvet version really is exactly what it sounds like. That crunchy, crumbly red velvet and choc chip cookie pie comes filled with a thick layer of cream cheese custard, too, so prepare to get a little gooey. You can only buy this pie in kits, which means that you'll get some of the cult ice creamery's famed gelato along with it. You can opt for a 500-millilitre tub for $38, a one-litre tub for $44 or a 1.5-litre tub for $48. If you're keen to get yourself a piece of the pie, they're available to preorder online on Monday, September 13. And, because Messina's specials always prove popular, the brand is now staggering the on-sale times. Accordingly, folks in Queensland and the ACT are able to purchase at 9am, Victorians at 9.30am, and New South Wales customers split across three times depending on the store (with pies from Circular Quay, Surry Hills, Bondi, Randwick and Miranda on sale at 10am; Brighton Le Sands, Tramsheds, Parramatta and Darlinghurst at 10.30am; and Darling Square, Newtown, Rosebery and Penrith at 11am). The catch? Most people will need to peel themselves off the couch and head to their local Messina store to pick up their order. The pies will be available for collection between Friday, September 17–Sunday, September 19. Sydneysiders, remember to abide by lockdown restrictions when it comes to picking up your pie — with folks in most suburbs required to stick to their Local Government Area, or within five-kilometres from home, and a strict five-kilometre limit in place in LGAs of concern. Melburnians, if the current lockdown conditions remain in place until then, you'll also only be permitted to travel within a five-kilometre radius to pick up food. Don't live near enough to a store in Sydney and Melbourne? Messina now delivers these specials as well, but only to select areas each time. It'll be bringing the red velvet pie to Sydneysiders in North Kellyville, Glenhaven, Castle Hill, Cherrybrook, Pennant Hills, West Pennant Hills, Baulkham Hills, North Rocks, Carlingford, Epping, North Epping and Beecroft. To get it brought to your door in Melbourne, you'll need to live in Heidelberg, Heidelberg West, Reservoir, Thomastown, Fawkner, Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Maribyrnong, Footscray and Williamstown. Then, when it comes to cooking the pie, you just need to whack it in the oven for 25 minutes at 160–180 degrees and voila! You can preorder a Messina red velvet cookie pie from Monday, September 13, to pick up from all NSW, Vic and Queensland Gelato Messina stores — or for delivery in some Sydney and Melbourne suburbs.
When is a record store more than just a record store? When it's also a cafe and community space as well. And when is a stint of scouring Echo & Bounce's racks more than just a shopping trip? When the Woolloongabba spot welcomes everyone in for a day-long open house complete with DJs, live music, art and markets in Jacob Lane. This excuse to stack your vinyl collection made the move from Fortitude Valley's Winn Lane to Brisbane's inner east in 2022, to a two-storey perch in an old heritage building — and it wants you to drop by during Brisbane Art Design 2023. On Saturday, May 27, you'll browse, listen, buy, eat, drink, hang out and engage from 7am–8pm. The fun starts over breakfast, including tunes both spun and performed live, plus installations to peer at. Then, from 12–5pm, the community market will span music, art, objects and wearables. Echo & Bounce's open house will take over its carpark space, courtyard and living room, as well as the store's loft if the weather turns wet.
New York has Central Park. London has Hyde Park. Berlin has its Tiergarten. Sprawling inner-city parklands are a pivotal part of many of the world's best cities, and now Brisbane is getting its own — revamping the site at Herston that's currently home to Victoria Park Golf Course. Announced by Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner back in June and dubbed Victoria Park Vision, the transformed spot will span 45 hectares — and, as well as almost doubling the amount of space that's currently available to Brisbanites, it'll mark the city's biggest new park in five decades. With the golf course's patronage in decline in recent years, its 26 hectares will be reclaimed and reshaped; however, its popular attractions will remain. That means that the driving range and mini-golf course will stay onsite, as will the function centre and wedding venue. Exactly what else will be included has yet to be finalised, with the Brisbane City Council earmarking $1 million over the 2019–20 financial year for community consultation and design. As part of that decision-making process, BCC is currently calling for ideas from the public — so, if you're keen to have your say on what the site should feature, you can currently do just that by submitting your thoughts online. Fancy a permanent food truck site? Bike tracks? Green open space? A skating rink? A pond with pedal boats? If so, you just need to add your feedback by Sunday, September 29. Brisbane residents can fill out a survey, make written submissions, and submit photographs or design ideas. "Other successful parklands across Brisbane have pop-up cinemas, different types of markets, community events and include revolutionary play areas for all ages. These are all options we will explore with the community," said the Lord Mayor Schrinner in a statement. [caption id="attachment_725440" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Victoria Park Golf Complex[/caption] Whatever ends up within its grounds, the updated spot will act as a green link for the area, connecting Kelvin Grove, Herston, Bowen Hills and the Brisbane Showgrounds. The Courier Mail reports that Victoria Park Vision will also include water features, woodlands and gardens — and, size-wise, will rank second in in the city to the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens. In terms of access, it'll link in with the existing busway at Herston. And, when it's up-and-running, the park will also be serviced by the Brisbane Metro at the the Herston and Kelvin Grove stations. Just when Victoria Park Vision will be open to the public is yet to be announced, but work is due to get underway when the golf course closes in 2021. For more information about Victoria Park Vision, or to submit your ideas for the park, visit the Brisbane City Council website.
At pubs, breweries and bars, wings are a menu staple — and it's easy to see why. They can be slathered in different marinades and dipped in various sauces, and taste great both fried and baked. And, they're easy to eat plenty of. BrewDog DogTap Brisbane is hoping that you agree every Wednesday. Actually, it expects that you already do. That's why the riverside venue is dedicating the entire day to all-you-can-eat wings, whether you're keen on chicken pieces or prefer cauliflower instead. Either way, you can choose between buffalo-style (which come honey glazed, and with hot sauce and blue cheese dip) or Korean fried wings (as paired with red onion and coriander kimchi). Whichever options you choose when it comes to type and flavour, you'll be tucking into something crispy — and as much of it as you can handle for $20 per person. The bottomless feast is available all day, with no set times, no time limit and no need to buy a drink (although, given you'll be in a brewery, you might feel a hankering for a beer or two). You do need to book, however, and you'll need to be a little prepared, as reservations for Wings Wednesday are only taken up until Tuesday each week. [caption id="attachment_751725" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Pandora Photography[/caption] BrewDog DogTap Brisbane's All-You-Can-Eat Wings Wednesday takes place weekly for $20 per person — with bookings required. Top image: DogTap Brisbane.
Start the new season as you intend to go on, Brisbanites: with a boozy bouquet full of beverages and plenty of small bites to go with them. That's what the Treasury Casino's spring edition of Cocktails & Canapes is serving up on Saturday, September 1. Even better — it's slinging an unlimited supply for three hours from 6.30pm. Taking place in The Lab and Ryan's Private Private Dining Room, the event promises all of the appropriate drinks, aka the type that'll make your tastebuds know that winter is over. There'll be cosmopolitans, mojitos, margaritas and espresso martinis, plus cocktails made with bubbles and whiskey — although not in the same glass, we're guessing. Throw in an array of seasonal canapes, add some live music, and you'll be saying quite the merry hello to spring. Tickets cost $75, with everything included — even that blooming good feeling that's certain to blossom.
Cheese and pasta go together like few food combinations. As great as they both are individually, a particularly enticing alchemy of flavours occurs when they join forces. But simply sprinkling grated mozzarella or ground parmesan over your spaghetti is definitely yesterday's news. Eating pasta served out of a cheese wheel is what it's all about now. Salt Meats Cheese has been hopping on everyone's current favourite Italian culinary bandwagon for a while now, so its weekly night dedicated to the dish isn't new — but it's still tasty. Drop into the chain's Gasworks eatery on Wednesdays from 5pm, and you'll tuck into the cheesiest bowl of pasta you're ever likely to taste for $29. Flavour-wise, there's a few available, because even a meal like cheese wheel pasta can use a few additions. Just classic cheese is still on the menu, as are two other varieties each week. In the past, everything from truffle and carbonara to pesto genovese, gorgonzola and smoked mozzarella have been dished up, so arrive hungry. Bookings are essential and can be made online.
If life beyond this year's lockdowns has you feeling festive — and feeling like heading out for a drink and a feed with mates — we don't blame you. And while we don't doubt you've already hit the town a few times since Queensland's hospo scene started back up again, The Local Tavern in Surfers Paradise is giving you even more reason to go out for a catch up. Until Sunday, November 1, the Gold Coast spot is taking 50 percent off your bistro bill from Wednesday–Sunday. No joke. It'll be slinging all food, cocktails, spirits, beer, wine and even champagne for cheap. The catch? You'll have to order food with your beverages if you want a discounted drink — and be there between 5.30–6.30pm. Yep, it's a short window, but a wallet-friendly one. To get the deal, you just have to download the AVC app here or use the Mr Yum mobile ordering platform, hit up The Local Tavern between 5.30–6.30pm and claim the 50 percent discount off your bill. And, you can nab the deal multiple times while it's running, if you're keen on a trip south for a few parmigianas or cheeseburger spring rolls. Happy Days deal runs Wednesday–Sunday between 5.30–6.30pm at The Local Tavern. It includes food and drink, but the latter must be ordered with food.
Winter means spending more time indoors — and you want those interiors to look as great as possible. Art and design lovers, that's where the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art's Winter Design Market comes in. Browse, buy and then prepare to get cosy. Find jewellery, ceramics, textiles, homewares and clothing and more on offer, with the market taking over the GOMA forecourt and Bodhi Tree Terrace from 9am–4pm on Saturday, July 29–Sunday, July 30. There'll be more than 60 stalls selling wares, plus DJs providing a soundtrack. Don't go giving the venue's official store a miss while you're there, either. Take the time to peruse the GOMA collection of books and art, and thank us for the tip later. As well as shopping for cute design wares — and meeting the makers behind them — while you're in the vicinity, you'll be able to wander through the galleries, too. And although GOMA will host another design market once the silly season rolls around, getting your gift shopping out of the way now will make you feel like Christmas has come early. Or, just treat yo'self — no excuse necessary.
When the clock strikes 11.59 pm tonight, Friday, May 15, Queenslanders will be able to venture a little further away from home. As part of the state's easing of COVID-19 restrictions, folks can travel up to 150 kilometres away from their place of residence for a recreational day trip — and, as just announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk this morning, that now includes visiting Fraser (K'gari), Moreton (Mulgumpin) and North Stradbroke (Minjerribah) islands. The three islands off the coast of Queensland will welcome back visitors, including anyone who'd like to go driving along the beach — although a permit is still needed for the latter. To make the trek, however, you will still need to live within 150 kilometres of each island. If you reside further away, they'll remain off limits under the stage one restrictions. The reopening is purely for day trips, with camping not yet allowed — and nor is booking and staying for a night in holiday accommodation. That said, if Queensland's coronavirus case numbers remain low between now and the next school holidays, staying overnight will be permissible when the break rolls around at the end of June, the Premier advised. https://www.facebook.com/annastaciamp/photos/a.523591701005345/3161202320577590/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDES7ouBV69_STTVHMMr3pAQCTLrfrG2y9JGep4KUUqfNKNXmIq2CQoekwAmySjKIRrrqLKN0DBT_j9Vomp9_Nn-HYn5FGtXRoMuKlNJrOEv-XNDccM7FZfHskcFuG5SwyTNY0eT_9W7fRHAyT46MOKnS4GoiADys1DBDsMCKxduEzvJCR8-BusBwLeESLVcN8ZoPOiaOm18IFvSbF61RrRHc0rMA_JSEDq7Zcg0oGu2pZc2gD8xJ60CvfDhUZeB47iQlXPElXizF1IYtCfLqELeSua2EcGnx3Yw0e9hniy9KPJGfmg_Pn1RlBCJ43nkEnUVlHTuyVw0DhalnWY1FcJtQ&__tn__=-R Also revealed today: eased restrictions for Queenslanders living in the outback. When stage one of the eased limitations was announced, it included the ability for outback residents to travel 500 kilometre away from home — and now they'll also be to stay overnight as well. That covers staying with family and friends in the area, as well as spending a night or several at paid accommodation in outback regions. "They must remain in those outback areas," the Premier clarified. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Tourism and Events Queensland
There's something special about Thursday evenings. Most of the nine-to-five grind is behind you, only one sleep awaits till the weekend and the buzz has already started to grow. That's exactly why jazz nights keep popping up to help see out the working week, getting you into the swing of things early — and making waiting for clock-off time on Friday that tad more bearable. Brisbane's latest Thursday night jazz night comes courtesy of the Hibiscus Room, aka the retro-inspired rooftop and poolside restaurant and bar that opened in the CBD — overlooking the Queen Street mall, no less — in late 2021. From Thursday, March 10 until the end of the month, it's putting on live tunes from 6.30pm every Thursday. You'll be tapping your toes to the Hibiscus Room Resident Trio and their jazz, bossa nova and funk sounds, with Sherman W Jones III, Andrew Shaw and Brendan St Ledger doing the honours. Entry is free, the music runs till 8pm, and the usual menu applies; think: hazelnut espresso martinis, crispy scotch eggs and black forest trifle. [caption id="attachment_836428" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mitch Lowe[/caption]
Here's the exceptional thing about being a movie lover: you're never short on stuff to watch. And, because where you see something can have a big imprint on your viewing experience, you're rarely lacking great places to get your cinema fix. Brisbane's latest: the city's riverside CBD brewery. On Tuesday nights throughout spring, thanks to its returning Cinema Sessions, Felons Brewing Co is turning its Barrel Hall into a cinema and showing classic flicks — for free. From 7pm, you can lock your eyes on the big screen and enjoy a movie fave, all without paying a cent. You can also get comfy on a bean bag and reserve your seat at the same time; however, that part will cost you $25. That amount is redeemable on the night, though, on food and drinks. Either way, sipping beers with your movie isn't free unsurprisingly. There'll be cinema snacks on offer as well and, again, you'll need your wallet. As for the films flickering across the screen, it's an impressive retro lineup. The latest season includes plenty of nostalgic delights — The Italian Job (September 19), Scott Pilgrim vs the World (September 26) and Shaun of the Dead (October 17) included. For Halloween, Evil Dead II and Evil Dead Rise will play in a zombie-filled double. Or, you can check out Death at a Funeral (October 3) and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (October 10). Wearing pink and heading along on October 24 is highly recommended — even though it's a brand-new flick from this year, that's when Barbie is being given a spin.
Lorde is back. After five years away from music, the New Zealand pop sensation returned in 2021 with third studio album Solar Power. And, if you've been hanging out to hear it live, her delayed tour is finally heading our way in March. The Solar Power World Tour was meant to hit in 2022, but was postponed due to New Zealand's COVID-19 situation and border rules at the time. When it makes its way to Brisbane's Riverstage on Wednesday, March 6, fans will still be in for a treat, of course — and three albums worth of Lorde tunes. [caption id="attachment_816623" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Come Up Show[/caption] On the Solar Power tour, expect to have plenty of company belting out all the words to 'Ribs' and 'Green Light'. The last time that Australia was treated to Lorde's live set was her headline set at Splendour in the Grass 2018, a full-circle moment for the singer as she returned to the stage of one of her first ever performances as a last-minute replacement for Frank Ocean back in 2013. A year prior, in 2017, Lorde also toured some of Australia's largest and most iconic outdoor venues including the Sydney Opera House Forecourt. Top image: Liliane Callegari via Wikimedia Commons.
Thought bingo was for your nan? Think again. It's also for you — or perhaps, if she's a groovy gran, for the both of you. Hijacking the traditional format of bingo with raves, conga lines and lip sync battles, Bingo Loco is 50-percent one of those strange dreams you get after eating too much cheese and 50-percent just a walloping good time. Come Friday, June 18 at Mansfield Tavern, the MC will keep the night rolling, while confetti showers and smoke cannons will go off throughout the evening (perhaps wear your glasses). Bingo ravers will compete for ultimate glory (and prizes) over the course of multiple rounds. In between the traditional bingo games, you'll be expected to groove to classic 90s rave bangers, partake in dance-offs and battle others for lip sync queen titles. Basically, be prepared for many high-octane, energetic activities — gone are the days of simply raising your hand when you've got a full sheet of numbers. Doing your stretches and vocal warm-ups first are advised. You'll vie for prizes, which in the past have included Coachella tickets, mobility scooters (nan, listen up), boats and lawnmowers (maybe for your dad), among other goldmines. Bingo Loco has been running across the globe for a few years and now will trumpet its way around Australia once more, with proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation Australia.
A Halloween without pumpkin is no Halloween at all, so South Bank's Little Stanley Street likes going all out. A few years back, the inner-city stretch first conjured up Trick or Treat Little Stanley Street, an October street party that's all about getting into the spooky spirit and splashing around plenty of orange-coloured vegetables. After a pandemic-sparked hiatus, the event is making its big return in 2023. We hope you like pumpkins, because this fest does. Indeed, when it makes its comeback across Friday, October 27–Saturday, October 28, Trick or Treat Little Stanley Street is bringing back its pumpkin patch. After you pick the perfect gourd, you can take it home with you — for decoration as it is, or for carving into a jack-o-lantern — for a fee. That's not all that this event has to offer, especially if Halloween or just being the vicinity of so many pumpkins makes you hungry. Attendees can settle in at one of the eateries along the South Bank roadway to enjoy a meal that matches the mood, themed cocktails, dishes and all. A heap of bars and restaurants will be embracing the Halloween vibe, whether you're keen on a witches hat margarita at Ahmet's over a roast pumpkin and spinach pide, voodoo people punch at Baba Ganouj — or a zombie juice mocktail if you're not partaking in the hard stuff — or Brooklyn Depot's Satan's wing roulette (aka five buffalo wings and one with Fugheddaboudit hot sauce). Ahmet's is also doing free Halloween bellinis for anyone in costume, while spooky sangria in various guises is on offer at Baba Ganouj, Vici Italian, Ole Spanish Restaurant and Mucho Mexicano. Bloody margaritas are also a common fave at the latter three joints. If Halloween to you means scary movies — or films with horror themes that aren't necessarily fright-inducing — then you'll want to hit up the Little Stanley Street South Lawn during Trick or Treat Little Stanley Street. A big screen will be set up playing all-ages-appropriate titles such as Frankenweenie, Corpse Bride, The Addams Family and Casper. Also on offer from 5–10pm on both days: a trick-or-treat trail, Halloween decorations everywhere, a ghost train, roving entertainment and craft workshops for kids. Yes, this is a family-friendly affair, so expect plenty of little trick-or-treaters for company. Attendance is free, but registering in advance is recommended if you're keen to head along.
Since November 2020, Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art has been all revved up about motorbikes. That mightn't be the kind of thing you'd generally expect to find at the South Bank spot; however, GOMA is an eclectic venue. The exhibition runs through until the end of April, so all those engines aren't going anywhere for a couple of months — well, other than outside and onto the gallery's patch of grass by the river. From 10.30am on Saturday, February 27, The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire is morphing into Motorcycles on the Green. Brisbanites, you have two choices: simply hang around outdoors and enjoy the free activities, or combine it with a ticket to the exhibition. Outside, there'll be motorbikes — obviously — plus custom motorcycle builds and DJ sets from Patience Hodgson and Lori Lee. Indoors, the Queensland-exclusive showcase explores the two-wheeled vehicle's enduring appeal — from the way it looks and how it has evolved over the years, to the way it's portrayed in popular culture and how it makes people feel — with more than 100 motorcycles on display. Images: Installation view. The Motorcycle: Design, Art, Desire. 28 November 20 – 26 April 21 Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane Photographs: Chloë Callistemon and Brad Wagner, QAGOMA
Spend a lobster, get a lobster — and get some change as well. If you fancy treating yourself to an indulgent but affordable seafood bite, you can nab a lobster roll from Motto Motto from Tuesday, November 9 for just $16. The Japanese chain is adding the limited-edition menu item to its range at all stores Australia-wide, which includes Carindale, Chermside, Garden City, Indooroopilly, Sunshine Plaza, Pacific Fair and Robina in Brisbane and southeast Queensland. Whether you're levelling up your lunch or you're hankering for a seafood dinner, your next roll just got a whole lot fancier. Motto Motto's version comes with lobster — of course — as well as shallots, avocado, black fish roe and yuzu dressing. If that's started your tastebuds watering, you'll want to get in quick, as it's only expected to be on offer for around a week. And, obviously, you don't need to pay for your purchase with a $20 note — but when you're buying lobster, you know you want to.
With international travel on the back burner for the foreseeable future, we're really leaning into the idea of holidaying a lot closer to home this year. With its pristine beaches, idyllic islands and lush rainforests, Queensland has much to offer — and there's never been a better excuse to explore it. But let's face it, the state is huge. If the thought of spending hours driving doesn't exactly sound like a holiday, why not take advantage of the myriad other ways to explore the Sunshine State? We've teamed up with P&O Cruises to get you out from behind the wheel and find your inner adventurer. Because life's too short to spend hours in the car. [caption id="attachment_804261" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] GO ON A WHALE WATCHING TOUR Summer might be over, but things are starting to heat up in Queensland in other ways. From autumn through to spring, humpback whales migrate to the Queensland coast, providing locals and visitors with ample opportunity to catch a rare glimpse of the majestic mammals. There are plenty of dedicated whale watching tours that operate from Brisbane as well as from the Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, The Whitsundays and the Tropical North. [caption id="attachment_804262" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Manta Ray Bay, Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] HIRE A BOAT AND EXPLORE THE STUNNING WHITSUNDAYS Prefer to choose your own adventure? The islands off the North Queensland coast are definitely having a moment right now — you've probably seen them popping up all over your Instagram feed. Just a quick one-and-a-half hour flight from Brisbane, The Whitsundays is home to a whopping 74 tropical islands. And with so many to choose from, why not hire a boat so you can visit as many as you can? Take your pick from a number of operators offering charter vessels to explore the region at your leisure. While Hamilton, Hayman and Daydream are the most notable of the islands, and a great spot to base yourself, lesser-known gems like Haslewood and Hook Islands are definitely worth stop. SET SAIL ON A P&O CRUISE Always wanted to get better acquainted with the Great Barrier Reef? P&O's Barrier Reef Discovery cruise (from $749 per person) is the best way to do just that. The week-long adventure, which begins and ends in Brisbane, provides the perfect launching pad to discover our very own world-famous natural wonder, with stops at Airlie Beach, Cairns and Willis Island along the way. While onboard, you can enjoy the full suite of P&O's A-class amenities, including plush accommodation, seriously good dining options and indulgent spa treatments. [caption id="attachment_720261" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tamborine National Park, Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] TAKE A STROLL THROUGH ONE OF OUR MANY NATIONAL PARKS We're blessed with beautiful natural landscapes all over Australia, but we Queenslanders are particularly lucky. Brisbane itself is surrounded by national parks, each one more beautiful than the next. Gheebulum Coonungai (Moreton Island) National Park is teeming with sweeping views of the Coral Sea, as well as sandy beaches, clear waters and wild marine life. If lush rainforest is more your scene, Lamington National Park should be right up your alley, with its ancient treescapes, majestic waterfalls and over 160 kilometres of walking trails. Elsewhere, Tamborine National Park, Queensland's first national park, offers relatively easy walking trails and a diverse range of wildlife in its natural habitat. [caption id="attachment_798103" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tangalooma Wrecks, Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] SNORKEL AMONG SHIPWRECKS AT TANGALOOMA It sounds like something out of a Disney movie — 15 shipwrecks anchored to the bottom of the ocean floor, ready to be explored. Set amongst the national and marine parks of beautiful Moreton Island, Tangalooma is an adventure seeker's playground. In addition to the underwater vessels, a trip to Tangalooma can include feeding dolphins at dusk, quad biking sand dunes and parasailing over crystal clear waters and beautiful beaches. Getting there couldn't be more simple — it's just a 75-minute ferry ride from Brisbane. For more information about P&O Cruises, head to the company's website. Top image: Whitsundays Coral Beach, Gareth McGuigan
Usually, we're sure that the folks at The Brightside love their Fortitude Valley location. For the venue's latest late-night shindig, though, the Brighty crew must wish they were located in a graveyard. So, that's the bad thing about the Warner Street spot's Running Up That Hill Stranger Things Party. Still, given the theme, there's obviously plenty that's eerie and awesome. If you're already excited, that means that you've watched Stranger Things season four — and probably did so in record time. It also means that you've likely been obsessed with Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill' ever since. Consider this your ideal event, then. From 11pm on Friday, July 1, The Brightside will bust out two kinds of music: the synth-heavy Stranger Things soundtrack, of course, plus all things Kate Bush. You'll listen, you'll dance, you'll drink and you'll know what you'll be watching afterwards. The first hour will be all about Stranger Things, the second will worship Bush, while the rest of the night will adore witchy pop tunes in general. Themed cocktails will be on the menu as well, and there'll be a photobooth — with first-release tickets costing $12.25, then going up to $15 and finally $19. Stranger Things images: Netflix © 2022.
If there's an occasion to celebrate, W Brisbane's resident bar wants in on the action, theming its high-tea spread around different times of the year. Now that the festive season is upon us, it's switching to an appropriately merry offering. If you like drinking Christmas-themed cocktails while tucking into tiny bites to eat, then add Living Room to your list. On the menu for 2023's Festive High Tea: lamb croquettes with mint, confit garlic and rosemary; not only maple-glazed ham, but maple-glazed ham in a pinwheel paired with spinach and charred pineapple; eggnog and raspberry mousse cake; and pistachio and blood orange tarts. That's an impressive, tastebud-tempting range; however, you'll probably get most excited about the boozy side of things — including a 'Merry and Bright' cocktail made especially for the high tea. This feast will also get you building your own gingerbread house. 'Tis the season, after all. And, for non-alcoholic sips, endless tea and barista-made coffee come with the package. Yes, it's time to chose your pals best in need of a Xmas treat, then make a date — this high tea is on offer from Thursday–Sunday until Sunday, December 31. Price-wise, you have three options. Pay $79 each, and you'll feast your way through the food like you're Santa on Christmas Eve, and enjoy the tea and coffee. Opt for the $99 option to add a cocktail. For $105, you'll also get a glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne.
This post is presented by the All New Toyota Corolla Sedan. There's plenty of fun to be had in this city each week, but there's only a small handful of truly fresh urban adventures to be had. We've partnered with Toyota to find the very best of these shiny-new experiences in Brisbane. Presented by the All New Toyota Corolla Sedan, these are our picks to put you on the road to a life of goodtimes. Now your only challenge is getting to them all. This week is all about jaffle appreciation, rooftop hot tubbing, handling the heat and smashing art forms together. Eat: Little Pawpaw It can be hard being the younger sibling, especially when your older sister is so successful. This week the Venzin Group (owners of Pawpaw Cafe, Mons Ban Sabai, Picnic and Green Papaya) made the bold, unheard of move to open their fifth venture north of the river. Going where no southsider has ever gone before, Little Pawpaw’s first week has not been without rave reviews and we hear they are bringing back the jaffle. Enjoy the kitsch and vibrant interior while sipping your favourite Campos brew. 145 Kitchener Road, Kedron Drink: Limes Fortunately for us Queenslanders, it’s never too late in the year to celebrate a rooftop relaunch. Limes Hotel’s top deck was recently refurbished, and finally christened last weekend — with Olympic synchronised swimmers to seal the deal. Expect a relaxed space to kick back at the alfresco cinema, enjoy resort-style drinks and a Sunday afternoon barbecue, or stay up late for the midnight pool parties. Most notable to the reno are the two rooftop hot tubs. Pack your togs (or not) and head over for a dip. 142 Constance Street, Fortitude Valley See: Seen + Heard GoMA is here to prove that pop culture isn’t all Andy Warhol and Simpsons references. The latest exhibition, Seen + Heard, is here for a good time, not for a long time, and draws on major artworks, installations and multiples from the gallery’s collection. The works address the intersections, clashes and marriages of pop culture, music, sound and visual art with pieces from sculptural sound pioneer Nam June Paik and musical, performance and sound installations to keep you ticking. See it and hear it until April 3. Do: judge a chilli comp Kettle and Tin is doing the honours by kicking off Brewsvegas’ with the first festival event, the Second Annual Chilli Cook Off. This Sunday contestants coming from various Brisbane restaurants will compete for the prestigious title of Chilli Master. If you think your tastebuds are ready to handle the heat, trot on over from 11am to help judge the People’s Choice award. And when the spice gets the better of you, Burleigh Brewing Co will have your back with a crafty cold one.
In summer 2025, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre is hosting a sales event of most peculiar stock. Strange things they are, full of pages, rampant with words and with covers of the most beautiful colours. You can't charge them, they don't run out of battery, their brightness is unalterable, and they won't smash when you drop them. Lifeline Bookfest is coming back for another round of vintage bargains between Saturday, January 18–Monday, January 27. It's where you'll find everything from Australian Women's Weekly cookbooks to a bit of cheeky erotica, as well as games, DVDs and puzzles. If you've been before, you'll know there are warehouse quantities of books for sale – your grade five diary is probably hidden under a copy of Shantaram, and you'll come across at least three copies of Cooking with Days of Our Lives. In fact, over this four-day run, more than one million items will be up for grabs. As debuted in 2023, this round will also feature more than 10,000 comics, manga and graphic novels. Prices range from $2.50 to the big bucks, and you'll have plenty to choose from. Whenever Bookfest hits Brisbane, it always brings hundreds of crates of reading materials with it. You'll still want to bring a trolley and your glasses, obviously, and to clear some space on your shelves at home. And, you'll want to bring your cards, because this Bookfest is cashless. Also, you'll need your own bags, as books won't be wrapped for you this time around. Images: Bookfest.
By the time that Thursday night rolls around each week, most of us are thinking about escaping the nine-to-five grind. There's still one pesky weekday left to go until the weekend, of course, but sinking underground with a tipple in your hand — and with jazz tunes setting the upbeat but relaxing mood — sure does sound enticing. That's what's on offer at The Walrus Club's new Thursday Night Jazz Club. In the past, the Regatta spot has turned its cosy, dark space into a whisky haven on Thursday evenings, or a shiraz-swilling joint as well, but now it's focusing on the tunes instead. The event kicks off at 6pm, and showcases as wide a range of jazz as it can — including traditional jazz, fusion, modern, bebop and gyspy, as well as big band, swing, avante-garde, latin and soul. Looking for something to sip? The Walrus Club boasts a hefty array of 300-plus spirits, including over 100 different rums. Entry is free, and reservations aren't required — and Prohibition-era bar vibes come with the territory.
Next time you slurp down some oysters, you needn't solely opt for natural molluscs served with lemon and Tabasco. There's nothing wrong with that old favourite; however, it has company among the oyster dishes at One Fish Two Fish's returning Oyster Frenzy. Between Wednesday, January 25–Sunday, January 29, the Kangaroo Point eatery is serving up a six-course oyster feast, taking seafood lovers through six different flavours. Start with the tried, tested and aforementioned combination, then move onto oysters with barbecue mornay and pancetta, served with tarragon and garlic butter gratin, and paired with native pepper berry and oak-aged chardonnay mignonette. You'll also be snacking on a three-cheese variety — think gorgonzola, asiago and grana padano — plus oysters with limoncello and finger lime caviar. In total, you'll slurp your way through 18 oysters all up — three per dish — for $95 per person. Because oysters are always popular, bookings are essential — with Oyster Frenzy running sittings at 6.30pm daily for dinner, and 1.30pm lunch sittings on Saturday and Sunday.
If you're a firm believer in the boozy potential of high tea, then make a date with West Village on Saturday, February 29. For one bubble-filled afternoon, the West End precinct is pouring champagne, serving snacks and inviting Brisbanites to enjoy the combination — and the site's leafy surroundings, of course. Those finger sandwiches, scones and other canapes will go down extra smoothly with an effervescent splash of alcohol, which is clearly what Champagne Garden is all about. Running from 3–6pm, your $49 ticket includes a glass on arrival, a traditional high tea and a leisurely afternoon. And, if you have dietary requirements, both vegetarian and gluten-free options will be catered for. If you fancy really steeping yourself in champers, you can spend $98, which'll get you access to a champagne class — complete with tastings — and a Q&A session with champagne experts. It'll also mean that your afternoon starts a little earlier, kicking off at 2pm.
After cancelling all international flights late last month and all domestic flights bar one daily route in early April, Virgin Australia has entered voluntary administration. In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange this morning, Tuesday, April 21, the Australian airline confirmed it had appointed Deloitte's Vaughan Strawbridge, John Greig, Sal Algeri and Richard Hughes as its voluntary administrators in an attempt to recapitalise and come out of the COVID-19 crisis in a "stronger financial position". Virgin Australia Group Chief Executive Officer Paul Scurrah confirmed the airline will continue to operate its scheduled domestic and international flights, which are helping to "transport essential workers, maintain important freight corridors, and return Australians home", and is "determined to continue flying". "Australia needs a second airline," Scurrah said in the statement. "Virgin Australia will play a vital role in getting the Australian economy back on its feet after the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring the country has access to competitive and high-quality air travel". The airline's decision to enter voluntary administration comes as it battles a reported $5 billion debt. While the Federal Government has so far rejected its plea for a $1.4 billion loan, both the Queensland and NSW Governments have offered the airlines bailouts — conditional on the location of Virgin's headquarters, currently located in Queensland. When asked about the Federal Government's refusal to bail out Virgin in an interview with ABC, Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Simon Birmingham said, "we can't save every business in Australia. Ultimately, there can be no black cheques from Government... we've provided additional support already in the aviation sector." Virgin launched in Australia in 2000 as Virgin Blue, with just one route and two aircraft, and quickly grew following the collapse of Ansett in 2001. With 16,000 employees and 130 planes, the Australian brand, which also includes bargain flight carrier Tigerair, is owned by Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways, the HNA Group, Nanshan Group and Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group. The fate of those aircraft and staff is currently unknown, with administrator Strawbridge saying in the statement, "our intention is to undertake a process to restructure and re-finance the business and bring it out of administration as soon as possible".
Like art? Love the beach? Fancy seeing seaside sculptures that aren't just sandcastles? Venture down to the Gold Coast this spring and you'll find a huge outdoor art gallery gleaming for ten days, and stretching across a one-kilometre expanse of sand. Your destination: Swell Sculpture Festival, which returns to Currumbin Beach for 2022 between Friday, September 9–Sunday, September 18. As it has for 20 years now, the event features large-scale artworks displayed along the shore, ready for patrons to see while getting their feet sandy and/or wet, with more than 70 pieces popping up at this year's festival. Once again, visitors can expect to get an eyeful of stunning creations. Yes, by simply walking along the beach, you'll view some stellar art. This year's fest features more than pieces made by more 132 artists using a variety of materials — including works using concrete, stainless steel, copper, bronze, wood, glass, plastic and natural fibres, as well as fibreglass, bamboo, wire, silk, stone and aluminium. Some creatives, such as Malvika Satelkar, have taken inspiration from the ocean's unknowns. Others, like Irene Messia, pay tribute to the natural world — while Amelia Batchelor uses recycled materials to draw attention to humanity's dependence upon plastic and its environmental impact. Emily Hastie has taken cues from her love of surfing, Phil Darnton ponders the crossover of art and architecture, and Dion Parker found inspiration from Where the Wild Things Are. Obviously, the list goes on. The 2022 fest includes guided walks; yoga among the art; pop-up food vendors; and masterclasses covering everything from photography and weaving to bush dyes, native foods and sculpture wheels. A beachside fringe fest features live tunes and comedy as well, alongside artist panels and poetry. Images: Tony Scott/PBR Images/Leximagery.
The Brisbane CBD doesn't currently boast a waterpark, an underground shopping arcade, a waterfall, or a nightly 3D light show — but these wistful dreams might soon become a reality. The final two proposals for the Queen's Wharf precinct have been revealed, with a decision due to be made by mid-year. Both options promise to completely transform the area contained within the borders of Alice, George, Queen and William Streets. Those familiar with the city space on the north side of the river will know it as the home of the Treasury Casino and Hotel, a whole heap of government office buildings, some neglected land underneath the Riverside Expressway, and not a whole lot else. Two consortiums are doing battle to claim the development and associated casino license, creating what the state government called "a world-class integrated resort". Each proposal shares a number of elements, including the office tower currently being built on William Street. In radically reshaping the inner city, Brisbane's first six-star hotel (it's a thing), ample new cafes and restaurants, a new cinema, residential apartments and a connecting bridge to South Bank also feature in both plans. Greenland Crown, comprised of Greenland Group and Crown Resorts, has highlighted the idea of an active waterfront, sprawling around a new sub-tropical public space that can accommodate 8000 people. Culinary experiences led by famed chefs Neil Perry and Guillaume Brahimi, along with a rooftop garden, infinity pool and luxury spa, rank among the other indulgent inclusions. The Destination Brisbane bid from Echo Entertainment Group, Far East Consortium and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, plans to build a brand new casino, turn the existing site into a shopping centre, add a skydeck, and create an inner-city beach with river access for kayaks and the like. With a microbrewery, art gallery, markets and cooking school as well, their space favours an arc shape that will create a distinctive look. Whichever plan wins, it'll still be quite some time until Queen's Wharf comes to fruition, with construction expected to commence in 2017. Either way, Brisbanites can look forward to a plethora of new CBD hangouts. We've waited decades – what's another few years?
Escaping the hustle and bustle of daily life can sometimes be as easy as escaping into a vibrant art installation — in Brisbane over the past few years, at least. In recent times, the River City has played host to multi-sensory Van Gogh exhibitions, recreations of the Sistine Chapel, giant kaleidoscopes you can walk through, inflatable spaces and more, all aiming to take you out of your routine and into a place most wonderful and dazzling. The latest event to join them: pop-up mindfulness installation DayDream, which is taking the luminous part of these kinds of activities firmly to heart. Located on the bottom level of the Wintergarden shopping centre in the Queen Street Mall until Sunday, October 30, it's filled with more than 20,000 lights, which beam along to an ambient soundscape. An array of colours also flicker through the installation, with four different experiences on offer during the pop-up's run. Until Tuesday, October 18, it's going with 'Into the Wild' and 'Over the Rainbow' themes, while the rest of the dates will opt for 'Summer Solstice' and 'Deep Space'. Whenever you drop by, you'll be soaking up the space's calming vibes in 90-second bursts — including on bean bags — and endeavouring to drift far away from your everyday ebbs and flows. The one caveat: to enter, you do need to spend $10 at the Wintergarden first, then show your receipt to walk through DayDream's darkened archway. That's as good an excuse as any to go shopping, of course. Also, if you're photosensitive or respond to strobing lights, DayDream features flashing LEDs — so take that into consideration before heading along. Find DayDream in the Wintergarden, on the ground level of the Queen Street Mall shopping centre in the CBD, until Sunday, October 30 — operating 10am–3pm Saturday–Thursday, 10am–7pm Fridays.
Don't let anyone tell you that lager and lemonade don't mix. Someone who utters such a silly thought clearly hasn't tried a shandy, the boozy drink you have when you want a beer, but you also want something citrusy — and sip that's perfect for spring and summer. Throughout September, BrewDog is bringing shandies back — not that they ever went anywhere. And you can try its new shandy tipple for free every Sunday throughout the month. That brew: BrewDog's Shandy Shack. It's made with homemade natural lemonade mixed with the brewery's Lost Lager, and it's available in cans. So, once you've tasted it without paying a cent at BrewDog's Murarrie base, you can pick up some to take home. Just added a Sunday sipping session to your September plans? That's understandable. BrewDog's taproom is open from 11am–11pm, and serves up river views right under the Gateway Bridge. Bookings are recommended, or you can just rock up.
The Lego Ninjago Movie is the third Lego-based feature in a franchise that shows no signs of slowing down. It's also the first to take place entirely within an original Lego trademarked setting – the city of 'Ninjago' – and for its first half-hour feels like little more than an extended, big-budgeted commercial. Indeed, with the appearance of each new character, don't be surprised to see kids jumping out of their seats and pointing at the screen with gleeful recognition Still, while the film does its job as a marketing exercise from the get go, in terms of plot it takes a while longer to find its feet. Every day the evil Lord Garmadon (Justin Theroux) launches attacks upon the city from his evil villain volcano, and every day he's repelled by the colourful school-kids-cum-ninjas, the leader of whom is secretly Garmadon's own son Lloyd (Dave Franco). It's only once the lad's secret identity is revealed that the story shifts gears into something of a father/son reconciliation story – and while that's pretty familiar territory for the Lego franchise, it also provides the best material for the remainder of Ninjago. As with The Lego Movie and Lego Batman, this third movie utilises remarkable technology wherein almost everything on screen is assembled from computer-generated Lego pieces. Like the previous films, too, Ninjago is very self-aware, particularly regarding the Lego-ness of things like the absence of fingers and the way a Lego head can become stuck in the base of a Lego foot. It's these little flourishes that immediately feel familiar to anyone who's played with the toys before and, especially for adults, spark a pleasing nostalgia-based smile whenever they arise. The characters themselves, however, are noticeably less nuanced this time around, with only Lord Garmadon (played as a none-too-subtle parody of Donald Trump), Lloyd and Master Wu (Jackie Chan) offering any semblance of depth. The other five ninjas do provoke the occasional laugh but seem well below the calibre of the actors voicing them (Kumail Nanjiani, Zach Woods, Michael Peña, Abbi Jacobson and Fred Armisen). And yes, for those playing at home, you did count that correctly: six heroic ninjas, five of them male, which raises the age-old LEGO question: "uh...where are all the girls at?" It's a problem with which Lego is all too familiar. An internal review conducted by the company in 2008 revealed the damning statistic that 90% of its sales were directed towards boys rather than girls. Lego's response was to launch Lego Friends in 2012 – a toy line specifically intended for girls. Pretty smart move as it happens, with the company's annual profits shooting up by around 15 percent ever since. It's therefore both surprising and extremely disappointing that that same approach isn't being seen in the films. The Lego Movie's most kick-arse character was Elizabeth Banks' Wyldstyle, yet she was the only notable female in an otherwise male-driven story whose live action component centred upon a father/son bonding experience. Lego Batman, too, included only one notable female character in Rosario Dawson's Batgirl, and focused on the relationship between Bruce Wayne and the orphan boy Dick Grayson. Now we have Lego Ninjago, which not only suffers from a dearth of female characters but again deals largely with the father/son relationship between Garmadon and his estranged kid Lloyd. The only bright light in this situation is the announcement that The Lego Movie sequel will focus specifically on gender issues and the way boys and girls play with the toys in different ways. Solid fun for the kids and amusing enough to keep adults interested, whilst The Lego Ninjago Movie is the weakest entry in the franchise, it's still entertaining enough to satisfy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJBS1ogEVHE
The act of making a movie in Iran is saddled with restrictions; however that hasn't stopped the nation's filmmakers soldiering on regardless. From the late, great Palme d'Or recipient Abbas Kiarostami to A Separation's Asghar Farhadi to banned director Jafar Panahi, Iranian film is thriving. So is Australia's only festival dedicated to their output. For the sixth year, the Iranian Film Festival Australia shines a spotlight on the country's cinematic voices, and on contemporary life as well. Kicking off in Brisbane before touring other state capitals, the fest boasts yet another busy lineup of features, spanning opening night's highly anticipated drama Life and a Day, social-realist gang effort Lantouri and the award-winning Daughter. Elsewhere, Sound and Fury dives into the life of a pop singer who has an affair with a fan, Drought & Lies adapts a well-known Iranian play, and I follows a woman who acts outside the law under the police scrutiny. Add familiar faces and restored classics to the mix — including first Iranian New Wave feature The Brick and the Mirror — and audiences can explore both the history and the future of Iranian cinema.
Long before Toombul and Nundah were regular old north Brisbane suburbs, they were home to a commercial pineapple farm. So, when it comes to picking a food to celebrate for a three-day festival, Toombul's recently opened upstairs dining precinct had a pretty easy choice on its hands. From Friday, January 31–Sunday, February 2, Upstairs at Toombul is hosting Pineapple Palooza. If you don't like the tropical fruit, stay away. If you love it — even on pizza — then get ready for a heap of pineapple dishes from the venue's eateries. On the food menu: sweet and sour pork and chicken served out of hollowed-out pineapples, pineapple burgers, chocolate pizzas with pineapple, fondue with pineapple, and pineapple and prawn salad. As for drinks, you can sip pineapple-topped pina coladas and other pineapple-filled cocktails, plus pineapple iced tea, pineapple frappes and pineapple soda water. Everywhere from Archie Brothers Cirque Electrique and Max Brenner to Little Red Dumpling and Jackpot Noodles are getting involved, plus Hello Harry, Espresso Max and Dapple + Weaver, too. There'll also be pineapple-themed photo opportunities around the place, should you want to snap some pics for social media — and a pineapple planter pot workshop as well.
Yeronga's newest eatery clearly loves its location. Why else would it reference its distance and direction from the CBD in its name? And line one of its walls with shelves made from salvaged timber, offering a reminder of the area's flooded past? Yes, there's no escaping the distinctive local flavour at Seven South, though that's not all that the latest venture from former Home Cafe owners Gavin and Kylie Bartholomew champions. All-day offerings that give traditional dishes a tasty twist are the highlights of the Hyde Road restaurant's menu. Take their hot cakes for example, which come bursting lemon thyme, blueberry and ricotta, and topped with creme fraiche and pistachio praline. Or their fishcakes for lunch, of the smoked salmon variety. You'll find meals that don't feature the word "cake" in their description, of course, such as smokey bourbon and maple glazed beef ribs. Plus, Seven South is dog-friendly — because you can't open a new neighbourhood hangout without welcoming pet pooches, too.
UPDATE: June 5, 2020: Judy & Punch is available to stream via Stan, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. Sometimes, a film lives and thrives thanks to its casting, benefiting from stellar actors who melt into their roles. That's the case with Judy & Punch, with Mia Wasikowska and Damon Herriman breathing life, depth and a roguish attitude into characters best known as wood, string and fabric. As the title makes plain, they're playing Punch and Judy, the puppet-show figures that date back more than three centuries. Still, while writer/director Mirrah Foulkes tasks her stars with fleshing out the marionettes' wholly fictional origin story, she doesn't rely on the duo to do all of the movie's heavy lifting. Her interpretation of the tale — the bold, subversive directions she takes it in, and the feisty, cheeky vibe the film adopts in the process — makes as much of an impact. Jumping behind the camera after acting in Animal Kingdom, Top of the Lake, The Crown and Harrow, Foulkes ensures that her filmmaking debut isn't the kind of feature that lights up screens often. The movie starts with two versions of Punch and his other half: one cavorting on stage, the other pulling the strings behind the curtain. The crowd roars as the perpetually drunken Punch (Herriman) and the long-suffering Judy (Wasikowska) manoeuvre and manipulate their inanimate counterparts, with the pair packing in shows in Judy's insular (and curiously inland) hometown of Seaside. Judy is actually the more dexterous and talented of the two, but Punch gets all the fame and acclaim — partly, reflecting his brutish personality, by making their puppet show literally "punchier". He makes their daily life punchier as well, and thinks nothing of treating Judy and their infant daughter with contempt, whether he's seeing another woman, complaining whenever Judy says a word or showing that he's the world's worst father. With the real-life Punch and Judy famously based on the former's slapstick violence towards the latter, you can be forgiven for feeling cautious about how a live-action version will play out. It sounds strange and inappropriate, but Foulkes is keenly aware of the material she's working with. In her hands, Judy & Punch takes puppet-show savagery and lets it loose in live-action, then rightfully questions why it's considered entertainment. And to really hammer home her point, she needs to unleash a flurry of physical and metaphorical blows. The filmmaker isn't subtle, but neither is a guy bashing his wife and child, which has happened in P&J since the 1600s. So, when Judy is the only person in the town to speak out against the communal stoning of women deemed witches — and, later, when a tragic turn of fate sees her seek solace among the local female outcasts, then plot her revenge — it's thoroughly designed to make a statement. Kudos to Foulkes for not only reclaiming P&J's problematic narrative for Judy, calling out Punch's boorishness and asking why women have so often been treated so poorly — by their partners, by complicit communities and by mobbish societies as a whole — but for clearly having fun while she's doing so. Where this year's thematically comparable and similarly excellent fellow Australian film, The Nightingale, leaned into bleakness and pain, Judy & Punch veers the other way. The movie is styled like a gothic fairytale, with its crumbling castle, sprawling woods and Elizabethan-era costuming, and it takes that look and feel to heart. Dark, fanciful, perceptive, often comic — this mix of elements mightn't sound like a natural fit on paper, but it works. Judy & Punch's tone definitely wavers, although that's on purpose too. And when François Tétaz's percussion-heavy score keeps echoing, it constantly reminds viewers of the thuds, shoves and worse that have long been baked into Judy and Punch's abusive romance, while also proving audibly playful. Given all of the above, you can excuse Judy & Punch for including a big speech at its climax; again, Foulkes isn't doing anything by halves. Nor is her cast, including the likes of Benedict Hardie (Upgrade), Tom Budge (Bloom) and Gillian Jones (Mad Max: Fury Road), who all help populate Seaside's chaotic masses. Wasikowska and Herriman are dream leads, though. She draws upon an ever-growing resume filled with fascinating and formidable women (Jane Eyre, Stoker, Tracks, Madame Bovary, Piercing… the list goes on), while he's having quite the malevolence-dripping year after stepping into Charles Manson's shoes in both Mindhunter and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Judy & Punch firmly tells Judy's story, so this is Wasikowska's film, but it highlights both of its main characters for a good reason. This thoroughly feminist hero doesn't just give a historic narrative a much-needed update and champion a timely cause — with their dynamic back-and-forth, she endeavours to cut Herriman's misogynistic weasel down to size, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63NAagrKOcc
Is buying vinyl is part of your regular weekend shopping plans? Whether you're scouring the racks for something specific or just generally looking for a bargain, make a beeline to the Albert Street Mall. The Queen Street Mall offshoot is playing host to a record fair — an event that marks Brisbane's regular record-selling event's big return to the CBD, in fact. Yes, you can bet there'll be plenty of tunes waiting for a new home. Taking place from 10am–3.30pm on Saturday, March 4, the Brisbane City Mall Record Fair will bring vinyl galore to the CBD location. Expect a whole range of sellers keen to offload their records to avid shoppers and collectors. Rocking Horse Records is one of the organisers, too, so the event has a Brisbane music icon's tick of approval. Entry is free, although you'll want to bring your wallet if you're eager to boost your collection. You can find all manner of delights at a fair like this, from old classics to retro wonders — and albums you never even knew existed. Befitting the type of massive record fair that's set to sprawl across this central patch of pavement, DJ El Norto will setup the decks under the Queen Street Mall archway to spin a soundtrack to shop to.
