Fresh from throwing Brisbane's first ice cream shindig, West End's new West Village precinct is gifting the city another new event. This time, sake and bubble tea will be flowing freely, gyoza and yakitori will be filling stomachs, and origami folding and an arcade alley will be testing nimble fingers at the first Brisbane Japanese Festival. Yes, arigatou gozaimasu is exactly what you should be saying. Taking place from 11am to 5pm on August 19 as part of Japan Week Brisbane, the day-long street fest celebrates the country that gave us everything from Pokemon to Godzilla to Studio Ghibli with a feast — of festivities, of culture and of food. And while there's plenty of fun due to come in all categories, sushi doughnuts fall firmly in the latter. Sushi. Doughnuts. Talk about taking two great things and making them even better. The festival will also boast markets and food stalls, bars serving sake and whiskey, a bonsai garden, traditional drumming and dancing, chopstick challenges, Japanese personalities, music, art and more, all helping turn West Village's indoor and openair spaces into a Japan-centric wonderland. Food-wise, there'll also be karaage, poke bowls topped in sashimi and bento boxes galore — and while the organisers haven't explicitly mentioned ramen, it wouldn't be a Japanese fest without the sounds of slurping, now would it? Tickets cost $10, and given how popular the ice cream festival was — more than 5000 Brisbanites went along — snapping one up ASAP is recommended. Plus, online ticket buyers go in the draw to win a trip to Japan.
Because every big event needs an alternative, Riverlife has come up with the thing to go to when you're not going to the Ekka. Their Winterfest is a riverside chillout session at Kangaroo Point, where relaxing in the sun is the main affair. Even though it isn't really winter in Brissie, every ticket includes a tasty warm meal and a hot chocolate rum, i.e. the perfect food and drink for the season. Bratwurst, waffles, mulled wine and hot apple cider are also on the menu, as is entertainment from DJ Cliftonia and Sharif on the sax. Plus, $2 from every ticket sold will go towards the fight for marriage equality.
Whether you follow your horoscope or remain convinced that life is a series of random accidents, sometimes the planets align and there's no avoiding the matter. How else do you explain the fact that this year's International Rum Day falls on Brisbane's Ekka public holiday? There's getting into the spirit of the occasion, and there's spending the occasion celebrating a particular spirit. Both are on offer at the Walrus Club once 4pm rolls around, plus more rum than you'd find in a Bundaberg factory. Taste test your favourite tipples and try out some new types from around the globe, listen to live music and keep your stomach lined thanks to a variety of food stalls. The fun is scheduled to run until late; however, remember the golden rule of midweek public holidays — unless you've snagged yourself an extra, extra-long weekend, reality still beckons the next day.
Three days, 14 shows, multiple art forms, plenty of stringed instruments. Add them altogether, and the Restrung festival is back for another round of genre-bending fun. If you thought violins, cellos and the like were just for classical music fans, prepare to have your perception altered. Taking over Brisbane Powerhouse from August 17 to 19, the festival features strings doing different and unexpected things: inspiring ballet, as seen in Collusion's Muscle Memory; exploring love and death, the themes of Silver Sircus' Heart Strings; and offering the soundtrack to the bout of physical theatre that is The Viola Cloning Project's collaboration with Zen Zen Zo. The 230 strings of a grand piano, a cellist beloved by Radiohead and electric folk fusion: they're all also on the bill. Indeed, everything from electronica, folk and jazz to rock, pop and minimalism gets a look-in, marking the third Restrung festival in style. In total, more than 50 international, national and local artists wield their bows to create more than beautiful music, captivate hearts and challenge string-loving minds.
A good cocktail is more than just a tasty way to enjoy a drink. Depending on the flavours and ingredients, it can also be a refreshing pick-me-up, a mental vacation in a glass and a sweet dessert-like treat. Dutch Courage's boozy masterclasses have made their way through all of the above, but it should come as no surprise that it's the latter that has proven particularly popular. On August 19, the Valley bar's Liquid Desserts session makes a welcome return, much to the joy of cocktail fans across the city. Learn the ins and outs of two delicious tipples, including general tricks of the trade like the art of balancing a beverage and the key bartending tools, then make them and devour them. Tickets cost $39 + booking fee, and given this is a back by popular demand class, getting in quick is recommended.
Get your fill of the best vegan food in town at the fifth annual Vegan Day Out. Come September 2 and 3, The Cruelty Free Shop is putting together a walking tour of vegan cafes, restaurants and retailers, many of which will be offering discounts, deals and free samples to anyone who stops by. For one weekend only, socially conscious eaters can stop by The Cruelty Free Shop on Melbourne Street, and grab a map outlining their route. From there, it's all about making your way to to plant-based delights aplenty — and making a day (or two) of it. Whether you're a dyed in the wool vegan or just giving it a go, you'll find a whole world of retailers catering to animal-free eating, offering meal deals, two-for-ones, complimentary coffee, wine tastings and savings on vegan groceries. The Cruelty Free Shop will also be running its own tastings throughout the day, as well as offering discounts on more than 300 different products.
Strangers on a Train meets Sliding Doors meets Brick meets True Romance. If that sounds like quite a lot to squeeze into one package, hold on, because writer-director Christopher Smith is just getting started. Detour is the kind of movie that openly nods and winks to its many influences, made by the type of filmmaker that wants audiences to know that he's shouting about his references on purpose. Smith even goes so far as to have one of his characters watch part of a 1945 film noir with the same title as the movie they're in. When a filmmaker nods so eagerly at his or her sources of inspiration, one of two things tends to happen. Ideally, they shape those influences into an engaging new package that builds upon familiar parts. More often, they end up being overshadowed by the better filmmakers whose movies they keep reminding you you could be watching instead. Aiming for the former but delivering the latter, Detour proves a feature more concerned with showing viewers what it's doing than actually doing it well. Smith certainly knows and loves the films that he's homaging, but making that plain isn't the same as making an entertaining crime thriller in their image. That the movie's protagonist not only shares his name with a 1966 Paul Newman movie, but has a poster of the film on his bedroom wall, says plenty. So does the fact that audiences first meet Los Angeles law student Harper (Tye Sheridan) as he's listening to a lecture about the escape tactics of pursued criminals. Throw in a grudge against the stepfather (Stephen Moyer) he blames for his mother's comatose state, a chance bar meeting with local thug Johnny Ray (Emory Cohen), and a stripper with a heart of gold named Cherry (Bel Powley), and it all starts to feel rather derivative — even when the movie's big gimmick kicks into gear. Once Harper discovers what he hired Johnny Ray to do during their drunken evening together, Detour splits its narrative into two timelines. In one, the new acquaintances make the sunny drive to Las Vegas with murder on their minds; in the other, Harper stays home, although that still ends up being quite eventful. Smith flits from one story to the other, and frequently splashes them together using slick split-screen imagery. Sadly, the device doesn't help either section shake the been-there, done-that feeling – and neither does the film's predictable destination. Smith does, at least, take a trio of impressive actors along for the ride, even if none are quite at their best. Sheridan, Cohen and Powley have all given much, much better performances in Mud, Brooklyn and The Diary of a Teenage Girl respectively, but at least they try to make their stock-standard characters seem like something more. That's not exactly high praise, but it does sum up Detour's fortunes quite perfectly. A loving attempt to tackle a familiar genre, the film does everything it can to speed into new territory. Alas, it gets lost along the way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbzZGUJ4MzE
Almost a year ago, Michelle Lee won one of Australia's biggest theatre prizes, the Queensland Premier's Drama Award. From June 24 to July 16, her winning play will take to Queensland Theatre's stage. If that's not a dream come true for the Melbourne writer, then we don't know what is — and, you can witness her sharp story about globalisation, power, politics and migration. Rice tells the tale of Nisha and Yvette, two multicultural women working late in the same building who are about to cross paths in an ordinary but revelatory way. One is a 28-year-old business prodigy who has worked her way to the second-in-command post at an Australian rice company, and is working on closing a huge deal with the Indian government. The other is a cleaner who clears away her takeaway containers. It mightn't initially seem like it, but these ladies have plenty in common, as they discover over the course of the evening. Starring Kristy Best and Hsiao-Ling Tang, and directed by Griffin Theatre's Helpmann Award winning director Lee Lewis, Rice takes a smart, humorous look at globalisation in our modern world — and the personal consequences of such a far-reaching concept.
Anyone can buy a ticket to see their favourite band, head to a gig and sing along with the live set. In fact, everyone has. It's ace — but, so is going to your local, seeing a heap of new talent discovering new groups to obsess over. Or, getting blown away by whoever's on stage and asking "what band was that?" That's the question you'll be asking at the Brightside on June 22. In fact, that question is the whole point of their local music showcase. Dead Wild, What's Left Is Yours, The Watsanames, Down and Out, and Blooom will take to the mic, you'll no doubt love them, and your ears will thank you. Tickets cost $10 in advance or $12 at the door, and in return, you'll get a whole heap of new faves. Still, like a certain ad campaign says: finding some fresh sounds and supporting new talent from the outset — well, you can't put a price on that.
When Prince told us he'd be partying like it was 1999, he probably figured he'd get a few good years out of the song. And yet, 35 years after his single was first released back in 1982 — and nearing two decades since the year in question passed — we're all still following in his footsteps. At The Elephant's free All '90s All Nighter on July 15, they're doing the purple one proud; however, that's not all they're doing. Thrusting 1999 and the nine years prior into the spotlight, they're enjoying the next best thing to time-travelling back to the era that gave us everything from grunge to girl power to tamagotchis. Wear something made out of flannelette. Stick some butterfly clips in your hair. Sure, it's winter, but a slip dress would definitely fit in here. There'll be prizes for best '90s wardrobe, and you'll be wanting to give the DJs prizes for cranking out some retro hits.
Winter is all about staying 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 annual Winter Design Market comes in. Browse, buy and then prepare to get cosy. Find jewellery, ceramics, textiles, homewares and clothing and more at the day-long maker market, which takes over the GOMA forecourt from 9am until 4pm on July 8. Don't go giving their official store a miss either — take the time to peruse the GOMA collection of books and art, and thank us for the tip later. Remember: cute design wares call for cash, as EFTPOS facilities might not be available at all sellers. And while 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. By Alice Bopf and Sarah Ward.
Sometimes, the best events spring from the simplest ideas. In Hat Swap's case, the concept is both straightforward and sure to be delicious. Taking place at the two-hatted Gerard's Bistro, resident head chef Ben Williamson will join forces with Dave Verheul, his counterpart at Melbourne's Embla. Together, they'll be turning out a five-course feast on July 27. This is the first collaboration for the two highly-regarded chefs and your tastebuds won't want to miss it. Tickets are at a pricey $165 per person, but do include paired wines with each course. The 2.5-hour dinner will be run over two sessions, with seatings at 5.30pm and 8.30pm.
When you live in a city that's usually streaming with sunshine all year round, the sudden onset of colder weather can come as a shock. Fear not, brrrrrrrr-yelling Brisbanites — the frosty season comes bearing gifts. Indeed, at Riverbar and Kitchen's Winter Festival, there's plenty of things to heat you up. Example one: mulled wine, aka the best way there is to drink wine (once you've tried it, we're betting you'll agree). Example two: hot-buttered rum, which really does involve putting butter in rum (and defying everything you've ever been told about healthy eating). Example three: oysters, because all that slurping is bound to warm your tastebuds. You'll find all three down by the Eagle Street waterside from 5pm on July 8, plus live music too. Entry is free, but you'll have to pay to enjoy all of the above. That view won't cost a thing, of course.
How many characters wear bathrobes in Pulp Fiction? Which airline does Jackie Brown work for? Where will you find Minnie's Haberdashery? How many Vega brothers are there? Did Mr Yellow help rob a jewellery store? If you know all of the answers to these questions — and everything else about the writer/director's slate — then you know where you should be on June 15. It's Super Happy Fun Show Tarantino Edition time at Sabotage Social, meaning that you can put your QT love to good use to win cash and prizes. Who knew that rewatching Reservoir Dogs, Django Unchained, Death Proof and Inglourious Basterds over and over again would come in so handy? So, dance on in like Mia Wallace at Jack Rabbit Slim's — and prepare to slay more enemies than The Bride. Basically, channel your inner Uma Thurman for a night of questions, answers, fun and merriment. Waxing lyrical about royales with cheese, Madonna songs and bounty hunting is completely optional.
The latest play to hit Brisbane Powerhouse's stage is certain to kick a big bag of goals — and cast aside the laughable idea that sports and arts can't get along. After showing at Gold Coast's Bleach* Festival earlier in the year, The Forwards brings the footy field to Brissie's theatre scene in a tragicomedy about a great game, and the game of life. In an effort written by Zeal Theatre director and founder Stefo Nantsou, and performed by award winning company Shock Therapy Productions, The Forwards introduces audiences to their new favourite team: the Pintoon Parrots. Their town is abuzz after they make the grand final with the help of star forwards Rabbit, Hoges and Tractor, but all that revelry has repercussions. Raucousness and rivalry, mateship and mayhem, violence and envy, booze and bickering — expect all of the above. "It's not a bunch of characters sitting around talking about their problems," says Nantsou. "It's people doing what they do — kicking a ball, dancing to a band down the pub, going to parties, being in dangerous situations, holding secrets, cheating, gambling, raising hopes and disappointing loved ones." Image: Garth Ledwidge.
For all its chilling prescience, George Orwell's 1984 made us believe that loving Big Brother would be horrifying. That just like the protagonist Winston, we'd all be dragged kicking and screaming into Room 101 for conversion. Not so. It took some time, but as apps became less and less coy about asking to root through our messages and contacts, we became less wary of them. The rebellion never had a chance. Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan aren't so sure. The pair adapted Orwell's novel for the West End production and are now directing the Australian season at Brisbane's QPAC this June. 1984, which imagines a world where all citizens are under constant surveillance and the government has a ministry dedicated to fake news, seems to be gaining relevance as it ages. If things keep going Orwell's way, though, it's unlikely you'll get another chance to experience it in a theatre. Or in any form, for that matter. So what'll it be — freedom or happiness?
Early in Paris Can Wait, Anne (Diane Lane) and her busy film producer husband Michael (Alec Baldwin) take a start-stop ride to the Cannes airport. The sun streams down as they coast through the seaside town, but their driver, Michael's sometimes business partner Jacques (Arnaud Viard), keeps pausing to buy bread, sausage and strawberries for their flight. It's a kind gesture, and just the type of thing you'd expect holidays in France to include. Alas, they feel like frustrating interruptions for the visiting Americans. Far from improving their trip, the nitty gritty of actually embracing their surroundings gets in the way. Like characters, like filmmaker, like film. Jumping wholeheartedly into the narrative side of the family business by making her first non-documentary feature at the age of 81, writer-director Eleanor Coppola fills Paris Can Wait with detours and diversions. Unfortunately, they're unable to boost the final product, which is affectionately shot but uninspiringly scripted and assembled. While the film's premise revolves around an extended jaunt that takes its time to get to its eventual destination, tripping over cliches causes the leisurely romantic drama to stumble. A middle-aged woman doing some unexpected soul-searching, a connection arising out of nowhere, and broken-down cars prolonging the journey: Coppola throws them all in, along with long-held regrets, new awakenings and the difficulties of long-distance love. Inevitably they all arise as Anne treks across the country, not with Michael, who is always barking orders about his latest movie into his phone, but with the much more laid-back Jacques. The pair become unlikely road trip companions after an earache stops her getting on the plane, but their odd-couple awkwardness doesn't last long. He's a suave and shameless flirt fond of wining, dining and straying off the beaten path. Set free from her usual life, she soon finds her defences beginning to crumble. As a scenic travelogue complete with stopovers for picturesque picnics, swanky restaurant dinners and a visit to the Lumiere brothers museum in Lyon, Paris Can Wait is a Francophile's fantasy. If France's lavender fields and other rustic highlights weren't already on your must-visit bucket list, they will be after you've watch this film. Indeed, Coppola demonstrates a feel for both the road and for her locations, which is hardly surprising given that Paris Can Wait was inspired by her own post-Cannes Film Festival adventure back in 2009 (her husband Francis Ford Coppola had a feature screening at the festival that year). If only the story she spun had the same authenticity. Coppola might've taken the broad gist of the movie from her experiences, but the on-screen details prove disappointly stock-standard. And, if only her casting choices weren't so obvious. Lane is subtle and effective in rehashing territory that she previously played with in Under the Tuscan Sun. Baldwin, on the other hand, who is heard more than he's seen, may as well be playing Jack Donaghy from 30 Rock. Still, there's one area where choosing the easy option works, and it's one we'll choose to believe really is a case of art imitating life. As a soundtrack to her trip, Anne keeps listening to Phoenix. It's fitting: not only does the band's melodic pop-rock suit the mood of the film, but, thanks to her daughter Sofia, their frontman is Coppola's son-in-law. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EiPR0TtHv4
From July 19 to 22, a bunch of Brisbane visual artists will be flying the flag for pop-up art. We mean that literally. 20 of the city's creative folks have actually created silk flags, which will flap along the staircase of Jacob's Ladder in King Edward Park. The outdoor exhibition is called Brave New Worlds, as that's what the likes of Courtney Coombs, Naomi Blacklock and Joseph Breikers were all asked to imagine. Their artworks offer up a vision of what they'd like their brave new world to be, with the results on display for the cavalcade of pedestrians who traipse up the steps every day. Plus, as an added bonus, they'll also help activate a busy thoroughfare. Indeed, drawing attention to Brissie's nooks and crannies is what the project is all about — and serving up art in unlikely places as well. The installation will be followed by a second event, This Frozen Moment, a one-day audio piece taking place on July 28 in the Edward Street laneway down the side of Metro Arts. Showcasing more than 20 of the city's finest authors, poets and spoken-word artists, it features suspended origami sculptures, with each encasing a speaker that whispers about life-changing instances.
What's better than one party? Two. The answer is always two. You know it, we know it, and the folks at both Green Beacon Brewing Co and the Teneriffe Festival know it. This year, the former joining isn't just joining in the fun of the latter — they're shutting off the street and throwing their shindig as well. Yep, it's a good ol' fashioned Green Beacon Block Party (and yep, something can still be classed as old fashioned even if it's the first time it has ever happened). Expect everything a brewery get-together should have, aka multiple beers, three bars, a feast of food trucks and plenty of live music. Plus, there's even an official beer to make things seem, well, more official: Green Beacon's very own Riffe Raff Pale Ale. It's the official beer of Teneriffe, offering hints of fresh juicy citrus, passionfruit, apricot and pineapple. Arrive thirsty, but don't expect to leave that way.
Brisbane's beers are among the world's finest, and now there's an event celebrating that fact. No, we're not talking about the week-long beverage extravaganza that is Brewsvegas, or the upcoming beer and cider fest that is the Beer InCider Experience, although they're related. From one of the founders of the latter, and helping raise money for the former, The Beeries are the city's new beer and cider awards. Beverage aficionados take note, because The Beeries come in two parts: voting and attending. 45 nominees are in the running for six categories, and you can cast your picks on Brissie's best brewers, retailers, cider makers and more. Then, on September 21, it's gongs, eating and drinking time at the Royal International Convention Centre. Tickets cost $135 per person, and include beverages, a two-course dinner, live entertainment, seeing who emerges victorious and 400 brew lovers being merry. As well as putting the proceeds towards next year's Brewsvegas, the event will also make a donation to the Red Rose Foundation, a charity committed to ending deaths caused by domestic violence.
Brisbane does pretty well in the craft brew stakes, but come GABS time, it's difficult not to get a little envious of our pals down south. For those who haven't heard of Melbourne and Sydney's boozy annual celebration, we're talking about the Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular. It isn't coming up north, but Bloodhound Bar are serving the next best thing. Trust the Brunswick Street bar to treat Brissie residents to a highlights package, aka the GABS 2017 Beer Showcase, from 5.30pm on May 30. Six beverages will be on offer, and they're really not the kind of brews you'll get to sip every day. Try the blend of chocolate, vanilla and coffee that makes Feral Brewing Company's Dark Matter porter go down so smoothly, Brouhaha Brewery's Raisin Hell Belgian dubbel — which is made using 25 kilograms of, yep, raisins — or the yoghurt-soured, puree-filled concoction that is 3 Ravens Brewery's Little Ravens Mango Lassi IPA. We won't spoil all of the brews that'll be dripping off the keg, but be warned: a seventh, cocktail-style tipple might get added to the mix too (if it arrives on time, that is.)
Roll up, eat up — and, because it's the end of the week, let your hair down too. The folks at the Food Truck Collective are helping you see out another round of the working grind in tasty, tasty style thanks to their new weekly gathering. It's a permanent fixture brightening up the corner of Chester and Ann Streets each and every Friday from 6pm to 9pm. King Of The Wings, Micasa, The Bone Lorry, That BBQ joint, Pizzantica, Ruby the Little Red Ice Cream Van and Fonzie Abbott Coffee Roasters will all be there, and they'll be joined by a rotating array of special guests. You know what that means: you have an added incentive to drop by often. Plus, because tucking into a Friday night feast hits the spot all the better with a few brews in hand, Newstead Brewing have joined the fun to set up a bar. They'll be slinging beers, wines and ciders almost on their home turf, and offering up the proceeds to Foodbank Australia, meaning your thirst will help satisfy someone else's hunger.
Move over, craft beer — it's craft spirits' time to shine. Everyone's been to a day dedicated to the former, but on Sunday, May 28 you can spend an afternoon with all the whisky, gin and vodka you could ever want with over 30 exhibitors and master distillers showcasing more than 100 craft spirits at 2017's Indie Spirits Tasting. After a killer debut last year, the Indie Tasting folks are bringing their spirit celebration to Brisbane's Lefty's Old Time Music Hall for a second time. It's the type of event that whiskey, gin, rum, vodka and tequila-lover's dreams are made of. We'd keep listing different kinds of spirits, but we're getting thirsty. Tickets are $55 and not only include samples of the best Aussie and international indie brands on offer, but free bar snacks and access to six seminars across the afternoon too.
If Leslie Knope has taught us anything — and, the former Deputy Director of Pawnee, Indiana's Parks and Recreation Department turned City Councillor has taught us many, many, things — it's that Galentine's Day is the best day of the year. And while February 13 has long been and gone, May 11 might turn out to be just great thanks to The Brightside's Parks & Rec trivia night. Here's hoping that they're firing up a few waffle irons in celebration. It's bound to be just as exciting as the time Leslie met Joe Biden. Or when Ben Wyatt invented The Cones of Dunshire. Or any occasion where Ron Swanson drank Lagavulin whisky. If you were to ask Chris Traeger, he'd likely say that answering trivia questions is literally his favourite thing to do. Andy Dwyer would probably sing a version of "Candle in the Wind" about it, and April Ludgate would either stand in the corner and glare, or try to convince you that she's a witch. As for Donna Meagle, she's too busy live-tweeting the Death Canoe film series. If you know all of the above like you know that breakfast food is the best kind of food, then you'd better show your love for one of the best sitcoms ever made — and, as always, there'll be prizes. Maybe you'll win all of the bacon and eggs The Brighty has. If you lose, maybe you'll have to change your name to Jerry/Garry/Larry/Terry. Either way, you really ought to grab a bite from Lucky Egg while you're there, and grab what Tom Haverford calls fry fry chicky chick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbR7mpX07Uw
A lot can happen in five years. Two people can meet, fall in love, get married and then see their wedded bliss come to an end. That's the tale of budding writer Jamie and rising actress Cathy in The Last Five Years, which sees him share their story from the beginning, her start at the end and work backwards, and both sing about it. Of course, a lot can happen in 16 years as well. That's how long it has been since the show premiered in Chicago, and then made its way to off-Broadway the next year. In 2015, it became a film starring Anna Kendrick. Now, Aussies Lizzie Moore (Kiss Me Kate) and Kurt Phelan (Dirty Dancing) are stepping onto Brisbane Powerhouse's stage and stepping into the narrative, in a production by the folks behind Carrie the Musical. Catch their efforts between October 7 and 14, with the show playing Thursday to Sunday between those dates. And, if you need an added incentive, let an account of how Moore and Phelan first met get you excited for their on-stage antics. At a surprise party for Wicked's Lucy Durack, they both hid in a bathtub.
Another day, another boozy art class. Brisbanites, we'd have a problem if combining alcohol and creativity wasn't the perfect way to unwind. After Cork & Chroma, Boozy Board Art, Botanical Drawing with Drinks, Pub Painting and Pastels & Plonk comes Watercolour & Wine. The city's vino lovers really should be quite the Picassos by now. In this Work-Shop session, which takes place at the drink-friendly time of 6.30pm on October 6, attendees will learn the basics of painting with watercolours, all with a glass of wine in their hand. Don't worry, you won't have to literally keep a brush in one mitt and a beverage in the other — unless you want to. Taught by artist Vanessa Wallace, each class includes her tips — including observation skills, methods of drawing and composition, and, of course, a primer in applying watercolours — plus all the supplies and materials you'll need on the day, and grapey drinks. If you've never tried your hand before, it's a relaxed way to give it a go. If you're a more seasoned watercolour fiend, it's a fun way to refresh your skills.
You've gotta love a street party. No, seriously — given the number of them that happen around Brisbane each year, it's impossible not to. Everyone has always had a soft spot for Bulimba Festival, though. It's a reason to head to the inner-east's best-known roadway and eat, drink, listen to music and just hangout, after all. Sticking with 2016's one-day format, it's back for another day of tunes, rides, food and beverages, and more. Tunes-wise, that includes Jebediah ramping up the late '90s, early '00s nostalgia, plus Maddy Jane, Electrik Lemonade, Bugs and Machine Age. Elsewhere, expect rides and games at Memorial Park, plus food trucks and markets adding to the bricks-and-mortar stores already lining the street, with the bulk of the fun taking place around Barcadia and Oxford 152. That's what happens when two of the local pubs spearhead proceedings.
Between October 25 and 27, the Queen Street Mall won't just be the CBD's main shopping precinct. Fresh from transforming the Spring Hill Reservoir into a luminous playground with Meagan Streader's The Weight of Light, McCarthy-Swann Projects is teaming up with artist Kinly Grey to bring the sky to the street in a second wonder-inspiring installation. The idea behind Grey's piece is simple — and, like much in life, the simplest things are often the best. The Size of Air will see a temporary, transparent cube placed within the mall, filled with white fog and featuring a projected image of the city's sky. Attendees will enter the dense blue-lit realm and instantly feel like they're somewhere else. If you've ever wanted to pretend you're strolling through the clouds about Brissie, this is your chance. An immersive, sensory, site-specific experience, The Size of Air is the twelfth instalment in Grey's blue series. The Brisbane artist experiments with scale and space, endeavours to heighten visceral perception, and tries to evoke moments of intense sensation and emotion. Yep, stepping into a clear cube that'll make you feel like you're walking on sunshine will do that. Image: Kinly Grey, Blue 4 - Smoke Room, 2013, installation view. Image by Kinly Grey.
Handball isn't just something kids play in the schoolyard. Well, it is for the most part, but that doesn't mean running around a slab of concrete while attempting to slap a tennis ball with your hand isn't something anyone at any age can't enjoy. In fact, if you haven't outgrown the game that filled many of your youthful lunchtimes — or if you want to relive those past glories — then the New Farm Bouncing Back Handball Festival is the event for you. The all-ages event invites everyone to have some fun in the sun while competing in their favourite childhood pastime. Last year, 250 people turned up. The New Farm Neighbourhood Centre is once again guiding the show, which means it's a community affair complete with food and drinks for those working up an appetite and a thirst. Entry is by donation to our food relief pantry, so bring along some non-perishables (tinned food, pasta or noodles, long-life milk and the like) for a good cause and have a bouncing great time.
It has been 28 years since the first Jewish film festival reached Australian screens, and the annual cinema showcase is still going strong. If a movie hails from Israel or explores Jewish culture, it's likely to end up in the Jewish International Film Festival's program — including Yiddish-language drama Menashe, Orthodox community-set screwball romantic comedy The Wedding Plan, and the Kevin Spacey and Nicholas Hoult-starring JD Salinger biopic Rebel in the Rye, which closes out the fest. They're just some of this year's JIFF's highlights, and there's more where they came from. In fact, the complete 2017 lineup boasts 65 films from 26 countries, including features and documentaries from Israel, Australia, Argentina, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, the UK and the USA. If you're a fan of Jewish-themed cinema, prepare to settle in for the long haul when JIFF does the rounds from October. Brisbanites can get their fix via an abridged taste of the program, which comes to New Farm Cinemas from October 26 to November 1.
Three bars. Three brewing teams. Three evenings. One variety of beer. Throw them all together, add your enthusiasm for a good craft brew, a great place to drink it and the spirit of competition, and you've got a Brew Down going on. The first in what's planned to be an annual event, Brew Down is a rather crafty addition to Brisbane beer lover's diaries — and not just because new craft beverages whipped up by The Scratch and Aether Brewing, Tippler's Tap and Brisbane Brewing Co., and The Mill on Constance and Semi-Pro will be on offer. No, it's particularly crafty because it's a great reason to get everyone hopping between venues to try the new tipples, and to watch the brewers battle for glory. Taking over The Mill on Constance on October 20, Tippler's Tap on October 21 and The Scratch on October 22, the three days involve blind beer tastings, voting and various contests — a good ol' fashioned arm wrestle, a hot sauce-eating test of fortitude and beer athletics. You can join in too, as long as you register your interest in advance. Or, you can simply go on a three-day pub crawl and enjoy the shenanigans.
So, you've spent your week working — and working up a appetite. It's Thursday evening and you're keen for a tasty feast, but the last thing you want to do is whip something up yourself. Enter Feed Me Thursday, and Dutch Courage Officers' Mess' solution to your ravenous needs. They'll shower you with five courses of delicious dishes for $30, aka the price of a main meal at most places. A semi-regular event that next takes place on October 19, the tasty banquet lets head chef Mark Maric cook up a storm of comfort food, and lets attendees eat the results. Just what you'll be eating will be decided on the night, but it might include crispy fried duck, slow-cooked beef ribs and ras el hanout calamari. Bookings are recommended, and the only caveat is that you also have to buy a drink with your meal. Given that the Valley bar is rather well-known for their massive gin selection, as well as their cocktails, that shouldn't be too difficult.
Once a quarter, Yarn unravels quite a few threads. The regular storytelling event asks eager speakers to take to the stage, without notes, and tell a true tale. It's both cathartic and entertaining, and for the participants and the audience alike. Given its focus on stories of all kinds, it's no wonder that Yarn's latest session will hit up the Brisbane Writers Festival's Top Shelf Bar, complete with an array of special guests. Come for the enlivening real-life accounts, stay for remembering just how a good tale told well can connect, linger and work its way from one person's actual experience to another's memory.
In every sip of whiskey sits an inescapable clash. The bite, the flavour, the way it makes the back of your throat feel like you really have had a stiff drink: they all make you want to savour each mouthful. The warm feeling in your stomach, the intoxicating aroma: well, they make you want to sample as many varieties as possible. Head along to an event that offers both on September 7, when A World of Whiskey takes over the Regatta's Walrus Club. Relishing the unique tastes of quite the number of amber spirits is on the agenda here. In fact, $65 gets you a taste of 50 top tipples, plus canapes to line your stomach, and your own Glencairn glass to take home. What makes a classy drinking session even better? A classy drinking session that comes with its own souvenir.
From the show's iconic theme song, to Lisa's love of the saxophone, to the parade of great bands that have graced its animated frames, The Simpsons and music go hand in hand. Odes to monorails, musical versions of Planet of the Apes, mournful ballads about the Kwik-E-Mart — they're all as engrained in the series' history as Bart's skateboard, Homer's doughnut love and the Flaming Moe. Indeed, everyone has a favourite Simpsons' song, and several others they just can't get out of their head. They're what Perth-based muso Dan Cribb will be belting out at his late-night gig. It's an unofficial part of BIGSOUND, and it promises to deliver the Springfield-loving goods. Hitting up The Brightside from 11pm on September 5 (and no, not Brisbane's western suburb of Springfield), Cribb will ask patrons to see his vest, sing about their favourite talking ape (ohhh, Dr Zaius!), ponder who rigs every Oscar night and more. It's a set worth staying up for, it's free, and it's just a taste of the rocker's ongoing Simpsons' punk tribute: Worst Tribute Ever.
Sisters are doing it for themselves at Brisbane's latest pop-up. Taking the great Aretha Franklin's advice to heart, a heap of women-owned businesses are coming together to showcase their wares. Female Founders is the end result, with the collective smashing the glass ceiling and selling ace products all in one. Featuring brands in fashion, art, homewares and accessories, the concept launches on September 8 with a party, before following up the festivities with a market the next day. At the former, you'll find live entertainment by L-Jay Matenga, plus drinks, canapés and a lucky door prize, while the latter will endeavour to tempt your wallet while you supportive creative locals. Businesses involved include clothing line Hot Lollie, artist Raynbow Crow Studios, jewellery designer Attraxionz, soap and candle retailer 2loves, handbag merchants Woulfe & Co, petite jeans brand Summer Marberry and more.
25 years after opening its doors, The Zoo's love of the Brisbane music scene is still going strong. A quick glance at the venue's lineup usually makes that case quite nicely — however, a fresh addition is helping to shout it from the stage: a brand new Live 'n' Local series. Kicking off on August 24, the gig showcase will shake up your Thursday nights with a healthy dose of homegrown talent. Buck Dean And The Green Lips, VIIRGO, Roadhouse and TenThousandTaipans will be doing the inaugural honours — after that it's a watch-this-space kind of deal. Or, take a chance, don't check the bill and just show up for a night filled with sonic surprises. As well as gifting audiences an array of ace Brissie musos doing their thing, Live 'n' Local also proves a present for your wallet. The night will only set you back $10, making it both cheap and jam-packed with ace local bands.
On any given weekend, Brisbanites have plenty of opportunities to pretend that they're on holidays. No, we're not talking about taking a staycation, as fun as that is. Instead, we're encouraging you to embrace the city's busy array of cultural festivals. Come August 12 from 10am to 4pm, it's the Korean community's turn to celebrate the cuisine, culture and everything else that makes their nation great. For one day only, the Korean Cultural Festival will take over King George Square. Expect to fill your stomach at the many food stalls, and then digest your tasty treats while watching martial arts displays. Of course, the list of events and activities only continues, with the whole affair offering attendees a showcase of traditional and contemporary elements such as meals, music and much, much more. In fact, the range of entertainment sums up the combination of old and new perfectly. After you've listened to pan-sori, or Korean singing, you can groove along to some K-pop. Image: Korean Cultural Festival.
If you're going to celebrate one of the many food-related holidays that just seem to keep popping up, then you have to do so in style. When it comes to chicken wings, which get their time in the spotlight on July 29, there's only one thing to do: gorge on as many as possible. Enter The Coop — aka The Flying Cock's rebranded, chicken-focused bistro — and the best $19.99 you're likely to spend. At their mammoth International Chicken Wing Day spread from 11.30am until 10.30pm, that'll get you all of the juicy, sticky, sauce-laden, finger lickin' good chicken wings you can eat. All. Of. Them. Hungry patrons will receive a wristband to mark their ravenous status, plus a bib to protect their clothes from inevitable chicken wing splatters, and then tuck into as many servings of The Coop's specialty wings as they can handle. Feast your way through plates upon plates of chilli lemonade-drizzled sweet and spicy morsels, gluten-free twice-baked tangy barbecue pieces, or even vinegar-battered cauliflower wings with buffalo sauce if you're vegan or vegetarian.
There's never a bad time to head to the Sunny Coast; however if you're after more than just a trip to the beach, then August 26 is looking extra enticing. That's when the Maroochy Music & Vis Arts Festival takes over the New Maroochydore City Centre (aka the Old Horton Park Golf Course) for 2017 with a lineup that can only be described as epic. Headlining the sonic side of the bill is Alison Wonderland and The Presets, with the likes of Bernard Fanning, Gang of Youths, Horrorshow, Anna of the North, Northeast Party House and Skegss also adding plenty of tunes to the day-long party. With Mallrat, Billy Davis & The Good Lords and OKBadlands among those strutting their stuff too, your melody-seeking ears and toe-tapping feet will be happy — and so will your art-loving eyes. On that side of the equation, expect Wintercroft, Jake Reston, Lucas Salton, Beastman, Design Lab & Tiamco, and Frank & Mimi to break out everything from inflatable and illuminated installations to street art in displays of creativity of the visual arts kind. And if all that doesn't inspire you to head north for some fun, knowing that there'll be a chilled crowd should. Yep, like Meredith down south, Maroochy Music & Vis Arts Festival has a strict 'No Dickheads' policy.
"Surprise me," isn't something most folks would say to their waiter. Bartender, sure — but when it comes to what we're eating, we tend to like a tad more control. Forget that idea at Food Lab, the monthly experimental dinner put on by Gerard's Bar. Instead, surrender to the experience of eating the unexpected. Happening monthly, each iteration serves up a five-course feast of dishes that you won't expect, but you will enjoy. The theme changes each time, as does the hip hop soundtrack. Previous sessions have featured rap classics with matching cocktails and dirty Southern American eats paired with appropriate tunes, with classic Aussie fare and some homegrown tunes on offer on September 12. Whatever Ben Williamson and Ben Chow whip up, it's certain not to be whatever combo of pies and lamingtons you're probably thinking of. Tickets cost $90 per person, and places are limited, with bookings available by contacting the bar.
Sorry foodies, Dessert Before Dinner isn't the culinary event its name suggests. It is, however, a sweet feast of another kind. Treat your ears, rather than your tastebuds, to a whole night of sugary pop and rock at the New Globe Theatre. On September 29, three Brisbane bands and performers will take to the stage for an upbeat night. Catch the funk and blues-influenced rock of four-piece Fugue, then watch Bertie Page do her glam rock burlesque thing as part of the Bertie Page clinic, before Cheeky Velvet's tongue-in-cheek, melodic pop gets in on the action. Tickets cost $10, and with the fun starting at 8.30pm, that means that you have ample time to put the gig's name into effect. If you consider the show the main course, treat yourself to something sweet beforehand. Mister Fitz is just a short stroll away from the New Globe Theatre, if you need a suggestion.
When you order the garlic bread at Gauge, you don't receive a toasted piece of white, crusty loaf slathered with golden butter. Instead, the bread is black, and the butter brown and speckled with burnt vanilla. That's how they experiment every day of the week, on their standard menu. Imagine what they could come up with if they really wanted to push the boundaries. Actually, don't just imagine. Rather, show up monthly and eat the results. The South Bank restaurant is launching Gauge X, their new, regular, experimental dinner series. It's designed to challenge the way the eatery thinks about food, and increase their creativity — and you get to enjoy five courses of the results. The first dinner takes place on September 20, then monthly from then onwards, with the second session arriving on October 18. Tickets cost $75 per person for what promises a meal like no other — even if you go back each and every time. And if you have a dietary requirement, just make sure you let them know well in advance.
Love quirky facts? Spent your life amassing the kind of details that will probably never come in handy? Consider yourself a whiz at every trivia night around town? If so, you're probably a QI fan — and an avid listener of No Such Thing As a Fish. The former is, of course, the long-running British comedy panel quiz. The latter is the popular, award-winning podcast hosted by four of the show's researchers, aka the folks putting in the hard yards to come up with amusing pieces of information you didn't know you needed to know. Series staffers Dan Schreiber, James Harkin, Anna Ptaszynski and Andrew Hunter Murray aren't just finding tidbits for a raft of English comedians, or spending their spare time sharing the most bizarre facts they've come across over the last seven days, however. Come May 2018, they're also heading to Australia to shower our shores with trivia morsels. The live version of the podcast will include a live recording, so your laughter might be immortalised forever, plus a round up of the most astonishing things the team have discovered from the year's news. It has been a busy couple of years for the group, with their last UK and European tour proving a sell-out, and their 187 episodes to date scoring more than 55 million downloads. As Schreiber explains, "we started as four dorks sitting around a single microphone trying to make each other laugh. Things have changed a bit since we started — we now have four microphones — but it's a thrill to know there are hundreds of thousands of other people who love the same wild and hilarious facts that we do."
Whether you're a seasoned gallery attendee or a more casual art-lover, you'll know the quiet joys that stepping into an exhibition can bring — not just providing a feast for the eyes, but a soothing space for the mind as well. In their peaceful places dedicated to celebrating creativity, just trying not to get swept up in the relaxing vibe is nearly impossible. Accordingly, it was only a matter of time before someone combined looking at art and meditation — and in Brisbane, that someone is the Queensland Art Gallery. On the first Tuesday of each month, they're holding an early morning session dedicated to getting blissful and mindful while exploring their Australian Collection. At 7.45am on November 7 and December 5, experienced meditation and yoga teacher Miriam Van Doorn will be your guide in several ways: through QAG, and through a flow-style class inspired by the artworks and architecture on display. A brief talk about slow-art looking practices will follow, in what sounds like a chilled start to your day — all for $10, or free if you're a QAGOMA member, with bookings required. Image: Installation view of 'Artist's Choice: Marian Drew | Buoyancy' via Queensland Art Gallery.
Once the weather gets warmer, things get weirder at Brisbane Powerhouse. It's all in the name of art, comedy, theatre, circus, music, burlesque and other kinds of creative, performative fun, of course. In fact, it's all in the name of turning the iconic venue into Wonderland. Not just a wonderland, the Wonderland — the Powerhouse's annual end-of-year shindig, which runs from November 23 to December 3. If you look hard enough, you might just spy a white rabbit, a mad hatter and a girl called Alice. And, even if you don't, you'll find 20 shows over 12 nights, which is more than enough to make you look on in wonder.
When you're a bar that nods to all things spooky in your name, and you boast more than a couple of monster-themed pinball and arcade machines, then you're going to like the end of October. Netherworld does, of course. Indeed, the Valley pub has been throwing beer fests and frightfests all month — and now they're celebrating Halloween in the expected style. So, what's on the agenda come October 31, other than a few pumpkins around the place? Expect a ghoulish night of scary fun — or, a monster mash if you will. Yep, you know that DJ El Norto is going to give the track a spin, and you know that you're going to dance to it, creepy cocktail in hand. In addition to dressing up for a evening of Halloween gaming goodness — and scoring eight free tokens for your attire — the main attraction is a Dragon's Lair machine, which will mean something to you if you've just spent your weekend binging the second season of Stranger Things. We think that calls for '80s horror and sci-fi movie costumes, so bust out your best Ghostbusters outfit and bust your way down Brunswick Street.
The Australian landscape is no stranger to the screen, and nor is the history that goes with it. Think about many of those tales, though, and one thing stands out — from Ned Kelly to Mad Max, the majority of them revolve around white men. In Donnas on the Run: Exhuming the Australian Badlands, artists Lucy Forsberg and Sally Molloy delve deeper into the Aussie identity by opening up the nation's stories to other groups. Think archetypal characters given a more inclusive spin, such as the larrikin girl and the bush boundary-rider, as well as female convicts and transgender felons. Think borrowing from historical archives to create new visual narratives that probe the violence and discrimination of our colonial past in the process, all using video, sound and digital media. The exhibition displays at Metro Arts from October 18 to November 4, complete with two special events. Head along at 6pm on opening night for the launch, or stop by at 6pm on November 1 for an artists' talk.
Since opening back in April 2015, Junky Comics has proven more than just a space to buy books. A labour of love for owner, Major Leagues' bassist and devoted Brisbanite Vlada Edirippulige, the Vulture Street store has hosted art exhibitions, performances, drink-and-draw sessions and shindigs too. Basically, it's a one-stop reading, hanging out and having fun kind of deal. In fact, Junky has probably helped you out a couple of times or so — by offering up highly curated reading materials you won't find just anywhere, and taking care of your weekend plans — so now it's time to return the favour. Keen to keep the shelves stocked and the place trading, while realising that she might need a little assistance to make that a reality, Edirippulige is throwing a fundraising party. From midday on February 19, there'll be plenty of reasons to drop by Betty's Espresso to show your support, including beers from Young Henrys, a raffle for yet-to-be-disclosed (but certain to be ace) prizes, and plenty of bits and pieces for sale. That's how you can give a hand to the kind of graphic art and zine-selling establishment that's far, far removed from the usual stereotype. Keep an eye on the event Facebook page for the latest details.
Dance isn't a one-size-fits-all medium, even when it comes to something like ballet. Sure, the term immediately makes you think of tutus, leggings, pointe shoes and pirouettes; however, versatility and making something unique sits at the heart of the artistic style of movement and performance. Let Bespoke make that plain, in case you need more convincing. For three nights, the Queensland Ballet steps away from its big productions of classic works at QPAC and heads to the Brisbane Powerhouse for something more diverse, contemporary, experimental and intimate. Here, in three new pieces, art forms and ideas collide before your very eyes — not only in dance, but in lighting, fashion, sound and music. QB provides the folks leaping and spinning on stage, Katie Noonan and electronic-beats project cln help whip up some accompanying sounds, and the choreographers calling the shots include Amy Hollingsworth, Stephanie Lake and Jack Lister.
