Brisbanites, there's a new coffee spot in town, with Glee Coffee Roasters expanding up north. Setting up shop on Glenelg Street in South Brisbane, it's the first Queensland venture for the NSW central coast outfit — and to welcome itself to the neighbourhood, the cafe is giving away free coffee. Save your change and leave your wallet at home — if it's a cup of warm, caffeinated liquid you're after, you won't need them from Monday, June 18 to Friday, June 22. Instead, anyone who stops by during the store's 6am–3pm opening hours can nab a cuppa for nothing. Even better: no purchase is required to activate the deal. There is one caveat, with only two free coffees available per customer. That's a sensible rule, if only to stop the city getting too buzzed on caffeine. Yes, there is such a thing as too much coffee.
There's an international day for everything, it seems; however only one celebrates the joys of bending, stretching, meditating and bliss. Yes, that'd be International Yoga Day — which actually takes place on June 21 each year, but is being celebrated a few days later at the 2018 Brisbane Yoga Day Festival. On June 24, the Forgan Smith Front Lawns at the University of Queensland will become the least stressful place in the city, and offer up the most chill way to spend your Sunday. There'll be yoga, obviously, plus everything from music to vegetarian and vegan food to markets as part of a series of world-wide celebrations. When it comes to the main attraction, expect to improve your well-being through regular asanas, breathing and relaxation exercises, and even an on-site meditation booth. Or, try something different with glow-in-the-dark yoga, tribal flow yoga dance and partner yoga. We'll give a sun salutation to that.
Fancy immersing yourself in South Australian wine country, but can't make the trip down south? Let the region's best vino come to you. That's what Barossa in Boardshorts is all about — pairing some mighty fine drops with Brisbane's sunny weather, even in winter. Taking place on Saturday, July 28 at Baedeker Wine Bar in Fortitude Valley, the three-hour event will serve up top tipples from the Barossa Valley region, including some that rarely venture beyond their winery's cellar door. There'll be unlimited tastings, plus beachy barbecue food to snack on, all for $49. And no, you don't have to really wear your boardies. Barossa winemakers will also be on hand to chat about their wines, giving attendees the first-hand scoop on different varieties. Plus, as well as bringing the vino love to Brisbane, the event will tour the region — stopping by The Island Rooftop in Broadbeach on July 26, Toowoomba's Blank Space on July 27 and the Maroochy Surf Club on July 29.
Your must-see movie list just keeps growing, but your wallet doesn't want to play ball. Call Dendy Cinemas' latest special a case of great timing, then, with the chain offering up discount tickets that'll solve your problem. From May 10 to 15, as long as you purchase online, you'll only pay $5 for your movie of choice at Coorparoo. Or movies. With everything from Avengers: Infinity War to Unsane to Breath currently screening, there's plenty to watch if you're keen to spend as much time in a darkened room as possible. And if you'd like something a little more luxurious, you can nab a Dendy Premium Lounge ticket — aka their version of gold class — for just $10 during the same period. Plus, if you haven't had a chance to drop by the chain's new Coorparoo digs, here's your excuse. In fact, as you might've guessed given that this offer isn't available at Portside — and, given that the cinema just ran one of these specials last month, too — that's the entire point.
A trip to Riverland this week is a trip around the globe — for your tastebuds, at least. The Eagle Street spot has declared July 16–22 their World Food Week, and their onsite eateries are getting into the spirit of the occasion with cuisines from Italy, Greece, America and Mexico. There'll be pizzas, naturally. Burritos, quesadillas, nachos and more, of course. American Philly cheesesteak subs, too. The list goes on, so it's completely understandable if you fancy getting yourself dinner and then second dinner as well. The culinary tour runs all day for the entire week, with Greek Street Kantina, Cicio Pizza, Burrito Shack and the World Food Markets among the kitchens taking part. And, as always, a visit to Riverland means soaking in the beauty of a particular corner of the world — Brisbane, that is, thanks to the joint's stunning views over the city's snaking waterway. Image: Greek Street Kantina via Facebook.
Variety might be the spice of life, but it seems that alcohol helps spark creativity — at least where Brisbane's art classes are involved. You can paint a picture in the middle of the Night Noodle Markets, whip up a portrait of your own pet, head to the city's permanent boozy studio or partake in any number of other combinations of watercolours, pastels and plonk. Now, you can also sketch live models with a beer in your hand. Milton dive bar The Scratch is putting on the brew-fuelled session from 10am–12pm on Saturday, July 22, with local artist Aaron Micallef overseeing the class. You'll draw the human form, using nude life models as your guide, and the $20 fee also includes a pot of beer or cider. Yes, Life Drawing and Beer is basically your high school art class — just with an alcoholic beverage — and spaces are limited. There'll be a number of art boards supplied, but it's best to bring your own supplies. The Scratch, obviously, will supply the beer.
Four years after adding a new celebration of cinema to Brisbane's annual calendar, Queensland Film Festival returns with perhaps its most ambitious event yet — and its most topical. Running from July 19 to 29, the 2018 festival will not only span high-profile new titles, multiple cinephile-friendly retrospectives and QFF's first gallery installation, but will also boast an overwhelmingly strong contingent of female filmmakers. From opening night's Australian duo of Terror Nullius and Strange Colours (with filmmakers Soda_Jerk and Alena Lodkina in attendance), to festival circuit favourites You Were Never Really Here and The Rider, to a restored print of under-appreciated local coming-of-age horror gem Celia, more than 80 percent of QFF's lineup of 59 features and shorts is either directed or co-directed by women. That includes the fest's showcase on French filmmakers Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani, with the pair coming to Brisbane for QFF ahead of their appearance at the Melbourne International Film Festival. Renowned for lurid genre films that toy with everything from horror to crime to spaghetti westerns, Cattet and Forzani's three full-length efforts to date — the psychosexual, psychedelic Amer; follow-up The Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears (which actually initially screened at the first QFF back in 2015); and their latest effort Let the Corpses Tan — all feature in the program. From the rest of QFF's 2018 bill, other highlights include Lucrecia Martel's Zama, which marks the long-waited next effort from the acclaimed Argentinian filmmaker; as well as the gorgeously otherworldly The Wolf House by Cristóbal León and Joaquin Cociña — an astonishing piece of stop-motion animation that turns a meticulous and creative art installation into an entrancing movie. And, among the fest's other retrospectives, the festival will celebrate the work of avant-garde Czech director Věra Chytilová, whose subversive comedy Daisies is considered one of the landmark films of the 60s. Anthropologists and documentarians Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Véréna Paravel are also in QFF's spotlight, thanks to a program focusing on their observational and immersive explorations of both the natural and man-made world. As part of the latter, GOMA will screen a free, ongoing installation of the duo's work for the duration of festival. Elsewhere, the fest will feature German horror Hagazussa, about women deemed witches during the Dark Ages; An Elephant Sitting Still, the bleak but moving first and last film by Chinese filmmaker Hu Bo; and creative 3D effort Prototype, which ponders both the deadliest natural disaster in US history strikes and the history and future of cinema. Then, closing out the fest is a pair of movies that combine film and sport: documentary John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection and fictional effort Diamantino, about a soccer star coping with everything from neo-fascism to the refugee crisis to genetic modification. Queensland Film Festival runs from July 19 to 29 at New Farm Cinemas, Elizabeth Picture Theatre, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Institute of Modern Art. To view the full program or buy tickets, head to the festival website.
Remember when Saturday mornings were all about cartoons, cereal and not having a care in the world? Netherworld does. At the Fortitude Valley bar, you're never too old to kick back in their arcade room for some serious kidulting — or to start the day just like you did when you were a kid, but with beer. That's what their latest regular event, Saturday Morning Cartoons, is all about (in case the name didn't already give that away). And they won't just be playing any old cartoons. While their selection changes with each outing, the July 14 event will be enjoying the wonders of Sailor Moon and Cardcaptors for two hours. Pair your nostalgia with a milk-filled bowl of cereal and a frosty brew, both of which are included in the $10 entry price. And wearing your pjs is fine — in fact, you'll get an extra treat if you do.
Maybe you don't get paid until next week. Perhaps you're saving all your cash for your next holiday. Or you could've broken your bank account by buying, well, just about anything. However it happened, you're still broke. But, as long as you've got a fiver burning a hole in your wallet, you can still have a great Thursday night out. Thank the legends at The Zoo for an evening's entertainment that everyone can afford. If you've ever wondered how the Ann Street icon has managed to keep the tunes pumping and the crowds coming since 1992, it's because of ace ideas like this one. Yes, Five Bands Five Bucks is exactly what it sounds like — and what it sounds like is 100 percent awesome. Fresco Kyoto, Chesterfield, Jeremy Hunter, Moodie Gloom and Salmon & The Peaches will be on the bill, waiting for you to part with a piece of pink-coloured currency to hear their latest and greatest tunes.
Nothing says "goodbye work week, hello weekend" like a shot of tequila — or a whole evening sipping the agave spirit. And while dedicating an entire night to the beverage doesn't always sound like a great idea, it's paired with tastings and food at the Pig 'n' Whistle's Tequila and Tacos shindig. From 6.30pm on Friday, June 6, trying different types and eating the appropriate cuisine is on the menu at the pub's Brunswick Street venue. Yep, it's a classy tequila night — the kind that won't leave you feeling seedy all weekend. Tickets cost $35, which includes a drink on arrival, food, samples and another drink before you head out into the evening. There'll also be live music, but we're guessing the band won't play the song you're now thinking about — and will likely have stuck in your head for the next few days. Still, it wouldn't be a night drinking tequila without someone loudly exclaiming the beverage's name.
Two days. One park. Plenty of outdoorsy things to do. Whether you're keen on grabbing some gardening tips while you're surrounded by one of Brisbane's best displays of public plant life, or you're eager to relax on the grass while eating food truck grub, Parks Alive has something for you. Indeed, offering something for everyone is what this annual celebration of Roma Street Parklands is all about — because that's what the park is about as well. Classes about pickles, preserves and starting your own veggie patch, plant clinics manned by experts, bush tucker walks, meditation sessions, meals-on-wheels galore, live tunes: they're all on the bill. Indeed, even though there's never a bad time to soak up the splendour of Brissie's parks, there's never been a better time to get to Roma Street. Free fun and Brisbane sun combine for a chilled stint in the outdoors — and a chance to channel your inner Leslie Knope, obviously. Image: Bertknot/Flickr.
It's always a busy time for film festivals in Brisbane. This year, one moves to a new home, another keeps doing what it does best, and plenty of other cultural-focused cinema events keep shining a spotlight on the best flicks specific countries have to offer. Add to that the city's dedicated virtual reality film festival, which will make its return after a successful, sold-out first year in 2017. Taking over the Brisbane Powerhouse from August 21 to 26, the Australian Virtual Reality Film Festival isn't like every other film fest. Its second-year program will screen short film and documentaries and highlight the innovative work of emerging filmmakers, but it's all in VR. Accordingly, instead of staring communally up at a big screen, attendees will strap on a headset and watch at their own leisure. Films include a walk behind the razor wire on Manus Island, fitting called Inside Manus; one man's attempt to chase the longest wave in the world in Take Every Wave; street artist portrait RONE; and Indigenous futurism effort Biidaaban. AVRFF also features a program of talks and workshops for those keen to know more about the field, including a keynote address on opening night by illustrator, interactive designer and writer Sutu, the illustration artist behind Inside Manus.
Whether you're looking for something on a budget, or you're after the best vintage fare, there's nothing like trawling through other people's wares. Forget your regular old household clear-outs, trash and treasure markets, outlet sales and car boot offerings though — Brisbane's biggest clothing garage sale is back again. We're not sure whether its size has been officially confirmed; however if it delivers a massive array of sartorial bits and pieces — and it always does — then we won't ask questions. Taking over Bizzell's Garage on Latrobe Terrace from 10am until 3pm on Saturday, September 22 and Saturday, October 20, prepare to arrive with shopping on your mind and leave with a full basket. Prices vary, as will condition, but expect to pay anywhere from $5 to over $100 for clothes, swimwear, shoes, accessories, denim, leather items and jewellery. Brands spanning the sporty likes of Adidas and Puma, the upmarket style of of Burberry and Christian Dior, and the street red of Converse and Calvin Klein will all be on offer. And, if you want to add a few plants to your home garden — including succulents — you'll find greenery on sale too.
It's been a year since the folks at La Macelleria came to a very sensible conclusion: that two gelaterias are better than one. And if it feels like the frozen dairy joint has been on Montague Road forever, we have a simple explanation — time flies when you're eating all of the ice cream, naturally. To celebrate scooping up its frozen dairy wares in West End for the past 12 months, La Macelleria is giving everyone a gift. That gift is $1 gelato. You just need to drop by between 5–8pm on Friday, September 21, and ask for a small cone or cup. There'll also be a special flavour available on the day — that's yet to be announced — but you won't have any trouble finding something that tempts your tastebuds. This is a place that serves up Italian-style choc chip, rum and raisin, ricotta with caramelised figs and roasted almonds with roasted coffee beans gelato regularly, after all.
Whether they're your go-to bite-sized first course or your jam-packed meat and vegetable-filled main meal, everyone loves dim sims and dumplings. And whether you prefer wontons or gyoza, pierogi or mandu, you'll probably find them at Welcome to Bowen Hills' first Dimmy and Dumpling Festival. Across the weekend of July 21 and 22, the inner-city favourite will welcome a lineup of D&D-serving eateries for two days. Just which food trucks will be serving up their wares is yet to be announced, but expect them to be cooking up a storm from 11am until 10pm. Yes, that means you can enjoy momo for lunch, jiaozi for dinner and pirozhki in between. Entry is free, and then it's a buy-what-you-plan-to-eat kind of deal. And while we don't recommend giving human food to dogs, your pet pupper is welcome to come along while you scoff down all of the dim sims and dumplings you can handle.
From July 25 to August 5, there's one surefire way to work up an appetite — just head to South Bank's Cultural Forecourt, peruse the hawker-style array of stalls slinging all manner of food and listen to your stomach grumble. Yes, the Night Noodle Markets are back for a fourth annual round of culinary deliciousness and yes, they're guaranteed to make you hungry. In 2018, there will be 23 stalls to choose from, plus heaps of pop-up bars, free music each night and the kind of bustling vibe that comes with a massive food gathering. As for what you'll be feasting on, expect tasty treats from the likes of Black Star Pastry, Hoy Pinoy, Waffleland, Puffle, Sambal Kampung, Bangkok Street Food, Bao Brothers, Little Kyoto, Phat Elephant, Gelato Messina and more. Make sure to work up an appetite beforehand and be prepared to roll yourself on home.
If Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, or so the song goes, then July in Brisbane has to be the tastiest. From the beginning of the month right through until early August, that's when Good Food Month takes over the city with a lineup that includes street food eats, a pasta party, unlimited mimosas and bloody marys, a dinner that's all about surf 'n' turf and a showcase of Brissie's up-and-coming young chefs. And like all good menus, they're just the appetisers. Truffle degustations, four-course whisky feasts, lunch specials in some of the best spots around town — the list goes on, and includes long French-Vietnamese meals, cocktails and charcuterie, and a Queensland-focused tasting menu as well. Or nab some top wine from a pop-up cellar door, celebrate all things French at a Bastille Day midday meal or tuck into an endless supply of pizza. Whichever you choose, you won't be feeling hungry or thirsty afterwards.
It took more than 25 years for Twin Peaks to revisit its moody, otherworldly and all-round odd small-town mysteries — and if you're not done diving into the television show's wonderful and strange world just yet, don't stress. Whether there'll be any more episodes is anyone's guess, but you can spend an evening with the show's stars in the interim, with five of the series cast members heading to Australia later this year. Although David Lynch famously refuses to talk in-depth about any of his work, including Twin Peaks' three seasons to date and the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, expect Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer), Kimmy Robertson (Lucy Moran), Michael Horse (Deputy Hawk), Al Strobel (Philip Gerard) and Dana Ashbrook (Bobby Briggs) to be much more forthcoming as they chat about their experiences both on- and off-screen. In fact, maybe Lynch will be too — while he won't be there in person, he'll be Skyping in to answer questions live. On Sunday, August 26 at Brisbane's Eatons Hill Hotel, Lee, Robertson, Horse, Strobel, Ashbrook and the via-video Lynch will be joining forces with Twin Peaks producer Sabrina S. Sutherland for a 'Conversation with the Stars' discussions. If you've ever wondered what it was like to be wrapped in plastic, or to line up piles and piles of doughnuts, or to play the other half of the series' evil entity, here's your chance to find out. While Twin Peaks' lead Kyle MacLachlan won't be making the trip, the lineup is still a Peaks-lover's dream come true. Lee played Laura Palmer, the teen sweetheart whose murder sparked the whole series, while Ashbrook swaggered through highs-chool hallways as her boyfriend Bobby Briggs, and then turned unlikely cop in the latest season. Robertson is best known as bubbly police station receptionist Lucy, and Horse played the enigmatic Deputy Hawk — and had one of the most recent series' most moving scenes. As for Strobel's Phil Gerard, he was pals with Bob before becoming a resident of the Black Lodge. If all of the above gets you thinking about damn fine coffee and the Double R Diner's cherry pie, then you'll be keen to nab tickets to the intimate chat, which is in town for one night only. No word yet if the cast members will be sitting in front of red curtains or being interviewed by someone called Diane, but we can only hope. And if you're an absolute die-hard Peaks fan with some spare cash (around $500 in spare cash), meet-and-greet tickets are also available. Updated August 5.
It's the market equivalent of one of cinema's new favourite gimmicks — instead of all your favourite superheroes jumping into one film, two of Brisbane's markets are joining forces for one day. At Carseldine's Christmas in July Makers Market on Saturday, July 28, the weekly northside market is teaming up with the folks at BrisStyle and focusing on all things crafty and handmade. And Christmas-themed too, because this market mash-up is pretending it's five months down the track for some extra fun. You could always browse, buy and go home with all your gift shopping taken care of well in advance — or that's what you could tell yourself, at least, while you tuck into some festive bites to eat. There'll be Brisbane's biggest array of local handmade artists and makers, as well as Carseldine's 140 food, flower and fresh produce stalls. The market opens as usual at 6am, with the makers market kicking off at 7am. Entry is free, and it all runs until midday. Image: Carseldine Farmers & Artisan Markets.
Come Friday, July 13, you probably won't wake up in someone else's shoes. Still, once 8pm hits, you can party like you have. With a heavy case of 2000s nostalgia going around Brisbane recently, The Flying Cock's Freaky Friday shindig is the latest event that'll have you remembering the good old days — when Lindsay Lohan starred in teen body-swapping comedies, for example. Drinking, dancing, getting angry that your mum won't let you go to your band's big audition, eating enchanted fortune cookies... okay, so two of those won't be on the menu, but if watching and rewatching the 2003 film was part of your routine 15 years ago, then you get the picture. And while the whole event will be celebrating that version of the movie, no one will stop you if you want to remember the 1976 or 1995 flicks as well. Soundtrack-wise, expect a thoroughly 00s vibe, with the help of some So Fresh CDs. And expect 'What I Like About You' to get a spin, obviously.
Winter weather is great bar weather. Sure, Brisbane doesn't really get all that frosty, but even the slightest dip in temperature is enough of an excuse to get cosy in your favourite watering hole. Plus, on Saturday, June 16, The Scratch is giving you an extra incentive — particularly if you're fond of apples, apple-based beverages and apple-filled comfort food. Cider? Tick. Hot mulled cider? Tick again. Cider cocktails? Just keep on ticking (and drinking). From 12pm, the Milton spot will be serving enough The Hills Cider Company tipples to keep the doctor away. And, it'll be pairing them with apple pastries. If you're not a fan of apples, don't even bother going along to this apple-fuelled shindig, which The Scratch has aptly dubbed the Winter Warmer Apple Appreciation Party. If you can't get enough apples but you think you'll need something else to break up the sweetness, don't worry — savoury toasties will be on offer too.
The International Day of Delicious doesn't sound like a real thing — and it's not. But it is an excuse to eat more burgers, and if you're particularly fond of stuffing meat and other foodstuffs between two pieces of bread, that's all that matters. We all are, let's face it, so this new occasion has just become something worth celebrating. Taking place at most Burger Urge outlets on June 24, the day is all about serving up two-for-one burgs. Any burger from the menu is available as part of the deal, and you can nab the special all day. All you need to do is ask yourself a very important question: can I eat two burgers, or shall I share the burg goodness with someone else? Whichever you choose, you can nab it at almost any Burger Urge you're near — except the Griffith University Gold Coast and Brisbane International Airport stores.
Take a slab of crumbed chicken, top it with ham, tomato and cheese — and, well, you can't really go wrong. Little Big House certainly hasn't since opening in late 2017. In fact, the South Bank pub has sold 10,000 of them in less than a year. It plans to serve up quite a few more, too, particularly across the week between August 6 and 12. Drop by Grey Street for a feed and you'll pay just $10 for a parmy, chips and salad — and, depending on how much your beverage of choice costs, you'll likely pay less than a lobster for all of that and a beverage. The $10 deal leads up to a one-day Parmy Party from midday on Sunday, August 12, where people will just drink, eat and talk about how much they love parmys, we guess. By heading along, you can also win free parmys for a year, in case you needed some extra parmy motivation.
Cheese is always on the menu at Salt Meats Cheese, as its name suggests. Oozing on top of pizza, sprinkled over pasta, on platters with cured meat and homemade chutney — they're just some of the dairy choices. Or, you could combine a few of the above at the Gasworks restaurant's new weekly Cheese Feasts. Running from midday each Saturday until December 22, they'll turn your weekend into cheese heaven. On the menu: a selection of cheeses, meats, seasonal fruits and focaccia to share, followed by baked brie, dry fruits and jams. After that, each person can choose their own pizza or pasta, and then everyone gets a mascarpone tiramisu della casa for dessert. For the food side of things, it'll set you back $39 — and if you'd like to add bottomless wine, you can do so for an extra $29. That gets you an unlimited selection of Italian red, white and prosecco drops. Updated October 7.
Motivation comes in many forms — and if you need a splash of the strong stuff to inspire you to exercise, that's your prerogative. Throw in some cheese and snacks while you bend and stretch, and who can resist, really? Basically, you've got a great Friday afternoon wind-down going on. Already home to yin and gin sessions, Stretch Yoga is now hosting a Spritz and Asana Friday, serving up Aperol spritzes with your wellness routine. Taking place at the CBD studio between 5.45–7pm on Friday, September 28, the $28 ticket price includes a beverage, a guided deep stretch yin class and nibbles. Actually, it also comes with something else — like Stretch's community classes, the session will also help those in need. All profits will go to the Women's Legal Service, so you'll feel twice as good (or thrice if you count your yoga chill and spritz buzz separately).
For the past three years, wandering through QUT Art Museum at this time of year has proven the artistic equivalent of peering into a crystal ball. On the George Street gallery's walls, you can see the future — of the art world. Given that The Churchie National Emerging Art Prize is all about rewarding up-and-coming talent, that's hardly surprising. Today's participants are tomorrow's stars, whether or not they emerge victorious. Indeed, Caroline Gasteen won the prize in 2018 with a series of three oil paintings; however she's in very good company, 38 of which are part of the exhibition. Until November 8, the efforts of four prize winners and all 35 other finalists will be on display from Tuesday to Sunday, as whittled down from more than 1000 submissions. Image: Min Wong. Too fit to quit 2017. Neon lighting. Courtesy the artist.
It's the studio that gave Brisbanites the gift of puppy pilates and kitten yoga; however with Stretch Yoga's new community classes, it's sharing the love around. On Thursday nights in the CBD and Sunday mornings in Holland Park, sessions will only cost $6 — and all of the proceeds will be donated to a selection of charities. You'll benefit from bending and stretching for less than the cost of a glass of wine, which is perfect if you're a newcomer keen to finally try yoga, or you're just feeling a little less financial. Good causes will benefit, obviously. And Stretch Yoga's graduate instructors will benefit, as they'll be teaching the classes. The CBD sessions run from 6–7pm every second Thursday evening, with the next sessions lined up for October 18 and November 1, 15 and 29. If you're closer to Holland Park, drop by from 10.45–11.45am on alternating Sunday mornings, with classes on October 14 and 28, November 11 and 25, and December 9. Places are limited, so bookings are essential, with all yoga skill levels welcome. Image: Stretch Yoga. Updated October 7.
Every year, when spring hits Toowoomba, the regional city becomes the brightest place in southeast Queensland. Blooms blossom, greenery sprouts and flora reaches towards the sun — that's right, it's Carnival of Flowers time. Running from September 21 to 30, the annual event showcases all of the gorgeous florets, growths and gardens around town, including everything from park tours to ikebana displays to specific shows for orchids, bonsai, clivia and bromelaids. Outdoor dwellers will also find daily live music at Picnic Point, Queens Park and Laurel Bank Park, while pub and dinner walks are also on the agenda — and events that combine petals and pups. It all kicks off with a three-day food and wine festival across September 21–23, and features an illuminated night garden between September 26–30, so there's no bad time to visit — and you might want to make the trek more than once. Indeed, when it comes to scenic spring sights, there's no prettier place to be. And, given it takes less than two hours to head up the mountain from Brisbane, it's perfect for a weekend day trip. Make a playlist, take a picnic and there's your Saturday or Sunday sorted. Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
There's something about the beginning of spring that makes everyone want to throw a party, and Salt Meats Cheese is no different. The eatery's Gasworks store might be waiting until Saturday, September 8 to officially welcome the season, but it's doing so in the best possible way — with $5 pizzas and $9 Aperol spritzes. At the restaurant's Spring Launch Party, you'll need to buy the latter to get the former, but we don't think that's going to be an issue for anyone keen to go along. In fact, we'd recommend arriving hungry and thirsty — at those prices, who can stop at just one? The shindig runs from 1–5pm only, so consider it a late lunch. Unsurprisingly, bookings are essential. In keeping with the sunny mood, there'll also be live music by Eddie Gazani's Gypsy Adventures to help you while away a cocktail- and pizza-filled afternoon.
If your mid-week routine could use a little jazzing up, Jessie's Girl has the answer with its monthly Wednesday night jazz, soul and beer sessions. Just what's on offer is right there in the name, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with being upfront — if it's a great soundtrack and some top tipples that you're after, then you'll find them here. The folks from A Love Supreme down in the CBD are in charge of curating each evening's tunes — all on vinyl, of course — so you really are in for an ace selection. Plus, Wednesday night is parmi night on Petrie Terrace, so there's your dinner sorted. The jazz and soul evening happens on the last Wednesday of each month, from 5pm. Head on by on August 29, September 26, October 31 and November 28 for what's certain to be a cruisy shindig.
When you're heading out to see a show, you might hop in your own car, wait to get picked up by a mate or call an Uber. Whichever transport option you choose, it's usually just a means to an end. That's not the case with RIDE by Backbone Youth Arts. You'll still have to make your way into Fortitude Valley for this Valley Fiesta performance, but once you're there, you'll be jumping back into a vehicle and driving around town. An hour-long show that's taking place at 6.30pm, 7.45pm and 8.45 pm on Friday, August 31 and Saturday, September 1, RIDE really is exactly what it sounds like — you'll ride around as part of the production, which involves searching for a big party. It all starts with a text message telling you to meet the driver in a secret location. Then, you'll get picked up, listen to music, talk, dance, sing and see where the show takes you. And, obviously, we mean the last part literally. Tickets cost $20 for what sounds like a performance like no other, and groups of four can book if you'd like to experience the fun with your pals. Be warned: Backbone advises that there's no guarantees that you'll ride with the same group for the whole event, so that should give you an inkling of the kind of shenanigans that are in store.
After bringing Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban back to the big screen with a live orchestra soundtrack, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra is giving the fourth film in the franchise the same movie-and-music showcase. Across two sessions on Saturday, February 9, 2019, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre will come to life with the sights and sounds of the Yule Ball, the Triwizard Tournament and the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, because JK Rowling's boy-who-lived and his pals are never far away from a theatre — or a concert hall. And tickets for the 1.30pm and 7.30pm shows are now on sale. This time around, viewers can expect something a little different. While the event will run as usual, it's the score itself that'll stand out. After doing the honours on the first three HP flicks, veteran composer John Williams stood aside for the fourth film, with two-time Oscar nominee Patrick Doyle (Hamlet, Sense and Sensibility) in charge of whipping up a wondrous wizarding soundtrack.
You've heard their albums. You've heard them play live. You might've even heard their favourite songs. There's one thing we're guessing you haven't heard, however — the results when a heap of Brisbane bands step behind the decks and spin their weirdest favourite tunes. That's B-Sides in the Backyard. Whalehouse, The Gametes, Lil Pompom, Orlando Furious, Thigh Master, The Goon Sax and Violent Soho will all mosey on down to Ric's and spin tunes that you mightn't expect them to spin. Expect the kind of tracks that you wouldn't usually hear on the radio, too — except on 4ZZZ, who are behind this little shindig. Taking place from midday to 8pm on Saturday, August 25, the event helps kick off the station's annual subscriber drive. How better to show what local alternative radio is all about than by rounding up a heap of top talent and letting them give a few tracks a whirl? Entry is free, and there'll be 4ZZZ-themed cocktails as well.
For one week each September, Brisbane becomes Australia's live music capital — even if a Melbourne survey generally claims otherwise. When BIGSOUND hits the city, it seems like every venue in Fortitude Valley is packed to the rafters with bands, industry folks and music-loving punters, all enjoying the latest and greatest the country's music scene has to offer. And given this year's huge lineup, expect that to be the case once again. With more than 150 acts on the bill for 2018, BIGSOUND will play host to a stacked pack of musos, spanning everything from pop, electronic, rock and rap to metal, hip hop and folk. On the list are the likes of The Chats, Eliott, Cable Ties, Asha Jefferies and yú yī, plus the return of previous BIGSOUND favourites such as Blank Realm, Olympia, Gabriella Cohen and Oh Pep! Throw in Clypso, Mosquito Coast, Butterfingers, Didirri, Ella Hooper and Sahara Beck too, and you're in for a busy four days from September 4 to 7. You can also catch a heap of informative speakers — including Virginia Grohl, mother of Dave Grohl, and record label executive turned indie company CEO Mardi Caught. Previous BIGSOUNDs have showcased everyone from Gang of Youths, Flume, Tash Sultana and Courtney Barnett to San Cisco, Violent Soho, Methyl Ethel and The Jungle Giants, so their program is usually a very reliable bellwether of current and up-and-coming talent. Here, you won't just be hopping between gigs — you'll be catching your existing faves, plus adding more to your ranks. And, you'll be drinking the festival's exclusive, one-off beer.
Good news, word nerds, book buffs and literature lovers — Brisbane Writers Festival is back for 2018. And if you're a fan of high-profile authors, there's plenty to get excited about across September 6 and 9. Specifically, if bleak young adult novels were your thing circa 2011 to 2013, then you'll want to hear Divergent series author Veronica Roth discuss dystopian futures (what else?). Or, if you're keen on books and films about the fashion magazine industry, then pencil dinner with The Devil Wears Prada's Lauren Weisberger into your diary. Across a program that spans 155 events and features more than 200 writers, other highlights include human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson delving into his career and life story, South African writer Sisonke Msimang exploring tales of hope and home, English scribe Philip Hoare diving into his sea-themed works and The Woman in the Window's A.J. Finn chatting about his best-seller. On the local front, Tim Rogers will discuss his new memoir with fellow music great Robert Forster, and Dr Karl will be on hand to jump into all things science — of course — as well as give the closing address. Plus, everyone from Miles Franklin Award winner Sophie Laguna and prolific author Nikki Gemmell to childhood favourites Alison Lester and Morris Gleitzman are also on the bill. If you're the type of reader who grabs a book based on its subject rather than its scribe, then the four-day lineup has plenty of other topics to pique your interest — think sessions on matters as varied as Expo '88, getting ecological in your own backyard, the history of Fortitude Valley's McWhirters Building, and how the world talks about women in the public eye, to name a few. Events-wise, the program also boasts a live-action role-play session, should you need something to do when you're not reading, listening or generally nattering about books.
There's one particular kind of spirit on the menu at Welcome to Bowen Hills this weekend — and it's dark, distilled in a barrel and has a kick. There'll be multiple ways to drink it, whether you'd like to sip mint juleps or old fashioneds. And if you're keen on something different, the likes of saint sours, NOLA espressos, Creole bloody marys and Texan mules will also be on offer. That's the beverage lineup at the venue's two-day New Orleans Bourbon Festival. Everything from the food to the tipples to the entertainment will celebrate the first or second part of the event's name, or both. From open until close on Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29, that includes appropriate cuisine served up by the venue's resident food trucks, plus big band music — so prepare to eat, drink and dance. As always at the Bowen Hills site, you can also get your doggo in on the fun as well.
White rabbits, tea parties, royal megalomaniacs — outside Lewis Carroll's gloriously twisted imagination, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is meant for the stage. And next year, you'll be able to see this dark, surreal and twisted tale as a ballet. After sold out seasons in Melbourne and Sydney in 2017, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is heading to Brisbane in early 2019. Spearheaded by legendary choreographer Christoper Wheeldon and scored by Joby Talbot, Alice will be brought to life by the Australian Ballet in what they're calling "magnificent detail". Think Broadway-level. Designer Bob Crowley will throw as many immersive digital projections, wigs and masks, puppets and intricate costumes as he can at this one. Throughout the performance, you'll meet a tap-dancing Mad Hatter, a fiery Queen of Hearts and a nervous White Rabbit. In this month's Helpmann Awards, the production took home two gongs: Best Ballet and Best Female Dancer in a Ballet, Dance of Physical Theatre Production, which went to the show's principal artist Ako Kondo who plays Alice. Tickets go on sale at 11am Friday, July 20.
What a difference 130 years can make. Back in August of 1888, the final bricks were laid on The Prince Consort Hotel. Now, after weathering many a change over many a decade, the place now known as The Elephant is throwing a Valley Fiesta party to commemorate their huge longevity. Saying that it's going to be quite the gathering is probably one of the understatements of the venue's century-plus of operation, so prepare for a wild night whooping it up in heritage-listed confines from 8pm on Saturday, September 1. Alter Egos, Bris182, Mashmouth and more will take care of the live music, with DJs spinning tunes until the soiree stops at 3am. Plus, all The Elephant's usual drinks, meals and revelry will be on offer. Remember, you only celebrate an iconic pub's 130th birthday once.
Bust out your fedoras and flapper dresses, Brisbanites, and prepare to step back in time. For two nights only as part of this year's Wonderland Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse will become a 1920s-era speakeasy inspired by the F. Scott Fitzgerald book that epitomises the period, and its two film adaptations. If you wanted to be an extra on Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby but didn't get the chance, this is the next best thing. At The Gatsby Gamble, attendees will work their way through an evening of games and mysteries, all keeping with the Gatsby theme. It's a choose-your-own-adventure kind of night, with clues to collect, puzzles to be solved and surprises to be had. Pretending you're Leonardo DiCaprio or Carey Mulligan — or Robert Redford and Mia Farrow — is perfectly understandable.
What's the deal with trivia nights based on pop culture commodities? They're awesome, that's what — and they're here to stay. This week, it's Seinfeld's turn. The show about nothing has inspired an evening about everything that made its nine-season, 180-episode run so great. The fun unravels at the Electric Avenue from 7pm on November 20, with entry free (just as George Costanza would like it). And, given the timing, think of it as Festivus coming early for those who think they know every conceivable detail about the hit '90s sitcom — and about Jerry, George, Kramer and Elaine. The gang at Man vs Bear trivia will put your affection to the test, potentially covering everything from soup to sponges, puffy shirts to Pez dispensers, and even the parade of famous faces that played Jerry's girlfriends. Yada, yada, yada — you get the picture. Of course, the bar will also be serving their usual array of drinks, in case those pretzels make you thirsty.
If you're a film buff, then you're also a travel buff. Even if you don't venture further than your nearest cinema, you're often journeying to other countries when you sit down to watch a movie. Thanks to the Cine Latino Film Festival, the sights and sounds of Latin America await Australian filmgoers in November, taking them on a trip to Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, Cuba, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic. Australia's second Spanish-language film festival (after the Europe-centric Spanish Film Festival), the Cine Latino Film Festival will bring 26 titles from Central and South America to Brisbane's Palace Centro from November 16 to 29. The fun kicks off with You're Killing Me Susana, a marital comedy featuring Mexican star Gael García Bernal. Other highlights span a variety of genres and nations. Audiences can check out Inseparables, the Argentinian remake of French film The Intouchables, or get an authentic glimpse into prison romance in the Dominican Republic with Woodpeckers – about inmates from neighbouring jails communicating via their own form of sign language. Elsewhere, Cannes Critics' Week hit Gabriel and the Mountain combines documentary and drama to tell the true tale of a Brazilian traveller; Tales of Mexico asks eight filmmakers to spin stories about Mexican history; and Lost North tracks a man trying to find his girlfriend across the 900 miles between Santiago and the Bolivian border. Other notable titles include Peruvian musical-comedy Crazy in Love, Colombian paramilitary thriller Guilty Men, and Ecuador's submission to next year's foreign-language Oscar category Such is Life in the Tropics, about a battle between a land owner and squatters. The festival will also shine a particular spotlight on Argentinian and Mexican filmmaking in two specific program strands. The latter is a collaboration with the Hola Mexico Film Festival, while the former will thrill fans of familiar faces, with The Secret in Their Eyes star Ricardo Darín playing an Argentinian president in The Summit, and Gloria's Paulina García going soul searching in The Desert Bride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gALX8_SHP68
Some films are long, slow and serious. Others are brief, quick and fun. There's a place for the former, of course; however Radical Reels champions the latter category, combining the most action-packed mountain movies it can find into a compilation of high-octane shorts. Radical Reels is the adrenaline-loving little brother of the Banff Mountain Film Festival, the most prestigious international film competition and annual presentation of short films and documentaries about mountain culture, sports, and environment. From the most recent festival's 300-strong submissions, a subset of daring displays have been singled out for their own showcase. Over a three-hour session, nine shorts approach the very edge of action sports and natural highs: the wild rides, long lines, steep jumps, and skilled stunts, as well as the rugged playgrounds thrill-seekers explore on their mountain bikes, paddles, ropes, skis, snowboards and wingsuits. Expect the world's best extreme athletes getting fast and furious when the Radical Reels Tour 2017 stops in at the Brisbane Powerhouse.
Once you've brought mountain pose to Mt Coot-tha and bridge pose to Kurilpa Bridge, what comes next? Getting Brisbane's yoga lovers to unleash their flexibility in a former prison, obviously. An iconic Brisbane location, the calm and tranquility that can only come from bending and stretching, and taking part in the first-ever silent disco yoga class inside Boggo Road Gaol all combine at Sound Off in the Circle, Urban Bliss Yoga's latest adventurous exercise outing. If you thought rooftop yoga, mountaintop yoga and bridge yoga were all exciting, then this yoga session will once again take you to another level. Doing downward dog as you're in the middle of quite the historic spot is just the beginning Taking place on November 30, 200 yogis will step inside the jail for this unique Thursday evening session, with all of the fun kicking off at 6.45pm. Everyone from yoga first-timers to asana experts are welcome — as long as you BYO yoga mat — but tickets are expected to get snapped up quickly.
It's a scientific fact that you can't have too much laughter — or if it isn't, it really should be. Giggling is good for you. A hearty laugh is a heck of a good workout. And checking out the hilarious stylings of up-and-coming comedians doesn't just offer amusement for eager audiences, but supports aspiring talent. That's what's on offer at Brisbane newest funny festival, which is called Bris Funny Fest, funnily enough. Until August 28, the fresh addition to the city's cultural calendar will showcase the comic stylings of a whole host of locals that aren't quite household names yet — but one day, they just might be. Check out caveman gags over jugs of beer, let improv masters get you guffawing, catch Brissie's take on a Chicago and New York comedy favourite, laugh along with amusing ladies, and see more sketches than Saturday Night Live has ever aired. Okay, so the last one is a bit of an exaggeration, but hey, whatever kind of comedy you're looking for, you'll probably find it here.
If the end of times means endless kegs of beer, then count us in. We're certainly willing to pretend the former is the case if the latter is the reward — and so are the folks at Archive Beer Boutique. That's why they call their signature annual event Armakeggon after all, though you, the tasty brews and the bar will all be around long after the 2016 shindig is over. Well, that and it's a catchy name to describe a day that features 40 extra special, often one-off beverages poured through the West End establishment's taps until their beer-loving hearts are content. For those after more than an out-of-the-ordinary drop of the yeasty good stuff, the affordable price of admission — $10 before August 24, and $20 afterwards — includes brewery stalls, live music and maybe even some surprise guests. Oh, and there'll also be carnival games and beer workshops on site, too, because the only thing better than spending the day drinking is winning prizes and learning something new while you're doing it.
When it comes to food events, there's nothing quite like the Sunnybank $2 Food Trail. It's all there in the name, with the Brisbane suburb's shopping hub becoming a diner's delight in the most affordable fashion. Think of it as the ultimate self-guided foodie adventure, for nothing more than spare change. At your own pace, you'll walk between more than 50 participating local cafes and restaurants featuring a range of authentic Asian cuisines. You'll feast on Chinese, Japanese, Hong Kong-style, Vietnamese, Korean and Taiwanese dishes, and you'll only pay $2 per plate. With such an array of steaming soups and sizzling stir-fries on offer, we don't recommend eating lunch first; in fact, you'd best arrive feeling as hungry as possible. Snacking on signature dishes is the main course — or several; however, for the first time in the trail's history, you can also customise your trek courtesy of a range of sweet, vegetarian, cooling, yum cha and other mini-itineraries. There's also plenty of non-edible appetisers, too, thanks to live music, lion dancers and roaming entertainment that'll add the perfect garnish to every meal by setting the mood.
Keen to celebrate the sights, sounds and tastes of Thailand, but can't make the trip abroad at the moment? The annual Brisbane Thai Festival has you covered, whether you're lamenting your inability to head to southeast Asia, getting your fix in-between sight-seeing visits, or simply a fan of Thai culture, cuisine and traditions. The event is expected to attract more than 15,000 patrons, so you certainly won't be alone. Don't worry — with food, performances, Muay Thai demonstrations and a Singha beer garden on offer, there's plenty for everyone at Brisbane's largest Thai-focused event. Indulging in all the Massaman curries you can eat, iced teas you can drink and traditional dances you can watch is only part of the equation, of course. As run by the Thai-Australian Association of Queensland Inc, the festival aims to promote and strengthen ties and harmony between the Thai and Australian communities. By heading along, you'll not only get a feast of food and entertainment — you'll be doing your cross-cultural part.
It has happened: The Flying Cock has reached its terrible twos. Now that the venue is crawling into toddlerhood, it's celebrating as only it can. Hey, everyone deserves a cake with a pair of candles on it — and a weekend-long party to go with it. The Flying Cock 2nd B'Day Weekend Extravaganza starts on Friday night, with live music, mic man Mikey 21Hundred back in the house and Rapversations on DJ duty. Sounds like a big evening? Well, it's a case of one down, two more to go. Come Saturday, dance and drink until dawn thanks to Birdman Randy & The Ivory St Preachers and an extended liquor license — and yes, that's a command, not a suggestion. Don't go thinking that Sunday is all about a chilled-out recovery session, though. Nope, that's when the venue's next Spot On party takes over for their third event. Well, birthdays should be memorable.
By day, they climb cliffs and learn survival skills. By night, they sit around a campfire singing songs and discussing philosophy. They're the Cash clan — and if their everyday activities haven't convinced you that the six siblings aren't part of an ordinary family, the determination and dedication of their father, Ben (Viggo Mortensen), should do the job. There's a reason that the heartfelt film that tells his tale is called Captain Fantastic, after all. Whether he's running around the forest in America's Pacific Northwest, or making a scene by wearing a bright red suit to a funeral, the eccentric, affectionate Ben always seems larger than life, and much like a superhero to his kids. But, when tragedy strikes, he's forced to take them on the road out into the real world. With his oldest son Bo (George MacKay) also contemplating leaving his untraditional upbringing behind for a new college adventure, and his parents-in-law (Frank Langella and Ann Dowd) unhappy about his off-the-grid parenting methods, conflict soon begins to brew. As the offbeat brood treks across the country in a coming-of-age journey for both adolescent and adult characters, Captain Fantastic traverses territory that feels familiar and fresh all at once. Yes, the path it takes is sometimes a little predictable, but writer-director Matt Ross generates enough genuine emotion to ensure that it also feels authentic .This is a warm, rich and vibrant production, both visually and in tone. Continuing his spate of fantastic performances in under-seen fare like The Two Faces of January and Far From Men, Mortensen is more than partly responsible for the movie's charms. In fact, he's simply magnetic in a progressive, protective parent role that trades heavily on his gruff yet tender charisma. With much of Captain Fantastic dependent upon unpacking the many layers and contradictions of a man who gives his 6-year-old son a copy of The Joy of Sex but hasn't imparted his 16-year-old with enough practical wisdom to know how to talk to girls, the subtle complexity he brings to his protagonist couldn't be more pivotal. Around him, his young and experienced co-stars also shine, particularly MacKay and the veteran Langella. It helps that Ross knows a thing or two about unusual families, with the actor-turned-filmmaker having starred in the polygamous TV drama Big Love for five seasons. While Captain Fantastic directs most of its fondness towards its unlikely hero and his eclectic clan, it also explores the importance of not only difference but balance. That's not an easy feat given how endearing the main characters and their unorthodox lifestyle are, and proves a testament to how multifaceted this smart, sweet picture really is.
Sure, you could spend your weekend going to a massive comic book convention, complete with cosplaying, buying pop culture trinkets and lining up for celebrity autographs. Or, you could pop into a different kind of comic heaven — of the single page kind. Think of Dr. Röt Fifer's One Page Comic Challenge as The Scratch's addition to frenzy taking over Brisbane, and the perfect kind of event to head to after you're done with the main attraction. The Milton bar put a call out to ask for original one-page submissions, with the best earning a spot on their walls between September 14 to 20. While you're perusing the creative comic creations, you'll also want to be boozing, which is where Young Henrys' Dr. Röt Fifer comes in. The Sydney-based brewers have just invented the limited edition Vienna lager to celebrate Oz Comic-Con, actually. The least you could do is sink a few while looking at alternative indie art.
