First, there was the Weekend of Darkness. Then came the Weekend of Tartness — aka the sister festival The Scratch just had to have. Where the former has celebrated ales, porters, stouts and other tipples at the dark end of the spectrum since 2013, the latter cartwheels to the opposite end of the extreme spectrum of beer styles. If it is tart and tangy, it is likely to be on the menu. Between Friday, February 10–Sunday, February 12, beers from more than two dozen breweries will take over the taps of the Milton hangout — tipples of the funkiest, sourest, most refreshing beers being produced in Australia and around the world. It might sound like a gimmick, but these biting brews have been around longer than you might think. In fact, historically, all beers used to be sour. Drinking is only part of the fun, and tickets aren't necessary — just show up whenever the need for a sour brew hits over the three days. As for what you'll be knocking back, breweries taking part include Queensland's own Black Hops, Felons, Newstead, Range and Sea Legs, plus Garage Project, Puhaste, Tiny Rebel, Wildflower, Fairweather, Cascade, Batch and Blood Brothers from elsewhere.
Humans didn't love the last couple of years, and with good reason. But we're guessing that our four-legged friends felt differently about the whole experience. While we were all in lockdown at various points during 2020 and 2021, we were spending more time at home with our tail-wagging canines — and you know that they just loved the extra attention. Two-legged Brisbane residents have all been heading out and about much more in 2022, of course. Don't forget to take your pup with you, though. No one needs an excuse to treat their pooch to a day out, but given that Dog's Day Out at The Gasometer is all about doggos, it really is their time to frolic — and to do some dog yoga. Browsing market stalls with your pupper, treating your canine to dog ice cream, immortalising their paw print in clay: that's all on the agenda from 9am–1pm on Sunday, June 1 at the Gasworks in Newstead. There'll also be workshops and live music. Entry is free, and dogs of all sizes are welcome. [caption id="attachment_814294" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption]
If popular culture-inspired tights, skater dresses, catsuits, shorties and gymwear are your kinds of threads, then you're probably a fan of BlackMilk Clothing. The Brisbane fashion label has been improving wardrobe options for years now, including via its super-popular Star Wars and Harry Potter lines. Before the pandemic, it was also well-known for its sample sales; however, they've been on hold for the past few years. Until now, that is, with BlackMilk busting out a heap of discounted items from 7am–1pm on Saturday, June 4. First, make some room in your cupboard. Then, head over to The Joinery in West End for this hefty sale. Previously sold-out pieces, limited-edition styles and one-off designs will all be up for grabs, plus other samples in all sizes. Whether you like BlackMilk's colour choices, designer fabrics, hand-drawn prints or those licensed pop-culture collabs, there'll be plenty to choose from. Given BlackMilk's following, expect to have company while you shop. Actually, the fact that nothing will cost over $35 is also certain to draw a crowd.
Inspiration comes in many forms — and, as the folks at Cork & Chroma have already established, booze is definitely one of them. Always fancied yourself as an artist, but haven't had the courage to put brush to canvas? That's where alcohol-fuelled paint-and-sip sessions have come in over the past few years. Cork & Chroma's next class isn't any old excuse to knock back drinks and show your arty side, however. At Cork, Culinary and Colour, you'll be drinking and getting creative in the open air. Your destination: the Treasury Hotel's courtyard, where you'll spend an afternoon whipping up a masterpiece while downing spritzes. Next taking place from 12.30–3.30pm on Sunday, October 16, this leisurely session spans that impressive location — and two cocktails. Your $75-per-person ticket also includes cheese platters. Fancy more plonk? A cash bar will be open. Images: Adam Shaw. Updated October 11.
Most of the time, it feels like new breweries pop up in Brisbane every day. It's actually been five years since Slipstream Brewing Company opened its doors in Yeerongpilly, however — and just over a year since it unveiled its recent expansion, too. So, it's celebrating the former and still taking advantage of the latter. More space in general means more room for parties, obviously. The brewery's fifth anniversary festivities are taking place across one big day, from 12pm on Saturday, June 4. On the agenda: kicking back on Wilkie Street, sipping brews, listening to live tunes, playing giant lawn games and tucking into a feed. Basically, it's an excuse to spend a day at Slipstream drinking its beers — and five brand-new tipples will be on offer for the occasion. That includes this year's release of the brand's Anniversary Ale, aka the most appropriate brew to knock back on the day. Entry is free, but you'll be paying for whatever you eat and drink.
No one likes Mondays. Not Garfield, not you, and not anyone who has ever created, shared or liked a meme about the first day of the working week being less than fun. But Monday, May 30 is looking much better than most if you like beer, particularly love creatively flavoured brews and fancy scoring yourself a free taste of a tipple that originally sold out in 90 minutes the first time that it was brewed. That beer: BrewDog's Mallow Laser Quest. It's a hazy IPA made with candied pineapple, sherbet and marshmallow — and, as well as selling out oh-so-quickly in the brewery behemoth's home town of Columbus, it already proved a hit at BrewDog's Brisbane base DogTap in Murarrie back in 2021. Now the brew is being canned in a limited-edition batch and hitting select bottle stores Down Under (and BrewDog's taproom, of course), so the brand is serving up free tastings for one day to celebrate. Yes, free tropical-flavoured sips are now on your agenda for the day. Apparently the Mallow Laser Quest takes like pineapple lollies but beer, if you need any more enticing. Just add a trip to BrewDog to your Monday and ask at the bar. There'll be signs up to remind you, too. And once you're done sampling, you can buy a few tinnies to take home with you.
The BrisStyle team is a rather busy bunch. A few times a year, it puts on twilight markets in King George Square, but that isn't its only regular event. If you're particularly after a treasure trove of handmade goodies — and who isn't? — it hosts another opportunity to browse and buy that's dedicated to exactly those kinds of objects. Fashion, art, jewellery, homewares — if someone's been using their nimble fingers to make it, then you can probably trade your hard-earned cash for their hard work. In fact, there'll be more than 60 artisans selling their wares. And, while you're shopping, you'll also be able to grab a bite at the onsite cafe and listen to live tunes from local musos. The Handmade Markets always take place on Saturdays — and they're happening monthly from May onwards — so mark May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 8, November 12 and December 10 in your calendars now. Head along from 9am–3pm, with it all taking place in the Queensland Museum's whale mall. Image: BrisStyle.
You might have thought King George Square looked pretty fine during the day and maybe a tad finer at night, but it's at twilight City Hall really shows off its colours. And what better backdrop when you're shopping the evening away — especially when the King George is filled with some of Brisbane's best designers and makers. The regular Brisbane Twilight Market shows off a sizeable array of stalls — more than 60, in fact — all staffed by some pretty nifty and talented local artists. Returning for 2022, the event will host an eclectic selection of items, so prepare to browse and buy. You'll be perusing everything from handmade clothing, accessories and leather goods to paper goods, homewares, art and ceramics (and more). This market is all about sound, smell and sales — so live music will provide a soundtrack to the evening, and expect to be hit with that spring flowerbed smell that always lingers when there's a soap stall around. Food stalls are also on the agenda, with 2022's slate of regular markets held on Friday, May 6; Friday, July 15; Friday, September 2; and Friday, December 2. Each event runs from 4–9pm, so take along some cash and stock up on all things crafty. [caption id="attachment_666947" align="alignnone" width="1920"] BrisStyle[/caption] Top image: Brisbane City Council.
If you live in Brisbane and rum is mentioned, everyone's minds jump to one particular tipple: Bundaberg Rum. But it isn't the only variety of boozy sugar cane juice on offer — not by far. Fancy widening your rum repertoire? Feel like experimenting? Keen to learn more about this molasses-based liquor? Enter Brisbane Rum Revolution, a new afternoon-long festival that'll have you sipping and tasting not just one rum, or a few, but more than 100 different rums from its hefty menu. Running from 1–6pm on Saturday, May 14 at Albion's Craft'd Grounds (and calling itself Australia's biggest-ever rum festival), the new event is playing host to 40-plus rum distilleries. It's also showcasing rums from South America, the Caribbean, the UK and locally, so prepared to be spoiled for choice. That lineup includes brand new tipples, as well as Brisbane Rum Revolution exclusives that you won't find elsewhere. Also on the agenda as part of your $89 ticket: live music, pop-up bars and food trucks, as well as cocktails galore. And, of course, saying cheers with a rum in your hand again and again. And, you can book into a masterclass with Don Papa Rum, Beenleigh Rum, Milton Rum, Rum Co of Fiji and more for an extra $10 a pop. Top image: Milton Rum.
Here's something that sounds like a dream: free tunes by the beach over three breezy spring days. In 2021, that was meant to become a reality thanks to new Gold Coast music festival Springtime; however, as has happened to plenty of events, the pandemic intervened. This year, however, the fest will finally launch — across the weekend of Friday, September 2–Sunday, September 4. Yes, last time you spent a couple of days hanging out in Surfers Paradise, enjoying the beach and bars, and listening to a live soundtrack by the shore, you might've been attending Schoolies. Obviously, that isn't the only event attracting people to the Gold Coast. And at Springtime, the price is clearly right — although there are some ticketed sideshows. On the agenda: a lineup led by Skegss, Thelma Plum and Hermitude, spanning 25-plus acts in total, taking over both beachside and streetside spaces around Surfers. There'll be multiple stages, including in outside spots and at sideshow venues, with Sneaky Sound System, Alex the Astronaut, JK-47, Skunkhour, Haiku Hands, Ninajirachi and Teen Jesus & The Jean Teases also among the bands on the bill. If you're planning to make a weekend of it, the lack of entry fee means you'll have more cash to splash on a hotel room. With Australia's tourism industry taking a hit over the past couple of years or so, enticing music lovers to the Goldie for a three-day getaway is obviously one of the fest's aims. Again, some sideshows will be ticketed, though — the details haven't been announced yet, but you might want to factor that into your plans. As for who you'll be seeing when, Hermitude and Sneaky Sound System are headlining the Friday, Thelma Plum is doing the honours on Saturday, and Skegss on Sunday. The Gold Coast Music Awards will be part of the fest as well — as will celebrating spring's arrival just by soaking in the location, obviously. Also on the bill: an interactive installation by performance makers Shock Therapy, The Cleaners, which involves a giant slingshot and paint-filled balloons that attendees can use to create havoc. (You might've seen and enjoyed it at Splendour in the Grass back in 2018.) And, a pop-up skate plaza will connect the fest's two beach stages, and give Australian and New Zealand skaters plenty to navigate around SPRINGTIME MUSIC FESTIVAL 2022 LINEUP: FRIDAY: Hermitude Sneaky Sound System JK-47 Peach Fur DVNA Buttered Girl & Girl VICES Sh#t Shirt Disco + triple j Unearthed Winner SATURDAY: Thelma Plum Skunkhour Ninajirachi Haiku Hands IVEY Ebony Boadu Hauskey Aodhan Saint Lane EUCA Fletcher Giv & Latour (Elsewhere DJs) Samin & Lotnic (Elsewhere DJs) Lily Papas Gold Coast Music Awards SUNDAY: Skegss Alex The Astronaut Teen Jesus & The Jean Teases The Lazy Eyes Teenage Dads The Oogars South Summit Just Jessie Geniie Boy Updated August 31.
If you like beer and you live in Brisbane, then you've probably noticed a trend in recent years. In fact, you've probably been making the most of it. That's to be expected when a certain patch of turf starts welcoming new drinking spots with frequency. Thanks to Ballistic Beer Co in Salisbury, as well as Helios Brewing Company and Slipstream Brewing Company in Yeerongpilly, there's no shortage of breweries to have a beer at on the southside. And, while you've likely been hopping between them all anyway, Beermuda Triangle gives the area's boozy crawl an official spin. Head to any of the trio between 1–7pm on Saturday, April 30, get sipping, then catch a courtesy bus to the other two — and drink more frothy ales at each, obviously. Entry is free, more than 50 brews will be on offer, and there'll also be food trucks and live music at each brewery. Plus, you'll be able to just generally soak in the boozy Salisbury and Yeerongpilly vibes. Also, taking some cues from the place behind its name and its dark depths — that'd be the Bermuda Triangle, of course — Beermuda Triangle is putting the focus on dark brews for the day. There'll be a range of tipples on offer, but each brewery will whip up something dark that you'll only be able to drink at the event.
Roll up, roll up to Brisbane's newest festival, CIRCFest22 Meanjin, which is all about physical theatre and circus. But don't go expecting big tops, ringmasters and lions here. Yes, there'll be acrobatic displays. There'll also be clowns, too. This definitely isn't your stereotypical circus, though. Running from Thursday, April 21–Sunday, May 1, this debut event features ten days of shows spanning physical feats, burlesque, drag and more — with 114 performers on the bill, 76 sessions taking place and six venues playing host. So, whether you head to Brisbane Powerhouse, Metro Arts and The Tivoli, or to La Boite Theatre, The Ron Hurley Theatre or the Kingston Butter Factory, you're in for quite the display, with the new fest coming to fruition thanks to partnership with international circus centre Tohu in Montreal. Highlights include not one, not two, but three shows by Briefs Factory; Arterial, which focuses on First Peoples' connection with Country; the horror-skewing The Long Pigs, as set in an abattoir; and Finucane & Smith's circus-meets-disco experience Diva Dive. There's also High Tea With BOOFF, an immersive Tim Burton-esque show that, yes, includes tea and biscuits; intergenerational circus courtesy of Casting Off; and the family-friendly Monster Siege, which takes place at Musgrave Park.
No meal has ever suffered from having too many truffles — and at Emporium Hotel's Signature Restaurant, that idea is being put to the test. On Sundays from June 19–September 4, the South Bank spot is serving up truffle degustations from 12–3pm. Have a special occasion coming up? Need an excuse to have a fancy lunch? Here's one way to celebrate. Truffles don't just feature here and there in this five-course feast. They're part of every single dish, including dessert. So, you'll be finishing things off with Valrhona chocolate marquise with vanilla mascarpone, coffee and truffle ice cream. Yes, truffle ice cream. Before that, you'll be tucking into truffle pasta made with venison ragu, mushrooms and truffle pecorino; Brisbane Valley quail served with truffle and bacon jam, parsnip and chicken jus; and and wagyu tri-tip with truffle potato rosti, confit shallot and truffle jus. Oh, and whipped pyengana cheddar with apple compote and truffle honey. This limited-time truffle-filled degustation will set you back $150 per person, with bookings required. You can also add matching wines for an extra $100.
High tea and gooey cheese. Whatever time of year it happens to be, you'll likely find one of these things on offer at W Brisbane. The CBD venue's resident bar loves serving up both, typically flitting between the two because your tastebuds like variety — and, now that 2023 is in full swing, it's going arty (again) with its current range of tiny bites to eat, cups of tea and optional cocktails. This returning Eat Your Art Out High Tea at Living Room Bar comes with a creative theme, so it definitely isn't your ordinary high tea. Because design is a crucial part of the hotel, you can even paint your own panna cotta — and then eat it, obviously. Other menu items include cherry chocolate profiteroles, chocolate mousse tarts, mousse and lemon myrtle scones, as well as savoury options such as warm confit duck pie, lobster tarts, creamy truffle eggs, vegan scallops, and wagyu beef with pumpernickel and cream avocado. That'll set you back $65 per person, with the Eat Your Art Out high tea on offer from 11am–3pm every Friday–Sunday until Friday, February 26. And if you fancy getting boozy, you can add a welcome champagne or cocktail — the Till Death Do Us Art features gin, rhubarb, egg white, plum bitters and lemon, and the Oh My Goma is a vodka number that comes with an edible art print.
Calling all sleuths of Brisbane. If you haven't fulfilled your murder-mystery fix on the big and small screens over the past few years, then you'd best make a theatre date with the world's longest-running play. Here are three questions for you to solve before you get there: what is it, who wrote it and when is it coming your way? The answers: The Mousetrap, the one and only Agatha Christie, and from Friday, November 4–Sunday, November 20 at QPAC's Playhouse. Initially premiering in London's West End in 1952, The Mousetrap has been treading the boards in the UK ever since, only pausing during to pandemic venue closures. When theatres reopened in Britain, so did the show. That means that when it makes its way to Australia from October, kicking off in Sydney first, The Mousetrap will do so 70 years to the month that it first debuted. Unsurprisingly, it has enjoyed the longest stint for any West End production, and for any play anywhere in the world. So far, there's been more than 28,500 London performances. To answer the other obvious question, yes, it's a whodunnit. The murder-mystery starts with news of a killing in London — and with seven people snowed in at a guest house in the country. They're strangers, which is classic Christie. When a police sergeant arrives on skis, they're told that the murderer is among them (which, again, is vintage Christie). They all have wild pasts, too, and all those details are spilled as they're interrogated, and also try to work out who among them is the killer. Those guests at Monkswell Manor include a pair of newlyweds who run the house, a spinster, an architect who is handy in the kitchen, a retired Army major, a man who says his car has overturned in a drift, and a jurist. Naturally, there's another death as they'e all puzzling it over — and a twist conclusion, which audiences have been requested not to reveal after leaving the theatre for seven decades now. Images: Brian Gleach.
Vietnamese New Year is upon us for 2023 and, as it does every year, Paddington's Ngon is celebrating. When you're a family-owned neighbourhood Vietnamese eatery that goes big on traditional flavours, but with a fresh twist, this occasion is always going to be a big event — and it clearly is for the Nguyen brothers. This round of festivities includes a week of feasting from Tuesday, January 24–Saturday, January 28 — aka reason enough to eat, drink and be merry on Given Terrace. Make a date for dinner across the week and you'll firmly be in New Year's mode. The food menu goes big on family favourites, as the restaurant's cuisine does anyway. So, get ready to tuck into traditional skewers on coal, including beef with betel leaf; nem nướng, aka grilled pork sausage; corn with scallion oil and squid with green chilli sauce. Bookings are necessary, and calling is recommended less than two weeks out.
Heading to a waterside dining and entertainment precinct and only buying vegan goods mightn't always go hand in hand, but they do now at Portside Wharf. After a successful debut in 2022, 2023 marks the second year that the Hamilton venue is playing host to the Queensland Vegan Markets. Next hitting up its northside location from 12–7pm on Saturday, June 17, this event will let you browse more than 30 stalls, all selling cruelty-free, animal-friendly wares. The plant-based spread will include everything from burgers, bao, tacos, miso-glazed fries and katsu to custard-filled croissants, cupcakes, brown sugar boba sundaes and other sweet treats. Yes, you know the motto here: all of the taste, absolutely none of the animal products. You'll have plenty of option, food-wise, as well as other cruelty-free wares to scope out. Also, the markets are pet-friendly, so you can bring your pooch along. Entry is free, and so is the live music that'll soundtrack your vegan shopping. Updated April 27.
Portside is no stranger to hosting markets, after holding Mother's Day markets, a dedicated vegan market, and a blossoming plant and flower market as well. For its next event, it's celebrating spring — by the water, with stalls to browse, and with free posies and coffee to grab. If you really like browsing and buying, taking in the riverside air, and having a reason to stop for a bite and a drink, you'll want to head to Hamilton on Saturday, September 24. From 10am–2pm, you can shop, stroll and sip, which sounds like a mighty fine weekend itinerary. More than 50 stalls, Portside's biggest showing so far, will offer up plenty for you to browse and buy, including art, plants, ceramics, pet treats, clothing, accessories and more. If you've been to markets at the Gasworks, or in Fish Lane, Coorparoo and Gabba South City, you'll have a firm idea of what you're in for — because The Market Folk is behind all of the above, and is running this returning Portside event as well. To give your shopping a soundtrack, live tunes from Sam Perren will echo through the Hamilton precinct. For snaps, there'll be an Instagram photo wall. And, if those hunger pangs strike — or you're just keen on having a drink — the precinct's eateries and bars will be open. As for those freebies, there'll be 100 free posies and 50 free coffees on offer on a first-come-first-served basis. Images: Claudia Baxter.
Goodbye winter, hello spring — yes, September is upon us for another year. 'Tis the season to shed those woolly jumpers, smell the blossoming flowers, enjoy the sunny weather and say cheers to Brisbane's sultry climate with a cocktail or several. One place where you can do just that: Brisbane Quarter, with the CBD precinct embracing spring on three Thursday nights in September — September 15, 22 and 29 — via a pop-up it's dubbed Spring Spritz at BQ. Here, you can add fruit-flavoured cocktails, DJ-spun beats and a wander around a cherry blossom tree to your evening between 5.30–7pm. If the tipples have caught your attention, you have two to choose from, both thanks to the W Brisbane bar team. The Malfy Gin and Tea cocktail comes with your choice of Malfy Gin (limone, grapefruit or arancia) and TBAR iced tea (apple oolong, Japanese cherry or hibiscus flower), and will set you back $16 — or there's the Glenlivet Spring Breeze with Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve whisky, apple juice, ginger candy and mint for $18. Live DJ sets will soundtrack each evening — and the precinct will also boast that giant cherry blossom tree, plus a floral archway decked out in pink, red, lavender and white hues, and lawn furniture to hang out in. Also, Brisbane Quarter's eateries will be doing spring-themed dishes, including Persone, Tenya, Phat Boy, Phoenix and Three Blue Ducks at W Brisbane. On the menu: lobster spaghetti, soft shell crab sushi rolls, roast pork belly, smoked beetroot and more. Images: Claudia Baxter.
Do your usual trips to Minjerribah, also known as North Stradbroke, involve hitting the beach? Of course they do. That's one of the island's biggest drawcards — but soaking up the destination's arts scene deserves to be on your list as well. And if you don't quite know where to start, there's a ten-day arts trail dedicated to that very topic. Thanks to the Island Artists and Makers Straddie Arts Trail, there are plenty of places to start — 34 stops across three townships, actually. Running from Friday, August 12–Sunday, August 21, the event will showcase more than 50 artists and six community groups across Straddie's scenic expanse, covering folks in Dunwich, Amity and Point Lookout. Put together by Island Artists and Makers (iam), the trail has a theme, too: creative island. Even if that concept wasn't overtly pushed to the fore, it's obviously what visitors will find as they head to community and museum galleries, wander into open studios and scope out pop-up galleries. Also, plenty of Straddie's retailers, restaurants and cafes are getting into the spirit of the trail, too, featuring pieces by the island's artists and makers, and hosting events as well. If you're keen to learn a few skills while you're there, you can book into workshops on everything from making jewellery and blacksmith methods to upcycling using embroidery, weaving and beekeeping. Some sessions are free, but others vary in price. Fireside storytelling is also on the agenda on selected evenings, and an island bazaar will feature from 8am–12pm across Friday, August 12–Sunday, August 14 and again from Friday, August 19–Sunday, August 21 at the Point Lookout Markets.
It's not every day that you get to revisit some of the absolute best queer movies of the past few decades on the big screen, and for free — but that's exactly what's on the bill at the Gallery of Modern Art this month. Between Friday, August 12–Wednesday, August 24, the venue's Australian Cinematheque is diving into the recent history of LGBTQIA+ cinema, all thanks to a program called In Queer Time, which is packed with highlights. The yearning romance of Andrew Haigh's Weekend, which sees casual hookups as more than just a one-night stint of physical attraction, is one such must-see — or must-see-again — flick that's on the program. So too is the iPhone-shot Tangerine, which follows best friends, sex workers and trans women Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor), and takes place on Christmas Eve. Or, you can check out Xavier Dolan's debut coming-of-age drama I Killed My Mother, aka the film that catapulted the Laurence Anyways and Mommy filmmaker to fame — or jump back a little further to 1990, and to another debut, thanks to Todd Haynes' (Carol, Far From Heaven) Poison. Other standouts include Gregg Araki's The Living End, about two HIV+ positive gay men on a road trip across the US; Lynne Ramsay's haunting page-to-screen adaptation of We Need to Talk About Kevin; documentary The Salt Mines, which follows three Latinx trans women; and sci-fi/fantasy Born in Flames from Lizzie Borden. Films screen on Wednesday and Friday nights, and during the day on Saturdays and Sundays — and, while no one needs a reason to show a lineup of queer greats like this, GOMA is pondering the notion of queer time in each and every film.
Forget scones, jam and cream, as delicious a combination as that is — at The Lab's Showstopping High Tea in August, that classic setup is on hold. Instead, you'll tuck into Ekka-themed treats to celebrate the return of the Royal Queensland Show, with the spread available for just two days: from 1–3.30pm on Saturday, August 13–Sunday, August 14. On the menu: fairy floss, strawberry spritzes and mini dagwood dogs, and even popcorn. There'll also be ribbon sandwiches, plus petite quiches and frittatas — and cakes and pastries with strawberries. No, your sweet tooth won't go hungry here, and nor will your Ekka food cravings. And as for those spritzes, they're made with Brisbane Distillery gin, crème de framboise, framboise monin, cream and strawberries. Also a big feature: bottomless sparking wine, although it's up to you if you add that to all the food. So, you can make your high tea a non-boozy affair for $50, which includes non-stop La Maison Du Thé French hand-crafted tea. Or, you can go for the Chandon package for $70, which comes with endless Domaine Chandon brut rosé, sparkling pinot shiraz and sparkling Chandon brut across two hours.
In the name of its protagonist, and the pain and fury that threatens to parch her 12-year-old existence, Del Kathryn Barton's first feature scorches and sears. It burns in its own moniker, too, and in the blistering alarm it sounds against an appalling status quo: that experiencing, witnessing and living with the aftermath of violence against women is all too common, heartbreakingly so, including in Australia where one woman a week on average is killed by her current or former partner. Blaze has a perfect title, with the two-time Archibald Prize-winning artist behind it crafting a movie that's alight with anger, that flares with sorrow, and that's so astutely and empathetically observed, styled and acted that it chars. Indeed, it's frequently hard to pick which aspect of the film singes more: the story about surviving what should be unknown horrors for a girl who isn't even yet a teen, the wondrously tactile and immersive way in which Blaze brings its namesake's inner world to the screen, or the stunning performance by young actor Julia Savage (Mr Inbetween) in its central part. Savage also has a fitting moniker, impeccably capturing how ferociously she takes on her starring role. Blaze, the Sydney schoolgirl that she plays, isn't always fierce. She's curious and imaginative, happy dwelling in her own dreamy universe long before she flees there after witnessing a rape and murder, and then frightened and fraying while also fuming. In how she's portrayed by Savage, and penned by Barton with co-screenwriter Huna Amweero (also a feature first-timer), she's intricately fleshed out, too, with every reaction she has to the assault proving instantly relatable — especially to anyone whose life has been touched by trauma. We don't all see dragons made out of fabric, felt, feathers, papier-mâché and glitter, helping us through times good and bad, but everyone can understand the feelings behind that dragon, which swelter like the creature's fiery breath. Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon, Blaze isn't — although Jake (Josh Lawson, Mortal Kombat), who Blaze spots in an alleyway with Hannah (Yael Stone, Blacklight), has his lawyer (Heather Mitchell, Bosch & Rockit) claim that his accuser knows nothing. With the attack occurring mere minutes into the movie, Barton dedicates the feature's bulk to how her lead character copes, or doesn't. Being questioned about what she saw in court is just one way that the world tries to reduce her to ashes, but the embers of her hurt and determination don't and won't die. Blaze's father Luke (Simon Baker, High Ground), a single parent, understandably worries about the impact of everything blasting his daughter's way. As she retreats then acts out, cycling between both and bobbing in-between, those fears are well-founded. Blaze is a coming-age-film — a robbing-of-innocence movie as well — but it's also a firm message that there's no easy or ideal response to something as awful as its titular figure observes. The pivotal sequence, lensed by cinematographer Jeremy Rouse (The Turning) and spliced together by editor Dany Cooper (The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson) to be as jarring and unflinching for Blaze's audience as it is for Blaze, is nightmarish. Avoiding agony and anguish isn't Barton's way — and it can't be with this subject matter. While never as harrowing in the same manner again, Blaze is styled by its artist-turned-writer/director in the same expressive, impressionistic way from start to finish, so that watching its frames flicker feels like diving inside its lead character's heart and mind. That internal realm is a place where a pre-trial proceeding erupts into flames spat from Blaze herself, via a tiny white dragon figurine she places between her teeth. Unsurprisingly, that's a spectacular and gloriously cathartic sight. Barton isn't afraid of symbolism, but she's also allergic to emptiness; not a single image in her kaleidoscopic trip through her protagonist's imaginings is ever wasted. As set to a soundtrack that's soulfully moody and brooding as only Nick Cave can be one minute, then psychedelic and soaring with The Flaming Lips a short time afterwards, the contents of Blaze's brain and soul is where cogs turn — not literally, not once, but in processing everything that the pre-teen has seen and felt. It's where she glimpses a corpse turned mesh and material, then spies a tiny girl climb a ladder out of its mouth, in one of the movie's many mixed-media moments. It's where tiny kissing ceramic animal figurines morph into something more, fleshy tongues waggling, and where putting her feet in a sandbox transports her to the beach. And, it's where thoughts and emotions can better be distilled through surreal stop-motion animation and puppetry, and via that towering pink-hued dragon that any child would want as their pal and confidant, and with hallucinogenic collages that everyone who has seen Barton's other art will immediately recognise as springing from her head. If Barton took on Where the Wild Things Are, Pete's Dragon or A Monster Calls, all of which deal with sadness and tragedy through fantasy as well, it'd look like this — well, as a starting point. As brilliant and deeply affecting as all three of those films are, Blaze is always bolder and darker. It's more enraged, audacious, unsettling and astounding. It stresses that hardship is what shapes us but not what solely makes us, but it's a gut-punch rather than a heartstring-tug of a feature (by design; facts and figures about femicide are purposefully worked in). Barton emphasises that surviving is both a battle and a feat, that coping through art is a balm, and that seeing and speaking are pivotal acts. In other hands, though, Blaze might've resembled another recent feature that plunged into distress, and a headphone-wearing adolescent feeling it, that's also helmed by a big-name Aussie debuting as a director after coming to fame in a different medium. Thankfully, however, similarities with Sia's Music end are superficial. Big things deserve to await Savage, who never lets Blaze forget that it's about a living, breathing, hurting, loving person, and about the screaming, receding, dreaming, needing and steaming that characterises her response to such an ordeal. In support, Baker offers a sublimely judged mix of care, stress and uncertainty, playing a dad who knows he doesn't have all the answers, because no one can — and Stone, in her crucial and devastating part, is phenomenal. Big things have already come Barton's way in the art world, but they deserve to shower over her for this also, which comes after short films The Nightingale and the Rose and Red. Blaze is brutal and beautiful, blunt and labyrinthine, and a trip, a heartache, an escape and a release. When its namesake asks why she ends up temporarily institutionalised but Jake hasn't been, the movie makes one of its points as loudly as it can, but every inch of every frame already says everything.
They headed Down Under to give the town of Yass a makeover. They toured their first-ever standup show our way back in early 2020, too. Now, to make 2022 a whole lot more fabulous, Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness is again venturing to Australia — bringing their latest live show Imaginary Living Room Olympian to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday, September 30. On the agenda: not just tales from the Emmy Award-nominated television personality, hit podcaster and hairstylist to the stars' life, which'll definitely be included, but also gymnastics as well. Their last tour was inspired by a lifelong goal of becoming a figure-skating prodigy in time for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, after all. Clearly, that's not something you shake easily, and Van Ness has a gymnastics routine to show audiences this time around. The overarching theme of the show: that's it's not about the destination, but the journey. That might sound like standard advice, but fans of the rebooted Queer Eye know that no nugget of wisdom sounds average or cliched when delivered by Van Ness. The Imaginary Living Room Olympian tour comes after a big few years for Van Ness, including not only Queer Eye — which has notched up six seasons already — but this year's fellow Netflix series Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness, which is based on their podcast of the same name. And, there's Van Ness' publishing career, too, courtesy of 2019's Over The Top: My Story and this year's Love That Story: Observations from a Gorgeously Queer Life (plus children's picture book Peanut Goes for the Gold, about a gender non-binary guinea pig). Expect Van Ness' new shows to be popular — their last tour, which played 40 cities worldwide, sold out theatres in the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Whoever decided it was perfectly acceptable to roll out of bed, hit up your favourite watering hole and start your weekend with boozy brunch has changed more than a few lives. But not every alcohol-fuelled mid-morning meal comes with drag queen bingo — aka a way to make sipping bubbles with your first bites of the day even better. That said, Drag Queen Bingo and Bubbles at The Osbourne doesn't actually kick off till 12.30pm on Sunday, May 1 — but hey, if it's before 1pm, it still counts. The event is also taking place on the same day as Big Gay Day, as well as on the day before the Labour Day public holiday, so it's keen for you to turn your trip out into a huge party. Hosts Lady Saint Diva and Miss Synthetique will oversee the proceedings, with help from special guest Shanny T Bone. Expect drag performances and bingo, obviously, plus plenty of banter. Those bubbles will keep flowing from 12.30–2.30pm, all as part of your $60 ticket, and you'll be snacking on pork belly bao, rice paper rolls and chicken skewers. Dressing for a party is highly encouraged — and, while you'll need to pay extra for cocktails, there'll be a themed menu just for the day.
If you're a fan of poultry pieces, then you might want to mark Thursdays in your calendar. Circle them on your wall, put a reminder in your phone, drop them into your work schedule and, if you really don't want to forget, set an alarm, too. The reason: that's when Beerhaüs in Bowen Hills does one-cent wings — each and every week. Nope, that figure isn't short a numeral. The special runs all day, as well, through until 7pm. You can even choose between seven different sauces, including teriyaki, barbecue and chipotle. The catch? Yes, there is one, but we don't think you'll mind. You have to buy a full-priced drink to access the oh-so-cheap wings, and you can only get ten wings per beverage. Want more? Buy another beer, cocktail, wine or soft drinks, then pay another ten cents for ten more wings.
Maybe G&Ts are your favourite tipple and, if you're sipping drinks at your favourite bar, you always have one within reach. Perhaps you've never found a vodka cocktail that you haven't loved, or you've made it your life's mission to try all the whiskies (yes, spanning both whisky and whiskey) that you can find. Or, you could simply like broadening your horizons when it comes to knocking back the good stuff, and supporting independent producers while you're at it. Since 2015, the boozing sipping party that is Indie Spirits Tasting has covered all of the above — and it's back in 2022 after a couple of pandemic-affected years. Move over, craft beer — at this east coast event, which'll return to Brisbane in July, it's craft spirits' time to shine. Everyone has been to plenty of days dedicated to brews, brews and more brews, but this touring shindig is solely about all the whisky, gin, vodka, rum, tequila, vermouth and mezcal you could ever want. More than 30 exhibitors and master distillers are on the bill, showcasing over 200 craft spirits. Clearly, your booze-loving tastebuds will be in heaven. As well as tasting away, attendees will also be able to chat to the folks behind the craft and independent tipples on offer, listen to talks on booze-related topics and buy bottles to take home with you. Taking place at Lefty's Music Hall from 1–4pm on Sunday, July 17, this year's Brisbane event will feature brands such as Never Never Distilling Co, Poor Toms, Boat Rocker, Wolf Lane and Archie Rose, some of which will be pouring limited-edition tipples. And while the big focus is on homegrown spirits, a few international names will be on the bill as well — taking your tastebuds on a trip, including through French cognacs and American gins.
There's a festival for everything, including getting around on two wheels. Yes, it's Brisbane Cycling Festival time again. Until Thursday, April 14, this celebration of pedal power is taking over King Street and Brisbane Showgrounds in Bowen Hills with a heap of events that are all about bicycles — and even if you're not all that known for riding around town, there's still plenty for you to enjoy. Cycling championships and tours are all on the agenda, of course. Still focusing on the fest's main mode of transport, so is Colour Your Ride, which wants you to get pedalling while covered in all the hues of the rainbow from head to toe — all to raise cash for mental health awareness. Or, you can simply scope out an extreme mountain biking show as part of BCF's festival village, which is popping up from Friday, April 8–Sunday, April 10. Also at the village: free circus workshops, a big launch party at Beerhaus, and plenty to eat and sip. The latter includes $10 bao and beverage deals, plus a $12 egg and bacon burger and coffee combo if you're keen on heading by to start your day.
After more than a couple of false starts due to the pandemic, Brisbane's Nine Lives Festival finally returns this weekend, taking place at The Tivoli on Saturday, March 5. But it's obviously a difficult time for the city, and West End record store Jet Black Cat Music, which is behind the fest, knows it — so it's hosting a recovery gig the next day that doubles as a flood fundraiser. We can tell you when the show is happening: from 1pm on Sunday, March 6. As for where, that's a secret for now. It will take place on a driveway somewhere in West End, we know that — but for any other details, you'll need to buy a $20 ticket and wait for an email with location to come through the day before. We can also advise who'll you'll be listening to: Girl and Girl, plus Moreton. Get ready for an ace afternoon dancing to their tunes, wherever it happens to occur. And, because this is a fundraiser, all proceeds from the gig are being donated to Loop Growers, who've been flooded out during the wet weather. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jet Black Cat Music (@jetblackcatmusic)
Spend a night in Fortitude Valley listening to bands, help Brisbane recover from the past week's devastating weather: that's on the agenda at The Zoo on Friday, March 4. To support the city, plus flood-affected regions in Queensland and New South Wales in general, the Ann Street venue has quickly thrown together a big fundraiser gig that it has dubbed Float On — and if you head along, you'll pay your way in by making a donation. The show is only doing tickets at the door, and only selling them via donation — with a $5 minimum entry fee. But the more you spend to get in, the more you'll be giving to a hugely worthy cause, with all ticket sales donated to GIVIT's campaign in partnership with the Queensland Government to help those affected by the current storms and flooding. On the bill: acoustic performances from The Dreggs, Peach Fur, Young Lions, Brixton Alley, Mozza, Cooper Riley from Bad Neighbour and The Dandy's, with doors opening at 6.30pm. Everyone involved, including the artists, organisers and the venue, have all donated their time — so 100-percent of the cash raised is going to those in need. The Zoo is also donating a portion of the proceeds from every Young Henry's schooner and Zoopreme Pizzeria pizza sold to GIVIT, too, so your brews and bites to eat will help out as well. Plus, you can also enter a flood-relief raffle on the night, with prizes donated by Ball Park Music, The Jungle Giants, Bugs, Hope D and more up for grabs.
Not much has felt typical about 2022 in Brisbane so far, thanks to COVID-19 outbreaks and wild weather — but when you're competing for music trivia glory at one of the city's beloved regular events, you'll be basking in a nice stint of normality. Yes, Not On Your Rider is back for another year, all to keep us entertained in one of the best possible ways: by creating a music quiz show filled with well-known faces, staging it live and inviting Brisbanites to play along. TV hits like Spicks and Specks and Never Mind the Buzzcocks are entertaining to watch on-screen, of course — and fun to play along with from the comfort of your own couch as well — but they always leave even their biggest fans wanting more. If you've ever wished that you could show off your own music trivia knowledge in the same kind of setting, and not just down at the local pub with your mates, that's where Not On Your Rider comes in. This music trivia game show is hosted by The Creases' Aimon Clark, and features Velociraptor's Jeremy Neale and The Grates' Patience Hodgson as team captains — and it happens live at either The Triffid or The Fortitude Music Hall. Also, while the two on-stage teams are always filled with musos, comedians, drag queens and other guests, anyone can buy a ticket, sit at a table and answer questions along with them. Previous events have boasted folks from Powderfinger, Ball Park Music, The Jungle Giants, Dune Rats, DZ Deathrays, The Kite String Tangle, Butterfingers, Last Dinosaurs and more, because you never know which music figures might be involved on the night. And as for the quiz itself, it's accompanied by chats about the music industry, plus other mini games involving attendees. NOT ON YOUR RIDER 2022 DATES: Thursday, March 17 — The Triffid with Sarah McLeod, Ben Ely and Steven Bradbury Thursday, May 26 — The Triffid with Ben Lee, Shad Wicka, Jen Boyce and Ben Ely Friday, July 8 — Birthday extravaganza at The Fortitude Music Hall with guests TBC Thursday, August 25 — The Triffid with guests TBC Thursday, September 22 — The Triffid with guests TBC Thursday, October 27 — Halloween show at The Triffid with guests TBC Saturday, December 10 — Christmas show at The Fortitude Music Hall with guests TBC Updated May 20.
As well as offering Brisbanites a mighty nice place for a staycation in the middle of Spring Hill, The Inchcolm is home to its own enticing bar that takes its cues from 1920s Parisian salons. That's reason enough to stop by, even if you aren't spending the night; however, make a date of it to celebrate the supposedly most romantic evening of the year and you and your partner can leave with a lifelong skill. That handy talent: making martinis, whether you like them shaken or stirred. For one night only — on Monday, February 14, of course — the venue is hosting couples martini masterclasses. If cocktails, grazing boards and learning something new are the way to your other half's heart, consider your Valentine's Day sorted. The sessions run at 6pm and 8pm, cost $179 for two, and include a run-through of how to make a heap of The Inchcolm Bar's martinis — it's known for them — including both classics and secret concoctions. Bookings are required, and you obviously know where to stay if you do want to make a whole night of it.
UPDATE, March 7, 2022: World Science Festival Brisbane has cancelled its in-person program due to Brisbane's floods, and will now host a virtual program instead. This article has been updated to reflect that change. Brisbane isn't quite the centre of the universe, but it was supposed to feel that way this March. For five days from Wednesday, March 9–Sunday, March 13, all things science and technology were set to take over the city as part of the only Asia-Pacific offshoot of New York's World Science Festival, which Brissie has hosted since 2016. Think: talks, panels, workshops and films, all about science and technology, as well as both science and art installations. But, then the weather intervened. Accordingly, this year's in-person festival has been cancelled — including everything from its movie program at the Gallery of Modern Art to its stargazing night and sustainability market. Installation-focused art, science and technology offshoot Curiocity Brisbane has been postponed, too, with new dates for later in the year set to be announced. That's the bad news. In better news, World Science Festival Brisbane has pivoted to an online-only program, which'll run across the same festival dates. The smaller lineup of livestreamed events and talks includes chats about Einstein and quantum entanglement, a step into the space race and an exploration of humanity's fascination with Mars. Also, there's a session on a very apt topic: the weather. The digital lineup still features an impressive range of talent, spanning leading scientists, musicians, journalists and academics from around Australia and the world — such as World Science Festival co-founder Professor Brian Green, space archaeologist Dr Alice Gorman, Queensland Chief Scientist Professor Hugh Possingham and Torres Strait Islander human rights lawyer Sasha Purcell. Also streaming: a selection of pre-recorded past conversations on the scientific search for a fountain of youth, cybercrime, the darkness of the universe, the rights of nature and coral.
They're entertaining to watch, and fun to play along with from the comfort of your own couch. But music quiz TV shows like Spicks and Specks and Never Mind the Buzzcocks always leave even their biggest fans wanting more. Who hasn't wished that they could show off their own music trivia knowledge in the same kind of setting? (And not just down at the local pub with your mates.) That's where Not On Your Rider comes in. A music trivia game show, it's hosted by The Creases' Aimon Clark, and features Velociraptor's Jeremy Neale and The Grates' Patience Hodgson as team captains — and it happens live in Brisbane. Also, while the two on-stage teams are always filled with musos, comedians, drag queens and other guests, anyone can buy a ticket, sit at a table and play along with them. Thats how the event plays out every month, but the December outing will be a bit different — because Not On Your Rider is getting festive. This time, Robert Irwin, Kate Miller-Heidke, Ruby Fields, Boy Swallows Universe author Trent Dalton and Australian Idol's Ian 'Dicko' Dickson will be joining in the fun. And, because Christmas is a big occasion, it's all going down from 6pm on Saturday, December 10 at Fortitude Music Hall. If you're a NOYR newcomer, the quiz itself is accompanied by chats about the music industry, as well as other mini games involving attendees. Plus, resident band leader Simi Lacroix will be taking care of the tunes, with help an all-star group of musicians who'll be busting out quirky covers. Not on Your Rider images: Bianca Holderness.
When you're deciding how to spend your next brunch — and where to spend it, more importantly — perhaps it's a case of what you'd like to drink. Tired of mimosas? Fancy something stronger with your first Sunday meal? Or, maybe you just really love gin. West End gin joint Covent Garden has been in the bottomless brunch game for a while now, and shows no signs of stopping. Here, you can tuck into gin tap cocktails — including the monthly cocktail special — for two hours, or opt for a few Pimm's cups. Pimm's is based on gin, after all. For $49 per person, you'll also sip red or white wine sangria, and munch on a shareboard spread — featuring charcuterie, cheeses, pickled vegetables and crackers, plus that breakfast and brunch staple, aka bread, too. The food and drink feast goes down between 11am–3pm each week and, while bookings aren't essential, it's recommended that you secure your spot in advance anyway.
We've all been there, and more than once: in Fortitude Valley, ravenous for something to eat after a big night, and tucking into whatever stomach-settling food you can get your mitts on in the early hours of the morning. Now, however, if you've spend the night at a gig at Ann Street's iconic The Zoo, you'll be able to visit its new in-house pizzeria. That'd be Zoopreme Pizzeria, which'll start serving up slices on Saturday, January 15 — originally operating whenever the venue is hosting gigs, also letting late-night patrons in afterwards from 11.30pm–2.30am, and eventually expanding to takeaway, deliveries and orders even when The Zoo's stages are empty. And, to mark the new venture, the venue is throwing a shindig. Obviously, The Zoo is launching Zoopreme Pizzeria in the most fitting way: with a pizza party. Head by on opening night for slices, plus tunes by Totally Unicorn, Being Jane Lane and Cooper Reilly from Bad Neighbour. Entry is free, there'll be pizza and drink specials until 2.30am, and you'll get a slice without paying a cent, too, if you arrive between 6.30–7.30pm. [caption id="attachment_839240" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Luke Henery[/caption] Top image: Will Johnstone.
Since arriving in town a few years back, Salt Meats Cheese has been giving Brisbanites a pizza-filled treat. And, as part of its lineup of Italian eats, it's been known to give the city's residents plenty of specials in its time — including the return of its $25 all-you-can-eat pizza nights every Monday at its Newstead store. "Does this look like someone who's had all they can eat?" isn't something you'll be saying when you devour as many slices as your stomach can handle in 90 minutes, so calm your inner Homer Simpson. The main catch is that you'll have to buy a drink as well, but you can choose from both boozy and non-alcoholic options. Available from 5pm, this hefty feast serves up multiple options, too. You can stick with the $25 pizza-focused option, or add any pasta from the menu to your all-you-can-eat dinner for an extra $5. And if you're vegan or eat a gluten free diet, those can also be catered for for another $5. You do need to finish each serving of pizza or pasta before ordering your next, but that's hardly a tough rule.
Two quintessential Aussie summertime treats are coming together in delicious harmony this week — and if you're quick, you can taste-test the clever fusion for free. The gelato maestros at Messina have teamed up with celebrated wine label Brown Brothers to create a limited-edition prosecco rosé gelato. The icy-cool creation features all the vibrant watermelon and strawberry notes of Brown Brothers' signature prosecco rosé, mixed with bellini-inspired elements like blood peach and lychee cream to form a cooling, creamy gelato blend that's primed for a balmy summer's day. And, since the gelato itself has no alcohol content, it's a treat that everyone can enjoy. But like most Messina creations, this beauty is here for a good time, not a long time. If you're keen to get your mitts on the rosé gelato, you'll find complimentary scoops being handed out at Westfield Chermside shopping centre from 12pm — and only while stocks last — on Saturday, January 29.
Not content with launching its own rooftop bar already this year, Woolloongabba favourite C'est Bon has added another venue to its lineup: Le Bon Bakery, a baked goods pop-up that's slinging tasty French pastries right up until Christmas. Because being jolly at this time of year isn't just about your attitude, the temporary newcomer is serving up everything from cinnamon brioche to baguettes. 'Tis the season to treat your tastebuds, including when Le Bon Bakery adds festive items to its menu as Christmas approaches. The regular lineup features more than 30 items anyway, such as bechamel-laden croque monsieurs, the buttery cake that is gâteau basque, cheese and herb gougères (aka bite-sized bread puffs), Toulouse sausage rolls and rum baba — everyone loves a run-flavoured cake, after all. Takeaway coffee using Roast by Yili beans is also on the menu, as well as prepackaged granola. And, if you're now hungry, you'll need to head by from 7am–2pm Wednesday–Saturday up until Christmas eve. Images: Mitch Lowe.
In 1997, Christmas changed. With a single episode of Seinfeld, the world became privy to a new form of holiday celebration that eschewed other traditions and denominations. Instead of a tree, an unadorned pole gets pride of place. Rather than share happy stories, everyone gathered airs their grievances. And, instead of settling down on the couch after a hearty meal, attendees compete in feats of strength. Okay, so maybe you still enjoy tinsel, turkey and street cricket with your family on December 25; however Fritzenberger is making sure you can have some Festivus fun as well. It's hosting a trivia night that's all about Seinfeld's take on the season, with Isolation Trivia on hand to ask the questions. The evening quiz takes place at the Petrie Terrace burger joint on Wednesday, December 15. Yes, that's a few days before the official Festivus date of December 23 — but hey, if you're not happy about that, add it to your grievance list. We don't know if there really will be a grievances box, but you'll certainly be able to air your unhappiness. Entry is free, and registering in advance is recommended — as is wearing your favourite puffy shirt. Also, the trivia night falls on 50-cent wing night, so you won't need to complain about that. Need a Festivus refresher? Let the show itself help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKdnqjnegEs
Nestled in Eagle Lane, and one of the CBD's go-to music spots, Brooklyn Standard likes things live, loud and boozy. The bar and venue is making over its Tuesday night lineup, however, so you won't just be enjoying tunes — you'll be playing musical bingo. Giving your gran's favourite game a shake up has been a big trend over the past few years, and is the whole reason the term 'bingo rave' now exists. This weekly bingo evening won't have you waiting for the beat to drop and waving around glow sticks, but you will be listening to a killer soundtrack while you mark off your bingo card. Hosted by drag stars Stefani Stefani and Henny Spaghetti, Brooklyn Standard's Musical Bingo nights kick off on Tuesday, December 7, with seatings at 7pm for a 7.30pm start, and tickets costing $10 per person. Each week will feature a different theme, so you could be playing bingo to rock tunes one evening, then stamping along to party bangers the next. And, as for prizes, they'll come in the form of bar tabs. Yes, if you've got a drink in your hand, this'll also be boozy musical bingo.
Brewing up beers on Helen Street in Teneriffe for almost a decade now, Green Beacon Brewing Co has obviously become known for its selection of yeasty beverages. It's also built up a reputation for throwing shindigs, too — oyster parties, block parties, Oktoberfest parties, you name it — so to celebrate hitting nine years in action, it's unsurprisingly hosting a birthday bash. You know what you'll be drinking here, of course: beer, beer and more beer, naturally. Green Beacon's brew pub will be pouring its usual tipples; however, it'll also be pairing them with live tunes and a selection of lawn games. Giant Jenga and giant Connect 4 go down well with a brew or two — and if you don't believe us, here's your opportunity to find out for yourself. Head by from 12pm on Saturday, January 29 — and there'll be a raffle and birthday merch to win as well, because this birthday party isn't just about the host. Images: Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons.
The past couple of weeks haven't just been wet in Queensland and New South Wales. They've been catastrophically drenching, with the two states weathering not only torrential rain but also widespread flooding. And if you've been lucky enough to avoid the worst of it, you're probably eager to help out however you can — including with your next schooner, pint or several. At Australian Venue Co locations around Australia — all 180-plus pubs and bars around the country, including a heap in Brisbane — your next beer will help flood-affected folks in need. In Queensland specifically, the hospitality company is donating $1 per schooner and $2 per pint from every XXXX Gold to the Red Cross Qld and NSW Floods Appeal. Yep, in a time that hasn't had much in the way of good news, that's something to say cheers to. The whole thing has been dubbed Beers for Mates, and it's running till the end of the month. So, to lend a hand by sinking a few brews, all you need to do is hit up your local AVC venue and order a Furphys between Wednesday, March 9–Thursday, March 31. Top image: Bribie Island Hotel.
The World Press Photo Foundation is a global platform connecting professionals and audiences through raw visual journalism and storytelling. The organisation was founded in 1955 when a group of Dutch photographers organised a contest to expose their work to an international audience. Since then, the contest has grown into the world's most prestigious photography competition and global travelling exhibition. The 64th edition of the World Press Photo Exhibition will touch down in Brisbane this year and be on display at Brisbane Powerhouse from Saturday, June 26–Monday, July 18. The winners from this year's contest were chosen by an independent jury that reviewed 74,470 photographs by 4315 photographers from 130 countries — with more than 150 images from 45 photographers in 28 countries included in the exhibition. Taking top honours for 2020: Mads Nissen's First Embrace. The COVID-19 pandemic was always going to play a part in this year's batch of winners, with the image showing 85-year-old Rosa Luzia Lunardi being embraced by nurse Adriana Silva da Costa Souza at the Viva Bem care home in São Paulo, Brazil. This will be on display alongside other finalists, such as Luis Tato's stunning image of locust swarms in Kenya — and eye-catching images in other categories, such as contemporary issues, the environment, general news, nature, portraits and sports. [caption id="attachment_812191" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The First Embrace © Mads Nissen, Denmark, Politiken/Panos Pictures[/caption] Top image: Fighting Locust Invasion in East Africa © Luis Tato, Spain, for The Washington Post.
Sometimes, even the most adventurous among us need a little push, a dash of motivation or some extra incentive to take a particular leap. So you've always wanted to wander around southeast Queensland's Scenic Rim region, but have never found the time? Well, consider the area's annual Eat Local Week all the reason you need. If exploring, eating and drinking can't get you in the car and down the highway, then nothing can. Unsurprisingly, that's just the big-picture view of this nine-day festival. Promoting Scenic Rim produce and the people behind it, the event marks its tenth year in 2021 — and it has a big lineup in store to mark the occasion. On the bill: more than 125 events at 48 locations, so you won't be bored during this fest. A number of festivals are taking place within the broader event, for starters, so you can head to the fest for a winter harvest festival, street food festival, and a beer, food and wine festival. The program also includes everything from a citrus mini market, olive grove tastings, brewery banter, and wine and cheese in a vineyard, to picnics in an alpaca farm, macadamia farm tours, cocktail masterclasses and multiple long lunches. Basically, if it's an event in the Beaudesert, Boonah, Beechmont and Mt Barney area between Saturday, June 26 and Sunday, July 4, it's on the agenda.
For more than a decade, Brisbanites have flocked to South Bank for Regional Flavours, the inner city precinct's signature food and wine festival. To the delight of hungry stomachs across town, the popular event is returning in 2021 — and, while hosting one big food fest is all well and good, this year three separate weekend-long festivals are on the agenda. So, if you haven't made it along in the past, you'll have multiple chances in multiple months to rectify that situation this year. The first opportunity coms courtesy of Grazed and Grown by Regional Flavours, where local providers will be in focus between Friday, June 18–Sunday, June 20. This three-day event is all about Australian makers and chefs — and the Aussie landscape. You'll be able to shop through a range of wares from local producers and artisans, with everything on offer hailing from 250 kilometres of Brisbane City. Among the 40 stalls, you'll find wine ice cream, cakes in jars, handmade American-style pies and cold-fusion honey. And, expect a sizeable eco-friendly contingent as well, with supporting sustainability another big point of interest. Also on the lineup: cooking demonstrations with Alastair McLeod, Matt Moran, Georgia Barnes, Paul West, Alanna Sapwell, Matt Sinclair and Louis Tikaram; talks with industry leaders; live music; and craft brews and cocktails to sip. Regional Flavours might be tinkering with its format, but it still all takes place by the river at South Bank. And, if you'd like to hit up one of the mini fest's signature events, there'll be an opening party, a winter feast, a celebration of food and drinks businesses just to Queensland's south, and a beer, gin and wine pairing session, too.
It's time to mark another food-based commemorative occasion. Yes, another one. By now, we all know that they're just excuses to eat more of a certain dish — and there's so many of them that you really could use them to plan your daily eating choices. But we keep celebrating dates like World Fish 'n' Chip Day because they're both tasty and fun. At Kangaroo Point, One Fish Two Fish is getting into the spirit of this seafood extravaganza in 2021 by, well, serving up seafood. And it's doing so across three days — from Friday, June 4–Sunday, June 7. Make plans for lunch or dinner, with $12 takeaway cod meals on offer. For less than a lobster, you'll eat your way through a serving of battered, fried or crumbed cod (your choice), shoestring fries, garden salad and housemade tartare sauce. You can pre-order in advance if you like, but you don't have to — so you can either book the special, then head by to pick it up, or drop in, order and take your classic fish 'n' chip feast home with you.
For the second year in a row, North Byron Bay Parkland won't be welcoming in bands and music lovers this July, with Splendour in the Grass' 2021 festival already rescheduled to November. But if enjoying a jam-packed lineup of tunes is a cherished part of your winter routine, that's still on the cards, thanks to a new virtual Splendour event taking place in its usual midyear time slot. Called Splendour XR, the mud-free two-stage event will pop up across the weekend of Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25 — but you'll be watching along from home. Or, from wherever you choose to tune in via your mobile, tablet, browser, desktop or VR headset, all to watch more than 50 acts take to the virtual stage over two days. Leading the charge are headliners Khalid and The Killers. The former will do the honours on Saturday, while the latter will take over on Sunday. They'll be joined by a hefty list of talent, including Chvrches, Denzel Curry, Duke Dumont, Tash Sultana, Violent Soho, Phoebe Bridgers and Band of Horses on the first day, plus Charlie XCX, Vance Joy, The Avalanches, Of Monsters and Men, The Jungle Giants and Ocean Alley on the second. If you're wondering how Splendour XR will work, that's understandable — and no, you won't just be watching old gig footage or clips from past Splendours. Instead, the fest will feature new, never-before-seen live sets that have been created especially for the virtual event. And, while they'll be available to watch worldwide, the fest will operate on Australian time — running from 12pm–2am AEST each day, with tunes starting from 2pm. You'll also be able to view the performances for seven days afterwards. Splendour organisers are also aiming to take as much of the IRL festival experience with them into the virtual realm, too, with attendees set to access "an imaginatively embellished but faithful recreation of Splendour's Byron Bay venue", according to the festival announcement. You'll also create your own schedule so that you can hop between stages to see whoever you like, and you'll be able to virtually meet up with your mates in the process as well. Also part of the fest: raising funds for live music industry workers, mental health and wellbeing, and sustainability. There'll also be an online medical centre designed to help anyone that's struggling with their mental health after the chaos of the past 15 months or so. SPLENDOUR XR LINEUP: DAY 1 Khalid Chvrches Denzel Curry Duke Dumont Tash Sultana Masked Wolf Russ Millions Band Of Horses Little Simz Violent Soho Aurora Phoebe Bridgers Vera Blue Pink Sweat$ Client Liaison Griff Pond Tayla Parx Dune Rats Methyl Ethel The Chats Triple One Cat & Calmell King Stingray The Southern River Band DAY 2 The Killers Charli XCX Vance Joy Grimes Metaverse (Super Beta) The Avalanches Of Monsters and Men Kaytranada Black Pumas Hot Dub Time Machine Millennium Parade The Jungle Giants Ocean Alley Jungle What So Not King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Sinéad Harnett Holly Humberstone Spacey Jane Crooked Colours Amyl and The Sniffers Wafia Aviva The Snuts Band-Maid Ziggy Ramo Gretta Ray Top image: Mitch Lowe.
Tequila is always on the menu at El Camino Cantina, the vibrant Tex-Mex chain that's been spreading its footprint across Australia over the past few years. Between Tuesday, July 20–Sunday, July 25, the brand will be splashing a bit more of the stuff around, however — all to celebrate National Tequila Day. The actual occasion falls on Saturday, July 24. It wouldn't be an El Camino shindig if it didn't spread the love as far as it can, however. So, you'll have six days to tuck into plenty of tequila. You'll be able to sip it in margaritas, enjoy flights of the stuff, and also taste it while eating tacos and chicken wings. El Camino's Bowen Hills, South Bank, Chermside and Robina venues will still be doing their current Not So Soft Drink series, and serving up its signature flavours. So, that's the marg side of things covered. If you're keen on tequila by itself, you'll find two different flights on offer, each showcasing three varieties of the tipple. And, food-wise, the chain will be doing tequila chicken tacos. They'll feature chicken covered in a tequila-spiced marinade, then paired with red cabbage, lime, pickled onion, coriander, jalapeno and avocado. Or, opt for the tequila, lime, chilli and paprika chicken wings as part of the eatery's King of the Wing Festival.
Whether she's behind the camera or in front of it — or both — a movie that involves Miranda July in some shape or form is instantly worth everyone's attention. The same applies to the American talent's recordings, art and books, too, because displaying at the Venice Biennale and hitting the New York Times bestsellers list is also on her resume. July's filmography is small but impactful. She's packed a punch by opting for quality over quantity so far, and viewers have been able to reap the rewards. Case in point: the phenomenal Kajillionaire, which hit screens nine years after previous film, instantly proved distinctive, empathetic and engaging, and was also one of the absolute best movies of 2020. Accordingly, it's no wonder that Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art is spending almost a fortnight paying tribute to July as part of its latest Australian Cinematheque season — the fittingly called Miranda July: Me and You and Everybody. Kajillionare is screening, if you missed it last year, and so are the July-directed Me and You and Everyone We Know and The Future. You can also see her on-screen in the exceptional Madeline's Madeline, watch her chat about the challenges faced by female filmmakers in documentary Half the Picture, and check out No Light No Land Anywhere, which she produces. Screenings are free, with sessions on Wednesday and Friday nights — and Saturdays and Sundays during the day.
