Much about 2020 has felt dystopian, but that isn't stopping one West End spot from indulging in an annual tradition. That'd be Archive Beer Boutique's signature event, Armakeggon, which returns on Saturday, October 17. Obviously, the bar will still be around long after the shindig is over. It isn't the end times on Boundary Street. Head along, though, and you'll find 45 extra special beverages being poured through the establishment's taps until your beer-loving heart is content. Expect both new and rare brews, plus old favourites, too. For those after more than an out-of-the-ordinary drop of the yeasty good stuff, there'll also be games throughout the day, a DJ spinning tunes and an area dedicated to sour beers. Entry is free from 11.30am, or you can nab a $25 VIP ticket to head in early at 10am and get sipping before the event opens to the general public. The paid option also includes four beer tokens, plus a pretzel with beer fondue dipping sauce. Images: Archive Beer Boutique.
As dairy fiends already well and truly know, adding burrata to any meal automatically takes it up several notches. Add the delicious blend of mozzarella and cream to every dish as part of a five-course dinner and, well, you've got yourself quite the cheesy, indulgent and delicious feast going on. That's what's happening at Burrata Night. Nope, that name doesn't disappoint. Salt Meats Cheese's Gasworks store is whipping up a heap of burrata-topped options on Tuesday, September 29, then letting you eat your way through them. There'll actually be seven different dishes, including truffle and porcini gnocchetti with warm burrata; burrata that's crumbed with panko and herbs, then fried; and burrata that's been hand-stuffed with pesto, then placed on top of a margherita pizza. Or, you can try some arrabbiata spicy spaghetti topped with burrata, opt for cured bresaola and burrata with rocket, or go for the pumpkin sauce-filled burrata served on a blue cheese and mozzarella base pizza. Naked burrata with your choice of filling —truffle mushroom, pumpkin, basil pesto or chilli sauce — is also available. The five-dish dinner will set you back $79, and you can choose which five of the above choices you'd prefer. Or, you can take the plate-by-plate approach and order single serves for $19 a pop. It all kicks off at 5pm, and booking in advance for this one-night-only affair is essential. Burrata Night takes place at Salt Meats Cheese Gasworks in Newstead on Tuesday, September 29.
Brisbane is home to an annual film festival focused on LGBTQI+ flicks, but there's always room for another one. So, Dendy Coorparoo has put together Rainbow Retrospective, a program that showcases the great queer movies that have reached cinemas over the years. Whether you need another excuse to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show on a big screen, you fell head over heels for Carol when it first released or you're a fan of Australian drama Holding the Man, you'll find them on the bill. Screening on various dates for over a month — between Thursday, September 24–Wednesday, October 28 — the full lineup includes 28 titles. In other words, if you're eager to relive a heap of queer cinema highlights, you have plenty of films to choose from. On the retro front, you can check out Robin Williams in The Birdcage, or watch a blistering performance from Alex Dimitriades in Head On. And, from the more recent selection, everything from A Single Man, Stranger By the Lake and Tangerine to God's Own Country, The Miseducation of Cameron Post and Sequin in a Blue Room are also on offer. Obviously, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert nabs a few sessions as well — as do stone-cold masterpieces like Brokeback Mountain, Weekend, Moonlight, Call Me By Your Name and Portrait of a Lady on Fire. If you'd prefer a doco, Bill Cunningham: New York, McQueen and Studio 54: The Documentary are getting a spin, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn_-YoG69Sw Dendy Coorparoo's Rainbow Retrospective screens on select dates between Thursday, September 24–Wednesday, October 28.
No doubt you have a couple of Donna Hay cookbooks in your cupboard. After all, she is an Aussie food icon. From baked treats and cakes to salads, soups and home-style feasts, she's known not only for her recipes but also her impeccable plating. Now, the much-loved cook is hosting a series of virtual cooking classes, so you can become a culinary whiz in your own kitchen. Yep, it's not often you get to cook with Donna Hay and, soon enough, you'll be plating up like a Masterchef contestant. Best of all, it's free. To make it happen, Hay has partnered up with renowned New Zealand winemakers Cloudy Bay, because it wouldn't be a dinner party without vino. Known for its well-crafted wine, particularly its sauvignon blanc, Cloudy Bay is synonymous with the Marlborough wine region. Happening on Thursday, August 20 and Thursday, August 27, the two 1.5-hour cook-along sessions will see you whipping up two courses — a grazing platter and a main — and pairing both with a Cloudy Bay vino. In the first masterclass, the focus will be on pairing a fresh, vibrant sauvignon blanc with each dish. In the second, it'll be all about cool-climate pinot noir. Overall, with the help of Donna Hay and Cloudy Bay, you'll pick up some serious shortcuts to at-home entertaining. You can register for free here. Once you've signed up, you'll get an email with a link to join via Zoom, plus access to online recipe cards access and where to purchase the two Cloudy Bay wines — and have them delivered to your door. The Shortcuts to Entertaining with Donna Hay sessions kick off at 6.30pm on Thursday, August 20 and Thursday, August 27. To sign up, head here, then order yourself bottles of Cloudy Bay from this website.
When Ivory Tusk decided to mark International Tequila Day with a very appropriate festival — and celebrate its reopening after Brisbane's lockdowns — the event proved a huge hit. So, it's doing it all over again with Margarita Fest: Take Two. Yes, you know what you'll be drinking here. Taking place from 8pm on Thursday, August 13 — the night before this year's moved Ekka public holiday — it'll feature plenty of tequila, lime and salt. Indeed, five different varieties of margs will be on offer. There'll also be canapes to help line your stomach, plus DJs and live entertainment. Two types of tickets are available, to suit both your budget and your thirst. Nab a 'lime and salt' ticket for $19, and you'll get a margarita on arrival and access to the food. Level up to the 'tuskarita' package for $85, and you'll sip your way through three hours of bottomless margs, plus tuck into more than a few bites to eat. Tickets are on sale now, but it's worth noting that capacity is limited — life isn't quite back to normal just yet. Also, the first event sold out swiftly. So, if you're keep to spend a night downing margaritas, you'll want to get in quick smart. Margarita Fest: Take Two takes place from 8pm on Thursday, August 13 at Ivory Tusk.
If we can celebrate Christmas in July, then we can also do the same for Easter. That's what's on the agenda at Portside Wharf between Monday, July 6–Sunday, July 12, with the inner-north spot breaking out the sweet treats during a week it's dubbing ChocWeek. Chocolate is a year-round treat, after all — and this particular event falls around World Chocolate Day, which takes place on Tuesday, July 7. The choc-filled lineup is hefty, and includes favourite desserts, inventive dishes and everything in-between, with the precinct's cafes and retailers thoroughly getting into the swing of things. Fancy some chocolate nachos and choc churro tacos? A white chocolate and chilli margarita to wash them down with? They're all on the menu. Keen on some chocolate cookies, cream liqueur and sambousek? Dark chocolate cheesecake, Nutella pizza and coconut rough slices? More decadent chocolate cocktails? Thanks to everywhere from the Burrito Bar, Byblos Bar and Mr & Mrs Jones to Cruisers, Gusto da Gianna and Sense of Taste, they're all on offer as well. ChocWeek runs from Monday, July 6–Sunday, July 12 at Portside Wharf. Images: Claudia Baxter.
Every year, The Wickham hosts Little Gay Day. Despite the name, it's a sizeable party — and it doubles as a fundraising event for charities that serve the LGBTQIA+ community. In 2020, however, one day just isn't enough for this sister event to the venue's Big Gay Day . Accordingly, get ready for the Little Gay Long Weekend. From Friday, October 2–Sunday, October 4, the Fortitude Valley spot will throw a huge, socially distanced three-day celebration, which includes live tunes, performances, games, raffles and lucky door prizes. And beverages, obviously, given the location. In total, more than 35 musicians and performers will strut their stuff, including local drag queen legends Vollie La Vont, Tina Bikki and Jana Michelle. Entry is via gold coin donation, with funds going to six charities: Australian Transgender Support Association Qld, Brisbane Pride Festival, Diverse Voices, LGBTI Legal Service, Queensland Aids Council and Open Doors Youth Service Inc. The Wickham's Little Gay Long Weekend runs from Friday, October 2–Sunday, October 4, with entry via gold coin donation.
Usually, a trip to Riverbar and Kitchen involves soaking in quite the watery view. The venue's ace location is referenced right there in its name, after all. But from Wednesday, October 14–Sunday, November 29, that's not the only thing to look at when you're at the Eagle Street Pier spot. That river vista isn't going anywhere, but you'll also be able to enjoy floral installations aplenty. All those flowers are part of the bar's Bramble in Bloom season, which combines fruity cocktails and blossoming great sights. You'll sip, you'll snap photos and you'll see all that spring has to offer, all in the CBD beer garden. Drinks-wise, everything will hero the new blackberry and raspberry-flavoured Bombay Bramble gin, with six different types of cocktails available for between $15–38. Opt for A British Fizz, and you'll also be drinking St Germain elderflower, lime juice, soda and blueberries, while a Wham, Bam, Bram includes strawberry jam, rose syrup, lime juice and a shiraz float. A small food menu is also available, spanning marinated beef skewers; beetroot-cured salmon with cream cheese; and buffalo curd with crispy chickpeas, dukkha and flatbread.
You can never have too much greenery in your life, both inside and outside your house. And, whether you're decking out your interiors or setting up a luxe outdoor hangout zone, you can never have too many homewares either. At least that's what you'll keep telling yourself while you're browsing around The Home Collective, which has made its post-COVID-19 lockdowns return. At its next event, the northside market will be offering up an array of plants, pots, furniture, cushions, art, ceramics, candles and other items that belong in your house or garden. If you're keen for a sneak peek, or some design inspiration, check out the event's Instagram page. That'll motivate you to head along, we're certain. Taking place at the Wavell Heights Community Hall from 8am–12pm on Sunday, October 18, the market will kit out your abode with plenty of choices, with more than 50 stalls ready for you to peruse. Sure, there's an excuse to boost your garden and homewares cred every weekend in Brissie, or so it seems, but you just can't have to much of a good thing. Entry is via gold coin donation, which'll go to the folks at Animal Welfare Queensland. And there'll also be caffeinated beverages from Mana Coffee to help perk up your Sunday morning — plus bites to eat from a range of food trucks.
Already home to an unlimited, highly affordable Saturday afternoon spritz session, The Defiant Duck has just begun slinging another weekend deal that your wallet will love. Saturdays at the Newstead hangout are also now all about $1 tacos — available all day from 11am. Need a cheap lunch? Sorted. Feel your stomach grumbling, but saving your cash for a big night out? Yep, you're sorted too. In money-saving mode while you're working towards that big trip or purchase? You know the answer. And if you're just famously frugal, well, you'll be in heaven. A deal this thrifty always comes with a few caveats, so you'll need to buy at least three tacos, as well as a drink. Of course, we can't see that being a problem for anyone. Who can stop at just one taco? Or even at two? No one, obviously.
Move over, craft beer — it's craft spirits' time to shine. Everyone's been to a day dedicated to the former, but from 1–4pm on Sunday, May 26 you can spend an afternoon with all the whisky, gin and vodka you could ever want with more than 30 exhibitors and master distillers showcasing over 100 craft spirits at 2019's Indie Spirits Tasting. For the fourth time, the Indie Tasting folks are bringing their spirit celebration to Brisbane's Lefty's Old Time Music Hall for 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 (hello Leftie's burgers and fries) plus access to seminars across the afternoon too. And for those particularly eager, early bird tickets are available until May 1 for the discounted price of $35.
Variety might be the spice of life, but it seems that alcohol helps spark creativity — at least where Brisbane's art classes are involved. There's no shortage of options; however if you're keen on sketching live models with a beer in your hand, there's one place to head. Milton dive bar The Scratch regularly puts on brew-fuelled sessions, with the next taking place from 10am–12pm on Sunday, November 10 — and 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. Unsurprisingly, spaces are limited. There'll be a number of art boards supplied, but it's best to bring your own supplies. The Scratch will supply the beer, obviously. Updated October 28.
UPDATE: June 11, 2020: The Hate U Give is available to stream via Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. It doesn't take long for The Hate U Give to serve up an unflinching slice of reality. "I was nine years old when I first got the talk," Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) notes, and she's not referring to the birds and the bees. In a flashback, her family sits at their dining table. The topic of conversation: how to behave if they're stopped by the police. Starr's father Maverick (Russell Hornsby) is firm with his instructions, telling his three kids to do exactly what they're asked and to always keep their hands in plain sight. With his wife (Regina Hall) by his side, he specifically stresses the importance of remaining calm and polite, even if they're being harassed for no apparent cause. The reason for his stern warning is obvious — by virtue of their skin colour and nothing more, they could find themselves looking down the barrel of a weapon, praying that a cop doesn't pull the trigger. You've heard of Chekhov's gun, which explains that every element in a story must be strictly necessary. If a writer introduces a loaded firearm, for example, then bullets need to fly before the tale is over. The Hate U Give follows this principle, not only starting with a conversation about police shooting unarmed African-Americans, but using that exact turn of events to kick its narrative into gear. In this case, perhaps the concept should be called Tupac's tattoo, with the rapper's words giving the movie its title, philosophy and dramatic arc. The slain star's 'THUG LIFE' chest ink is almost as famous as his music, and its full meaning dictates and shapes this riveting picture: "the hate u give little infants fucks everybody". Hailing from a poor black neighbourhood but attending a well-off private school, 16-year-old Starr knows how difficult American life can be. She can't act like herself around her white classmates, who all sling ghetto slang to appear cool. And she can't bring her school persona home, or tell her ex-con dad about her white boyfriend (KJ Apa). Already caught in a constant juggling act, she's forced into a trickier predicament while driving back from a local party with her childhood crush Khalil (Algee Smith). A cop pulls them over, a single gunshot is fired, and Starr is suddenly the lone witness to her friend's tragic death. Adapted from Angie Thomas' best-selling 2017 novel and inspired by the real-life killings of several black men by US police, The Hate U Give could've approached its story from several positions. It could've kept things personal, following Starr's attempt to balance her conflicting worlds. It could've remained grim, emotional and focused solely on the central fatal shooting. Or, it could've teemed with fury by jumping headfirst into the legal aftermath. Combining all three and more, director George Tillman Jr (The Longest Ride) and screenwriter Audrey Wells (A Dog's Purpose) craft a textured and intelligent movie, which might seem surprising given their last filmmaking credits. Cutting both deeply and sharply, The Hate U Give fleshes out its thorny narrative by embracing the complications of its subject matter. It's never constrained by its YA origins and, if anything, feels more honest, earnest and overt with its statement precisely because it's aimed at teenagers. Succeeding where other message movies have struggled, the end product offers an engaging, impassioned and detailed insight into America today. Here, nothing is simple. In fact, there's nothing straightforward about any aspect of Starr's existence. How could there be when a victim's criminal past attracts more scrutiny than a murderer's actions, when the #BlackLivesMatter movement sparks violent protests among some and becomes a trendy cause for others, and when gang activity fools the desperate into believing they've scored a better life? Examining a society happy to oppress part of the population, and dissecting the punishing cycle that springs when hostility thrives, The Hate U Give's shades of grey extend to the people in Starr's orbit, too. Her best friend (Sabrina Carpenter) can't see her white privilege, but her black cop uncle (Common) knows how the job can go awry. An activist lawyer (Issa Rae) urges Starr to speak up regardless of the cost, while a local drug dealer (Anthony Mackie) violently tries to reinforce the status quo. In a perceptive and powerful film comprised of layered components — difficult topics, diverging viewpoints, different angles and diverse tones — the most multifaceted element of all comes courtesy of its star. She might have just seven movies on her resume to date, including The Hunger Games and The Darkest Minds, however Stenberg shines as brightly and fiercely as her character's moniker. Demanding the camera's gaze and rightly adored by the movie's clear-eyed frames, her performance couldn't better capture the everyday toll of these racially divided times. When generation after generation only knows distrust, anger and prejudice, the world proves devastatingly vulnerable, overwhelmingly fractured and unwaveringly determined all at once. Stenberg makes this plain as much as any twist in The Hate U Give, and does so with both heartbreak and hope. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTKo2SVDwxw
Everyone has fond memories of playing Uno. If you didn't start a fight by whipping out a draw four just as someone was down to their last card, then you didn't really have a childhood. And we all remember the joy of catching someone out when they didn't exclaim "Uno!" while they held one lonely card in their hand. In short: it really is the game of champions. It's also a game that Barbara is rather fond of, so it's dedicating an evening each month to Uno at its most competitive. A word of warning: this isn't for the faint of heart. Some folks take their Uno rather seriously, as you'll see from 7pm on Wednesday, February 27 — and on the last Thursday of each month afterwards. So flex those fingers, prepare to show off your number- and colour-matching skills, and get geared up to sledge, taunt and distract your opponents. All's fair in love and Uno, after all. Bar prizes are on offer for player that emerges victorious. If someone brings a themed deck (and everything from N*Sync cards to a special Sydney 2000 Olympics version really do exist), then we think everyone will be a winner.
At Boho Luxe Market (their words, not ours), Byron Bay comes to Brisbane. Well, the beachy New South Wales spot's general vibe does at least. Forgoing the trappings of the city for bohemian fashion, jewellery, homewares and the like is on the market's agenda, and has been in Melbourne for the past few years. In 2019, however, it's bringing a three-day version up north to see if Brisbanites respond well to dreamcatchers and flower crowns. If that sounds like your kind of thing, then block out Friday, June 28 to Sunday, June 30 in your diary. The Boho Luxe Market will head to The Old Museum for a weekend of browsing and buying, food trucks, live music and more. There'll also be a dedicated vegan section, plus a kombi display and glamping providers tempting you into booking your next holiday. Entry costs $2, with kids under 12 allowed in for free. Drop by and pretend you're somewhere quiet and coastal on Friday from 6pm to 10pm, Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
Everybody loves a countdown. Watching rage, voting in Triple J's Hottest 100: they're all Australian traditions. In Brisbane, we love all of the above — and we're also very fond of 4ZZZ's Hot 100. It's the poll voted by locals, celebrating locals and brimming with the best of everything that's hit local airwaves throughout the past year, and it's coming to The Triffid once more. See in the new year with a song (or 100) as the Newstead venue throws its first hangout of 2019. From midday, the entire 100 tracks will be blasted through the Triff with a live broadcast, as you sit, drink, recover or do whatever it is you need to on January 1. There'll be beer, ace tunes and hair-of-the-dog hangover cures aplenty — plus a dunk tank, a 4ZZZ merch stall, and activities for kids until 5pm. Doggos are also welcome until 7pm. Happy 2019 indeed.
On January 13, your Sunday session doesn't just involve sinking a few drinks with your mates while DJs spin tunes. It also involves getting competitive at table tennis at the OS Open. With tennis season in full swing, The Osbourne Hotel is getting into the sporting spirit with a day-long ping pong tournament. Running from 10am–7pm, you'll try to emerge victorious between beverages — and you'll need a few pals. Registrations are now open for teams of four, with matches decided by the best three of five games. If you're eager for a few more rules, you'll need to reach 11 points per game to win; however you'll also need to emerge victorious by at least two points. And, there'll also be prizes for best team uniform. Now, for the other fun stuff — aka $10 pizzas, plus a booze lineup that includes Aperol spritzes and Stone & Wood jugs. All that's left is for you to secure your spot in advance, show up and bust out your best ping pong moves. Image: Dustin Gaffke.
The 90s were great. That shouldn't be a controversial opinion. Whether you lived through them or have spent the last couple of decades wishing you did — aka binging on 90s pop culture — this late-night shindig at The Foundry will indulge your retro urges. Drinks, tunes, fashion: expect all of the above at the No Scrubs: 90s and Early 00s party from midnight as Saturday, January 19 becomes Sunday, January 20. Of course, it's up to you to make sure the clothing side of thing is covered, and to get into the spirit of the party. If you want to use Mariah Carey as a style icon, it'd be fitting. Expect to unleash your inner Spice Girl and Backstreet Boy too. TLC, Destiny's Child, Savage Garden, Usher, Blink-182, No Doubt — we'd keep listing artists, but you all know what you're getting yourselves into. Entry costs $10 on the door.
If jungle vibes inside a Coorparoo warehouse sounds like your perfect outing, head along to the Jungle Collective's indoor plant sale on Saturday, February 6 and Sunday, February 7. It's the latest greenery-filled Brissie market from The Jungle Collective, a Melbourne nursery that stocks all kinds of weird and wonderful species. Yes, it is trucking its way up north again for another Queensland venture — and, after hosting plenty of online-only events over the past year, this sale is a 100-percent in-person affair. Whether you're after a hanging pot plant, some palms for the garden or a giant Bird of Paradise, chances are you'll find it here. Have a reputation for killing your cacti? Overwatering your ferns? Don't worry — there'll be horticulturalists on site on the night to give you advice and chat through any questions you might have. Get inspired by greenery aplenty and learn to incorporate plants into your home and living spaces, all while browsing and soaking up some tunes. Jungle Collective is turning this event into a bit of a maze, too, so you'll enter in one spot, wander along a designated path and leave in a completely different area. Best get in quick though — these markets are always popular, with more than 170 different species usually on offer. Due to expected demand, the sale will be held in 30-minute sessions across both days, and attendees will need to register for free tickets in advance. Plus, if you come decked out in at least two items of beach attire (think: inflatables, togs, towels, sunglasses and hats) — and spend at least $10 — you'll also get $5 off your purchase.
While you may have been spoilt these holidays, with a scented candle or an adult colouring book, you may not have gotten what you really wanted for Christmas. As the festive season comes to a close and we head into the new year, you can treat yourself to some new makeup that's cruelty-free and affordable. After being crowded Best International Makeup Brand of 2020 by the Beauty Shortlist Awards, Byron Bay's Eye of Horus is offering its vegan-friendly makeup range for up to 50 percent off. The beauty brand offers everything you need for your brows, cheeks, eyes and lips and has been worn by the likes of Isabel Lucas and Dannii Minogue. You'll find a warm summer solstice eyeshadow, metallic bronze eyeliner or aurora peach lipstick. The promotion is running from Boxing Day until Wednesday, December 30, so you have just five days to look through the the website and decide what colour palette you'll be taking into 2021. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
International travel may be off the agenda for the time being, but Brisbane's bars have been doing their part to get you in the holiday mood. The latest: Riverbar and Kitchen, which is hosting an Italian-themed pop-up until the end of February. It has also set up a big screen that's showing the Australian Open, so you can combine your cocktails and bites to eat with the latest tennis action. You'll sit beneath umbrellas, grab Peronis from the beer cart, kick back amongst the Amalfi-inspired decor and soak in the river view. And, if you're gathering the gang and pretending you're on vacation, you can sip your way through a shared punch made with beer, Aperol, orange and lemonade. The cocktail range also includes multiple types of spritzes, a new take on the negroni, and a 'Venetian Twist' featuring vodka, Aperol, grapefruit, yuzu and passionfruit. And, you can take your tastebuds to Italy with plates of mushroom arancini with tomato relish, kingfish ceviche with citrus and pink peppercorn, and skewers of prosciutto, melon, tomato and bocconcini. Entry is free, but booking a table in advance is recommended.
Pull out your loose change stash and check under the couch, because one of Paddington's favourite haunts is serving up an impressive weekend deal. Every Saturday, Kettle and Tin is slinging dumplings for $1 a piece. Head on in from 5pm and bring your appetite — and all the gold coins you can find. Choose between pork and chive or vegetable, which both come pan-fried. There is one catch — punters must purchase a full-priced drink to access the $1 dumpling extravaganza. But, given that you'll want something to wash your meal down with, that's hardly a tough or tricky caveat. No bookings are required, so just mosey on in. That said, you might want to reserve a table online anyway in case they're all snatched up when your dumpling craving hits — and because you're also very unlikely to be alone in wanting to take advantage of the $1 deal. Top image: Kettle and Tin.
There's something about exercising with a view that gives even the most avid fitness devotee an extra boost. (No, bending and stretching in your living room while watching TV doesn't count.) At Brisbane's latest regular exercise sessions, you'll be in prime surroundings and score a mighty fine vantage — because attending a yoga class on a rooftop will do that. These sessions take place at Cielo Rooftop in Fortitude Valley, so you have a reason to stop by other than cocktails and a bite to eat. And, you have multiple options to get in a workout, too. Start your day with an early-morning stint, or head by after work to de-stress. For sunrise yoga, you'll need to block out Wednesday and Sunday mornings from 6–7am. Sunset classes take place on Monday and Wednesday 5.45pm–6.45pm. Whichever you opt for, it'll cost you $20 a session, and you'll need to bring your own yoga mat. Updated October 11.
Australia's annual Alliance Francaise French Film Festival marked its 30th year back in 2019, and celebrated the big occasion with no troubles at all. Proving that no one loves entering their 30s, however, the event hit a few struggles when it turned 31. That happened in March 2020, when Australia started to go into lockdown. The fest was already underway, so AFFFF had to stop screening, postpone its plans, then pick things up again in July and August after cinemas started reopening. Here's hoping that 2021, the fest's 32nd year, all runs smoothly. AFFFF has 37 films on its hefty lineup this time around, and it's touring them around the country. The event will be making its usual capital city stops, so French movie fans in Brisbane can expect to spend plenty of time at Palace Barracks and Palace James Street between March 17–April 13 — and there'll also be a season playing in Byron Bay as well. As for what you'll be seeing, AFFFF will open its 2021 lineup with Eiffel, a new biopic starring Romain Duris (All the Money in the World) as the civil engineer who gave Paris' most famous attraction its name. At the other end of its program, the fest will close out with rom-com #Iamhere, which follows a French chef who falls in love via Instagram. And, in-between its two big bookending events, viewers can look forward to a heap of movies starring recognisable faces — including Monica Bellucci, Lupin's charming Omar Sy, the incomparable Isabelle Huppert and Kristin Scott Thomas. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXVezkYnDL0 Highlights include The Man Who Sold His Skin, a twisty tale about a Syrian refugee, a tattoo artist and an unusual bargain; Summer of 85, the latest film from acclaimed director François Ozon; and police drama Night Shift, which dives deep into not only law enforcement, but also its handling of immigration matters. Or, there's Fahim, the Little Chess Prince, about the Bangladeshi refugee who became a national French chess champion; The Godmother, which sees Huppert tussle with the drug game; and Aline, which is inspired by the life of Céline Dion. Elsewhere, the story of France's first restaurant hits the screen via 18th-century-set period drama, Delicious; Final Set sees an ageing tennis player try to win the French Open; Miss follows a boy who'd like to enter the Miss France beauty pageant; and delightful animated feature Calamity, a Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary imagines Calamity Jane's early years. Fans of Deerskin filmmaker Quentin Dupieux can also check out his latest, Mandibles — and, because AFFF always shows at least one absolute classic French flick, this year it's screening Jean-Luc Godard's 1959 masterpiece Breathless.
There's something oh-so-relaxing about staring at the sea, even if you're feasting your eyes on the water via the big screen. That's the concept behind the Ocean Film Festival Australia. You can't always spend all your time at the beach, by the river or in a pool — but you can spend an evening peering at the next best thing in a cinema. From Wednesday, March 24–Sunday, March 27, the festival will unleash a cinematic feast of water-focused wonders onto the silver screen at Brisbane Powerhouse. Sessions screen at 7pm each night, and there's a 2pm matinee on the Saturday as well. Film-wise, viewers will spend time both above and below the ocean's surface thanks to a compilation of shorts from around the world. Expect to chase big waves, explore a range of sea life and get a hefty ocean rush, plus a heap of other sea adventures. The program is united by a love of the ocean, an appreciation of the creatures who dwell in its waters and a curiosity to explore the substance that comprises more than two-thirds of the earth. It's the next best thing to diving in, all without getting wet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo-qXf5sXAw&feature=emb_logo Image: Travis Burke.
No one should spend their lunch break eating at their desk, but breaking that habit isn't always easy. Throughout February, the Howard Smith Wharves precinct is giving you plenty of motivation to step away from the computer. Head to the riverside precinct from Monday–Friday for a middle-of-the-day meal, and you'll only pay $25 — and that includes a drink as well. Seven HSW venues are getting in on the deal, so you can pick between Stanley, Yoko, Greca, Mr Percival's, Felons Brewing Co, Felons Barrel Hall and Ciao Papi. Or, you can work your way through them all (and stare at their slightly different views of the water) across the month. You'll just need to keep an eye on each eatery's opening hours — and, while you can just rock up, bookings are recommended. As for what you'll be eating during the month-long Let's Lunch festivities, each place has its own special. Stir-fried Shanghai duck noodles and a glass of pinot noir are on the menu at Stanley, Mr Percival's is doing grilled whiting, Yoko is serving up tonkotsu ramen with yuzu highballs, and Ciao Papi will let you pair any pasta on the menu with a range of drinks. You can also opt for either whiting or steak — both with wine — at Mr Percival's, saganaki and a spritz at Greca, a schooner and either a rice or vermicelli bowl at Felons Barrel Hall, and whichever pizza and brew you'd like at Felons Brewing Co.
If you love a certain food, you don't need a specific day to celebrate it. But, when each and every cuisine- and dish-focused occasion rolls around, it's a good excuse to tuck into the item in the spotlight. So, although no one needs any encouraging to feast on pizza, consider the period around February 9 a prime time for slices. Because that date falls on a Tuesday in 2021, the Regatta is celebrating early. And, it's turning its courtyard into a pop-up pizzeria to do so. Head by on Saturday, February 6 and Sunday, February 7 from midday, and you'll be able to pick between three varieties — all from the woodfired oven. A mozzarella pizza with a tomato base, cheese, basil and flaked salt will cost you $17, or you can go for either salami or potato, pancetta, pecorino and truffled ricotta for $19 each. The bar will be open, of course, should you need something to wash down your pizza lunch, dinner or snack. [caption id="attachment_794007" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Creative Commons[/caption]
Forget decking the halls with boughs of holly — from 3–8pm on Thursday, December 10, Bakery, Winn and California lanes are decking out three stretches of Fortitude Valley pavement with other kinds of festive cheer. At the fourth annual A Very Laneway Christmas, a whole heap of markets — plus plenty of permanent shops to browse through — are on the bill. Located around the stretch of Ann Street near the Brunswick Street Mall, there are no shortage of spots luring people into all three locales, whether you're keen for a bite, or to rifle through racks and shelves. 'Tis the season to amp things up, however. And that's just what'll be happening at this market day. Each lane will play host to festive tunes, too — because every Christmas shopping trip needs the requisite soundtrack. So you can browse, buy, pick up some specials, eat, sip and listen, and have a very merry Thursday evening just two short weeks before the big day hits. Top image: Bakery Lane.
Feel like scoring a dose of da funk on a Sunday afternoon and evening, losing yourself to dance and getting lucky? Of course you do. You'll be burnin' up the floor, getting derezzed and giving life back to music in no time at Factory Summer Festival at Brisbane Showgrounds from 3pm on Sunday, December 27 — and if you do so harder, better, faster and stronger, you'll be doin' it right indeed. If you haven't guessed just who is in the spotlight at Discovery: Daft Punk Tribute, then you probably need to take your helmet off and prepare to give some of the best albums of the past two decades a spin one more time. There'll be robot rock, plenty of digital love and you might even think you've been around the world while you're throwing shapes. Yep, indulging your instant crush on the electronic duo best known as Daft Punk is easy as the fest works its way through the French headpiece fans' discography. The fest also includes four stages, nine themed bars, a silent disco, carnival rides and a games arcade — all with a killer soundtrack, obviously. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmi60Bd4jSs
In all the regular ways, this hasn't felt like a big year. It has been chaotic, of course, although that's completely different. Across the final three weeks of 2020, however, Brisbane Showgrounds' latest event is going to feel huge — because the inner-city site is welcoming the Factory Summer Festival to town, marking the event's first Brissie iteration after three years doing its thing on the west coast. Across select nights between Friday, December 11–Thursday, December 31, Bowen Hills is hosting everyone from The Presets, Hermitude and Peking Duck to Vera Blue, Hayden James and Illy — and a tribute evening dedicated to Daft Punk and a big New Year's Eve shindig, too. Also on offer at the huge outdoor fest: four stages, nine themed bars, a silent disco, carnival rides and a games arcade. No, you won't be bored here. Eager to celebrate Christmas Eve by dancing? Keen to do something other than hit the shops on Boxing Day? They're all on Factory Summer Festival's agenda as well. You'll need to buy your tickets to each separate date, though — so it's a case of picking when you want to party, then hopping to it.
Make your next boozy brunch a lamb cutlet, wagyu skewer, chilli tofu and miso cauliflower-filled brunch. There's never a bad time for those dishes, now is there? They'll soak up yesterday's ills and line your stomach for a few morning tipples, all as part of 24-hour bar Beirne Lane's Saturday offering. Happening from 11.45am–3pm each week, Beirne Brunch Club has other things on the menu too, so you can tuck into fruit, pastries, croissants, cheese and antipasto and dips as well. Need more? Try salads, arancini and croquettes, plus brownies, pavlova and pistachio cake for dessert. It's an all-you-can-eat affair and, drinks-wise, there's three choices available. The standard $49 package gets you oh-so-much food plus a glass of bubbly on arrival, while $79 will set you up with three hours of bottomless prosecco, wine, tap beer, spritzes and Pimms cups. And the ultra-decadent $109 option includes unlimited champers, beer and spirits as well.
Christmas means many things: chaos in the shops, carols invading your brain, and a focus on all things red and green. In Brisbane, it also usually means Queensland Ballet's final production for the season, with The Nutcracker brightening up the QPAC stage every year. As we all know, 2020 is a more than a bit different to a normal year. So, after initially cancelling its performance of The Nutcracker for the year, Queensland Ballet's is presenting a new spin on the beloved favourite now that life is starting to return to normal. Called Best of The Nutcracker, it's a one-hour highlights-driven performance, rather than the full show. Whether you've experienced the Tchaikovsky-scored show about sentient toys, dancing snowflakes and the Sugar Plum Fairy before, or you're checking it out for the first time, you're certain to get swept up in the production's magic — even in its abridged format. Queensland Ballet's Best of The Nutcracker dances across the Concert Hall stage at 7.30pm on Friday, December 4, and again 1t 1pm, 4pm and 7.30pm on Saturday, December 5. David KellyTop image: Queensland Ballet.
For much of the past ten months, 2020 hasn't been a year for block parties. It hasn't been one for watching DJs on the beach over drinks, wandering through arts experiences on an island or listen to music in a sprawling garden, either. But all of the above is on the agenda at the Gold Coast's returning Bleach* Festival, which'll be taking over the Glitter Strip from Thursday, November 12–Sunday, November 22. Across 11 days, the fest's program features work by 204 artists across more than 214 unique arts experiences — so, in other words, you won't be bored. When you're not checking out an installation that's inspired by the sky and showcases the efforts of female Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from the area, you'll be stepping inside a life-sized lava lamp, watching performer J'aiMime twist herself in and out of a giant six-foot balloon, and listening to tunes by the shore as the sun goes down. If you're particularly keen to make the most of Bleach*, and of the first festival under new CEO and artistic director Rosie Dennis, you can pick up a single ticket that'll get you into nine different parts of the program on Chevron Island. That's one of the fest's hubs, with others on the Burleigh Heads beachfront and at the Botanic Gardens — with the event taking attendees into the Goldie's beaches, green spaces and abandoned buildings. Top image: Art Work Agency
Did your New Year's resolution involve eating more of the things you love? Do cheese, charcuterie and pretzels fall into that category? If so, The Bavarian has an all-you-can-eat special that'll tempt your tastebuds — because a bottomless feast is on the menu. Throughout January and February, the German-themed chain is serving up all-you-can-eat meat and cheese boards. They come stacked with German cheeses, Prager ham, schinkenspeck, lyoner, berliner, liverwurst, pretzels, gherkins, Kühne mustard and remoulade — and once you've finished your board, you'll get a new serving. You have 90 minutes to eat as much as you'd like, and it'll cost you $25 per person. There is a two-person minimum, so you'll need to take your fellow meat- and cheese-loving partner or pal along with you. You'll find The Bavarian at Eagle Street Pier, Chermside, Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast, Robina, Broadbeach, Coomera, Mackay and Rockhampton in Queensland. And if you want to pair your boards with German brews — which is understandable — you'll pay extra for the drinks.
Most musicians avoid day jobs like the plague. But not singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov. Back home in Colorado, he's a full-time farmer, who hits the touring circuit in between sowing seeds, harvesting crops and wandering around the land he loves. But he's carved out some time to come our way this autumn, armed with his fifth studio album (seventh in total), Evening Machines. Up until this release, Isakov was an indie musician with his own label, Suitcase Town Music, and a recording studio on his farm — and he managed to sell 370,000 records all on his lonesome and share stages with the likes of Iron & Wine, Ani DiFranco and Passenger. This time, though, he's teamed up with Dualtone, simply because he was curious to see how working with a bigger label would unfold. Hitting The Triffid on Wednesday, March 6, Isakov will play a bunch of new tunes, plus a selection of the tracks that have won him his loyal following, like 'The Stable Song', 'Big Black Car' and 'If I Go, I'm Goin''. To purchase tickets to Gregory Alan Isakov's only Brisbane performance, head here. Plus, you can go in the running to win a trip to Denver, Colorado to see Isakov perform at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. To enter, head this way. Images: Israel Nebeker/Rebecca Caridad.
Anything that 80s music can do, 90s music can as well. That mightn't technically be true — the latter period didn't serve up shoulder pads or hair quite as big as its earlier counterpart, for example. But when it comes to music-themed trivia nights at Barbara, one decade is once again following the other. Know everything there is to know about the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, grunge, 'Gangsta's Paradise' and chasing waterfalls? Then it's time to put your 90s-loving brain to the test. Man vs Bear will be asking the questions and you'll be slinging back your answers — if you wannabe the trivia champ, that is. This themed night has already proven so popular that one has sold out, so a second is taking place from 7pm on Thursday, March 7. Register your team online, and prepare to channel Alanis when your competition gets something wrong — aka to have 'You Oughta Know' stuck in your head.
The name says it all, doesn't it? Shit-Faced Shakespeare features a cast of actors performing Shakespeare... only one of them is always absolutely plastered. A sell-out smash for years in the US and UK, the show only hit up Australia for the very first time last year — and now it's heading to Brisbane. The occasion: this year's Brisbane Comedy Festival. And what better play to perform for their Brisbane bow than The Bard's greatest comedy: Much Ado About Nothing. Maybe you've seen the Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington and Keanu Reeves movie version from the 90s. Maybe you caught the Joss Whedon-directed black-and-white film adaptation a few years back. Either way, you haven't seen the classic tale like this. Shit-Faced Shakespeare hits up Brisbane Powerhouse for two show — on Tuesday, March 19 and Sunday, March 24.
It has only been six years since the Stones Corner Festival launched, unleashing a day of food and music on the inner east; however it has swiftly become one of the city's must-attend street fests. With 2019 ticking by quickly, the event has announced the first taste of things to come on Sunday, May 6. And, like last year, it involves some bona fide Aussie legends. Leading the music lineup is Jebediah, once more turning the festival into a celebration of one of the country's favourite 90s and 00s bands. They'll be joined by Area-7, Brisbane's own Darren Middleton, Cheap Fakes, The VanKeys, We All Want To and a huge festival Pub Choir gig, with others set to be added before the event. As for what else awaits on the corner of Logan and Old Cleveland roads, expect a host of breweries and food trucks — more than 20 of the former, in fact. Drink Ballistic Beer Co, Fortitude Brewing Company and Aether Brewing tipples, grab a bite from WingFix, Greek Street Kantina and more, or opt for a ticketed VIP experience from Gage Roads Brewing Co. Market stalls, a petting zoo and a range of activities will round out what's shaping up to be another great day out. And, it's all on a Sunday that's oh-so-conveniently before a public holiday.
Brisbane's beer-drinking calendar just received a new entry, with The Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular announcing its first-ever Brisbane festival. Better known as GABS, and considered by most as the best craft beer and cider festival in the Asia-Pacific region, the fest began in Melbourne nine years ago. It has now expanded to cover four cities and two countries to date — including Brissie when it joins the fold in 2019. GABS Brisbane will hit the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday, April 27, with fest creators Steve Jeffares and Guy Greenstone (The Local Taphouse, Stomping Ground Brewing Co.) wrangling up the best breweries from the region. Previous events have offered up over 500 brews in total, including up to 170 festival beers and ciders, with 100 of these often wacky specialty brews — created just for the event and are generally the festival's main draw — set to come to Brisbane. GABS' exclusive beers give attendees the rare chance to try brand-spanking new beers, while also meeting the brewers behind them. This year's Brisbane tipples will include ingredients such as Vietnamese pho, donuts, wine, hemp, popcorn and green ants. There'll also be collaborations with coffee roasters, tea houses, gin and whisky distillers, biscuit makers and an American barbecue smokehouse, in case you're wondering what might be in store. Apart from beer, the fest will also play host to mini golf, a giant beer can piñata, a roller racing derby, a silent disco and a competitive scavenger hunt, plus wandering performances and local food stalls. The single day event is categorised in two sessions, with session one taking place in the afternoon and session two an evening affair. If you're a super keen craft drinker, you can now purchase tickets to both sessions — and we wish those ticket holders the best of luck. Updated March 16.
They told us that boys don't cry and that they wanted things to be just like heaven. They fell in love on Fridays, hopped into a mint car and dialled a wrong number. They're The Cure, the enduring English rockers who helped define the gothic rock genre. They're also the well-deserving subjects of the Triffid's latest icon-focused evening. Come Saturday, April 13, the Newstead hotspot is breaking out the hairspray, black outfits and ample eyeliner for a night with a more melancholy mood. And with a name like Disintegration: A Celebration of The Cure, it's all timed to mark the 30th anniversary of the band's Disintegration album, although tracks from their whole discography will feature. On the bill is Katy Steele (Little Birdy), Ashley Naylor (Even), Trish Young (The Clouds), Ashley Rothschild (Caligula) and David Challinor (Sounds Like Sunset), with The Exploding Boys (aka current and ex-members of Died Pretty, Glide, Knievel, Scarlet and Copperline) on backing band duties Given the music they're working with, there's no doubt you'll want to be close to them — and who knows, they might want to take pictures of you.
Brisbane doesn't quite boast a pub or bar on every corner, but it feels like it sometimes. With a hefty number of watering holes to choose from, it's easy to get overwhelmed. We've all done it — and just headed to our trusty favourite spot rather than try somewhere new. The Brisbane Pub Crawl hopes to change that. It wants Brisbanites to hop between venues, getting cosy in more than boozy establishment. And, it also wants to make a weekly thing out of sending brew-loving locals touring the homegrown bar scene. Kicking off at 2pm on Saturday, March 23, the event will take attendees to Blute's Bar in Fortitude Valley. Then, an hour later, it'll head to another spot. When the next two hours tick by, the same thing'll happen, with drinks on offer at each one (obviously). Specifically, your $25 ticket includes a cold one at each location — and discovering where you're going is all part of the fun on the day. You'll also get access to drinks specials, should you fancy more than one beverage at a particular bar, and you'll be surrounded by fellow Brissie pub aficionados. Image: Blute's Bar.
Whether through Lewis Carroll's words, via Disney's original animated movie or thanks to the recent, colourful live-action flicks, Alice in Wonderland has long earned a place in audiences' hearts and minds. At The Stamford Plaza's next themed event, the classic tale will also secure a place in fans' stomachs. A decadent Mad Hatter's High Tea will do that. Across four weekend dates that no one will want to be late for, the CBD venue is putting on eight wondrous sessions, taking place from 10am–12pm and 2–4pm on April 13–14 and 20–21. The appropriate decorations will transport attendees down the rabbit hole (aka into the hotel's Grand Ballroom), with a balloonologist and caricature artist on hand to help. But, given that the celebrated story is filled with snacks that scream 'eat me' and drinks adorned with 'drink me', the food and beverage spread is the main attraction. Each two-hour sitting starts with a lolly and marshmallow buffet decked out with popping candy, a chocolate fountain, jelly and an edible garden (and yes, the latter is of the dessert, not salad, variety). Next, you'll tuck into sweet and savoury bites that include treacle and white chocolate scones, Cheshire Cat-themed cookies, jam tarts, carrot cupcakes, egg and chives-stuffed mini brioches, and mushroom and lamb parcels. Drinks-wise, expect appropriately labelled beverages asking you to drink them, of course, plus tea and coffee. Dietary requirements can be accommodated by notifying the Stamford when booking, with attendance costing $69.50. Given the theme, and the fact that this is open to all ages, it's best to make like the white rabbit when it comes to securing your spot, as this will sell out.
Most food festivals offer a variety of dishes, ranging from snacks to mains to treats. Sweet As Dessert Festival will too — as long as you're fine with meringues, marshmallows and macarons as appetisers, cakes and doughnuts for a main, and ice cream, sorbet and gelato to wrap it all up. That's just our suggested order. With all of the above on offer — plus everything from brownies and waffles to cheese and chocolate — there's no right or wrong way to work your way through the menu. All of the treats will be served up by a range of Brisbane's best dessert-makers, with The World Food Markets overseeing the event. And while this isn't the city's first sweet-filled festival, or even its first this year, no one is complaining. With the festival running on Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12 at the Cleveland Showgrounds in Redlands, that means dessert is on the menu for a late brekkie, brunch, morning tea and afternoon tea — and if you opt for to stick around for a few of those meals, there'll be no judgement. Also on offer: non-sugary street food, pop-up bars and live entertainment. And, you can nab your $5 ticket in advance.
Watching a delighted dog at the beach, in a pool, in whichever puddle it happens to be walking past, under the hose or while getting a bath is one of the most joyous sights in the world. If we could all enjoy something as much as most canines enjoy frolicking in good ol' H20, stress would be a thing of the past. Combine a stint of watery pupper-spotting with a few brews, and a mighty fine Sunday afternoon is in order at Slipstream Brewing Co. As part of Brewsvegas, the Yeerongpilly venue is hosting the Pale Tails Doggo Pool Party — so either bring your four-legged friend along for a splashing good time, or come along, sink a few beers and enjoy seeing a brewery go to the dogs. As well as plenty of pools waiting for plenty of pooches, there'll be dog portraits, dog treats and doggo-centric competitions as well. And the beer of the moment is The Good Beer Co's Pale Tail pale ale, as brewed by Slipstream and created in collaboration with the RSPCA, the latter of whom will receive 10 percent of every sale. The barking, boozing and splashing takes place between 2–4pm on Sunday, March 17 and, while entry is free, registering in advance is still required. Image: Pale Tails Doggo Pool Party.
When Welcome to Bowen Hills announced that it was coming to town, it promised food trucks aplenty, plus food and booze-themed events aplenty too. More than a year later, it has been delivering on both — and just as it did in 2018, it's hosting a big gin festival to prove it. Not just any big gin festival, mind you. This is the Big Gin Festival, taking place from 12pm on Saturday, March 30. Juniper spirits will be flowing, with a heap of different gin stalls serving up free tastings from midday. If you're a fan of Ink Gin, Fair Gin, 4 Pillars, Brookies, Tanqueray, Hendricks and more, then your tastebuds will be happy. Entry is free, there'll be food onsite as usual, and gin lovers can also expect inventive takes on the good ol' G&T as well as other creative gin cocktails. WtBH's main bar will be slinging more than 60 varieties of the drink in question, too, because gin and meals-on-wheels go together nicely at this Ekka showgrounds hangout.
Winter is coming, and so is the long-awaited eighth and final season of Game of Thrones. But before everyone takes a final visit to Winterfell, King's Landing and everywhere else in the Seven Kingdoms, Brisbanites can indulge their love of GoT at this Brisbane Comedy Festival show. Sure, you love the TV series spawned by George RR Martin's books, but do you love it as much as Natalie Bochenski? After recapping the program for years, she's now bringing her devotion to all things Jon Snow, Khal Drogo and more to the stage. Running nightly between March 12–17, Raven On is a love letter to the series. It's also a chance for Bochenski to both relive the show's past highlights and try to come to terms with the fact that it is all coming to an end. And, it's a general ode to being so obsessed with a world filled with dragons, White Walkers and bloody battles that everything else pales in comparison. Yep, it's relatable. Plus, when she isn't dedicating her time to GoT, Bochenski also fosters kittens. That mightn't initially seem relevant, but $1 from every Raven On ticket will be donated to Brisbane-based charity Best Friends Felines.
Thirty years, hundreds of films and thousands of minutes spent staring at the silver screen: that's what the Alliance Française French Film Festival is celebrating in 2019. Three decades since first launching in Australia, the event is marking its mammoth milestone with a particularly huge festival. And like all of the best big birthday bashes, the fest has assembled quite the on-screen guest list. When AFFFF hits Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace James Street from March 14–April 14, it'll not only screen 54 movies across a month-long period, but also showcase a heap of French acting greats. Think Juliette Binoche, Audrey Tautou, Isabelle Adjani, Vincent Cassel, Catherine Deneuve, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Mathieu Amalric, plus Vanessa Paradis and her daughter Lily-Rose Depp. The list goes on (obviously). With acclaimed French directors Claire Denis and Jacques Audiard each making their English-language filmmaking debuts over the last 12 months, this year's AFFFF also boasts a bit of Hollywood star power. Robert Pattinson and André Benjamin (aka André 3000) join the aforementioned Binoche in Denis' stellar dystopian space effort High Life, while Joaquin Phoenix, John C. Reilly and Jake Gyllenhaal star in Audiard's western, The Sisters Brothers. Both titles have been gathering praise on the international festival circuit since late last year, and will hit Aussie screens for the first time at AFFFF. From opening film The Trouble with You to closing night's Kiss & Tell — both comedies — the full lineup boasts plenty of other features to get excited about. Intimate drama A Faithful Man steps into the complications of romance, with Louis Garrel both in front of and behind the camera; César award-nominee Amanda follows a twentysomething forced to bond with his niece; and doco fans can get a fashion fix with both Celebration: Yves Saint Laurent and Jean-Paul Gaultier: Freak & Chic. Elsewhere, famed director François Ozon returns with By the Grace of God, which comes our way after premiering in Berlin in February, and Olivier Assayas is back with his thoughtful latest offering, Non-Fiction. While the trio of The World Is Yours, Knife + Heart and Sorry Angel have already played on Australian screens, specifically in Melbourne last year, they're also worth looking out for — the crime caper, campy slasher and queer romance all made our best of MIFF list for a good reason. Finally, if you're keen on both old and new French talents, they're both in the spotlight in a considerable way. The former comes courtesy of a restored screening of Alain Resnais' classic 1961 effort Last Year at Marienbad, and a dedicated program strand highlights the latter, including emerging filmmakers such as Coralie Fargeat (Revenge), Cécila Rouaud (Family Photo) and Dominique Rocher (The Night Eats the World).
International Women's Day might only roll around once a year, but The Print Bar is taking the concept and running with it. Kicking off on the day after the official annual celebration, the Teneriffe venue is hosting The F Word, a 13-day exhibition that's 100 percent dedicated to fantastic creative ladies. Between Saturday, March 9 and Thursday, March 21, pieces from more than 20 female artists will grace the space's walls, including both Brisbane and national talent. It's a hefty list, with Melinda Bond, Rachel Burke, Amy Crow, Gemma Davis, Patience Hodgson and Tammy Law, as well as Maeve Lejeune, Elly Malone, Nimehime, Catherine Randall, Emily Thiang and others. And to really get into the spirit of the showcase — as well as the date it commemorates — The Print Bar is throwing a one-night shindig to start the exhibition. Head along from 6pm on Saturday, March 9, when all of the art will be on display and DJ Black Amex will be on the decks (focusing on music by local, national and international female artists, of course). How We Rolls will also be onsite, serving up Vietnamese street food, while Young Henry's and Sirromet will be on drinks duty. Plus, as well as transforming its warehouse and part of its offices for the occasion, The Print Bar will be raising money for BRISSC and Women's House throughout the evening.
When X Cargo opened its doors last year, it promised a wide variety of activities — not just grabbing a bite to eat and having a few drinks in the city's newest shipping container hangout, but exercise sessions, parties and gigs, too. And while it has been delivering, there's always room for more revelry, such as a weekly date with live tunes. Live From Our Backyard will take place on Thursdays nights from February 21, adding music to your not-quite end-of-week hangout session. The lineup changes weekly, so there's always a new reason to stop by; however Lovegrove will do the honours on opening night. Head along from 6pm to hear melodic notes filter through the air, although it's worth remembering that X Cargo is an all-day affair. If you've got an afternoon spare to score yourself a table for the evening, there's worse ways to bide your time. Image: X Cargo.
Next time you break out your best downward-facing dog, you could just have a posing pooch for company. As part of its latest animal-oriented exercise bonanza, Stretch Yoga will get you stretching while sharing the love with cute canine. Marking the studio's fifth birthday and raising money for the deserving cause that the RSPCA, Puppy Yoga gives every dog-loving yoga aficionado their day. Yes, the class really will pair adorable pooches with beginner yoga poses. You'd be barking mad not to head along. The classes take place at 5.30pm and 6.30pm on Friday, March 8 at Stretch Yoga's CBD studio, then again at 12.15pm and 1.15pm on Saturday, March 9 at its Holland Park digs. Register early — the $40 sessions sure to get snapped up faster than a dog munching on a treat. Image: Stretch Yoga.
