That soothing feeling that sweeps over you when you spy a cute canine, spend too much time watching internet cat videos or even just spot a picture of a newborn animal — that's the feeling at the heart of Australia's newest wellness sessions. Sure, you've been to kitten yoga and puppy pilates, and they're both great. But we're guessing that you haven't tried meditating with baby goats or getting mindful with soft, cuddly lambs. Currently held in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, attendees at Karmably's classes attempt to find inner bliss while they're surrounded by rescued baby farm animals. In short, it's the best way to de-stress when life's got your goat. After all, who can remain overwhelmed, exhausted or annoyed when they're sharing their chill-out session with actual goats? The classes focus on relaxation techniques, like Breathe In & Bleat Out, which gives you an idea of just what's in store. Those heading along can expect three parts to the session: mindful stretching, meditation and snuggling the four-legged participants. If you're wondering where the concept came from, it was inspired by organiser Berenice Tan's own experiences trying to find something other than the usual mindfulness classes within Australia. Unimpressed with the options already available, she flew to Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco "and experienced every meditation class under the sun," she explains. "Funnily enough, I heard about goat yoga and laughed it off as something ridiculous I wasn't interested in trying." Upon returning to Brisbane, Tan began to research animal therapy and, after learning of the benefits (and realising that everyone loves cute critters), her sessions with goats, lambs and even piglets were born. The bliss goes both ways, too — with Karmably not only helping humans to relax in a fun manner, but also assisting animals in need. Tan works with sanctuaries, rescue centres, and organisations such as Harmony Hooves Healing Hearts, Brisbane Pony Parties and My Little Farm Friends. They're all outfits that raise baby creatures who have either been rejected by their mothers or lost their mums in other ways, and hand-rear them until they can be adopted out as pets to families who live on suitable properties. After setting up shop in August, classes are already selling out two months in advance — but there's currently spaces for the latest Brissie session at 8.30am on Saturday, May 11. The calming cuteness takes place at Raw Dance Company at Moorooka. Updated March 25.
The '80s might be known for big hair and bigger shoulder pads, but when it comes to music, it was also big in another area: variety. This is the decade sandwiched between '70s punk and '90s grunge, after all. Everyone from David Bowie to Public Enemy, Madonna to Salt-N-Pepa, and Joy Division to Ricky Astley had their moment. Everyone can have their moment again at TRAXX '80s party, where all things three-decades-ago are back in vogue. (Except voguing — that was a few years later.) We're talking about a time when the rain was purple, the Mondays were blue, and everyone looked pretty in pink or came back in black. Indeed, an '80s party really is the gift that keeps on giving, with a playlist of retro tunes certain to get the mood pumping. DJs Missy Boots and Leisa Lektro will be spinning the tracks, so all you need to do is show up and dance. And dress up in appropriate period attire, if that takes your fancy, with prizes on offer for the best costume.
Usually, no one is particularly fond of Mondays. The weekend is over and five days of work are ahead of you, after all. But December 14 isn't any old Monday. Yes, it kicks off the last full working week of 2020 — thank goodness — but it's also a day that comes with free burgers. Brooklyn Depot is spreading its Brisbane footprint by opening a new joint on Racecourse Road in Hamilton — and if you head along at 12pm on Monday, December 14, you might score yourself a free cheeseburger. Only 300 are available, and it's a first in, best dressed kind of affair. But, it's also a way to nab a free lunch. Arriving early to hop in the queue is recommended, because the burgs will be available as soon as the doors open. Of course, Brooklyn Depot's new outpost will be serving up menu items other than free cheeseburgers — if you're hankering for something else, and don't mind paying. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brooklyn Depot, Brisbane (@brooklyndepotbrisbane)
Brisbane's streets are about to look a whole lot brighter — and sport a lot more paint, feature giant murals aplenty and showcase a heap more art in general. The reason: the returning Brisbane Street Art Festival, which'll take over the city from Saturday, May 7–Sunday, May 22 for its sixth and largest physical event. When it comes to splashing art across the streets, spraying some paint around and stencilling up a storm, this festival offers a firm reminder: no, Banksy isn't the only artist worth celebrating and never has been. Indeed, the street art scene has been thriving in Brisbane for years, which is why this fest even exists. 2022's BSAF will also feature international artists for the first time since 2019, helping put 50 new large-scale murals around the place — even if only temporarily. That includes Miss Birdy, Iñigo Sesma and Fivust, with the talent lineup spanning folks from the USA, Spain, Russia, Thailand, Indonesia and New Zealand. They'll be painting up a storm alongside Australian artists such as Sofles, Lisa King and Rachael Sarra. Also on the list: everyone from 23rd Key, Bronik, Drapl and GERM to Gus Eagleton, Katherine Viney, MAUY and Yin Lu. Over the festival's 16-day run, their efforts will be complemented by a range of art events — including Scribble Slam, a Brisbane-themed photography exhibit and a big party at Felons Brewing Co — and workshops. One place you'll want to head to is Northshore, where BSAF is taking over an entire warehouse and using it as its headquarters. Dubbed Superordinary Northshore, it'll host 12 mural activations, plus plenty of events — including the fest's opening party. Yes, that means there'll be impressive large-scale artworks by the river — and at Howard Smith Wharves and South Bank as well. Also getting a new coat of paint: the Queen Street Mall, RNA Showgrounds and the Valley mall, and that's just a glimpse of the venue list. BSAF is bringing Tools of the Trade, an exhibition from Hong Kong, our way as well. It steps through the history of street art and graffiti, but views it through the tools that artists use to create their work. And if you're keen to learn a new skill, the aforementioned workshop lineup has doubled since last year, and now features everything from yarn bombing to tufting. Images: Cam Scale; Sheep Chen and Adnate by Joshua Taten.
Dust off your sombreros, amigos. The latest international excuse for a good time to reach our shores is Cinco de Mayo — a celebration of all things Mexican (which, if we’re being nit-picky, is really more of an Americanisation than anything but shh, let us party). In celebration, the folks at Corona and Beach Burrito Company Bondi are putting together a fiesta, complete with face painting by local street artists and the first ever Taco Time Trials Eating Contest. For the less competitively inclined but equally taco-happy, Cinco de Mayo falls conveniently on a Tuesday, and Beach Burrito Co’s regular $3 taco deal applies, so your pesos’ll stretch further. With what you’ve got left, you can sip salt-rimmed margaritas, down trays of tequila shots (not recommended) or share a bucket of ice-cold Coronas. And, of course, come prepared to smash and whack your way to glory, because they wouldn’t be doing Mexico right without pinatas.
The year was 1971. The band was the Rolling Stones. The album was Sticky Fingers. It was the British group's first release of the '70s, and it helped set the standard their sound for the decade to follow. 45 years later, it's still considered one of their greatest ever records. Indeed, from the moment the opening strains of 'Brown Sugar' start rockin', there's no doubting that Sticky Fingers is something special. While the band still tour, hearing them play any of their albums live in their entirety is never going to happen, so a heap of Aussie musos have teamed up to give Brisbane the next best thing. Trust Tim Rogers to strut his stuff to tracks like 'Wild Horses' and 'Moonlight Mile' — and trust Ben Salter to join him. Salter's The Wilson Pickers bandmate Danny Widdicombe is actually the mastermind behind the event, with one of his other groups, The Honey Sliders, helping crank out the iconic album plus a heap of other great Stones songs. And if you can't make it to The Zoo on Saturday night, they'll be doing it all over again at The Soundlounge in Currumbin on Sunday evening.
Luke Jerram has been bringing the universe to West End throughout Brisbane Festival 2022, all thanks to one giant globe. Measuring seven metres in diameter, the UK-based artist's glowing orb has made its home at West Village for the duration of the huge arts fest — first as his famed Museum of the Moon installation; then as Gaia, aka the earth; and finally as the red planet. Mars will be on display for just five days, from Tuesday, September 20–Saturday, September 24 — and, like its predecessors, it's worth a look. Looking at our own terrain and its natural satellite recreated in such a huge but close fashion has already felt otherworldly, so expect that sensation to only grow while peering at a completely different planet. Once again, the attention-grabbing piece uses NASA imagery — and, as a result, features Mars' valleys, craters, volcanoes and mountains in stunning detail. As well as offering a scale model of the Martian surface, the installation is a work of light and surround sound as well. Is there life on Mars, as David Bowie pondered? Could you survive on the planet by growing your own potatoes, like in The Martian? You won't get the answers here, but you will take in a spectacular piece of art. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Luke Jerram (@lukejerramartist)
If you think about it, your shadow plays an important role in your life. It follows you everywhere, keeps you company and even makes you giggle when you’re surprised by it on nights spent home alone. Pretty cool, hey? But sometimes the friendship with your shadow isn’t always smooth sailing. Thank goodness the Patch Theatre Company’s latest production deals with such tricky friendships! Entitled Me and My Shadow, the play follows the fanciful escapades of a girl as she finds a way to be friends with her shadow. It is all remarkably told using the languages of paper, light, shadow, colour, water, music, sound and words. The play is currently on at QPAC as part of their Out of the Box Festival – a week-long children’s festival that encourages learning and “serious fun”. Now is the time to take your child, your friend’s child or your inner child out to the theatre!
Drooling over the 2019 Coachella lineup? Weeping because your bank balance says you won't be heading to Indio, California to catch Childish Gambino, Tame Impala and Ariana Grande? We understand. "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" doesn't really apply here — but "if you can't attend, pretend" (which we totally just made up) does. You've got two options: compile your own epic playlist of present and past Coachella acts to listen to on repeat, or head to the The Flying Cock's Cockchella on Friday, April 12 for a celebration of the array of talent that will grace the fest's stages over the next two weekends. If that's not enough of an enticement, let's run through some of the other artists on the bill (aka the folks whose tracks The Flying Cock's DJs will be spinning): Anderson Paak, Janelle Monae, CHVRCHES, Gucci Gang, Kid Cudi, Wiz Khalifa, Weezer, Aphex Twin, Khalid, Diplo, Jaden Smith, Idris Elba and Aussies Rüfüs Du Sol. Paying tribute to all that and more is going to be huge. Entry is free, and the fun kicks off from 8pm.
This Is Not Art is Newcastle's premier independent arts and media festival, where the emphasis is on collaboration and experimentation. It is a testing ground for new ideas, an opportunity to mingle with industry professionals and fellow artists in order to re-invigorate your artistic passion and develop new skills. An umbrella sheltering a number of festivals, this year TINA is home to the Crack Theatre Festival, National Young Writers' Festival, Critical Animals and Electrofringe. Between, the festivals boast workshops, performances, round table discussions, interactive events and a sleepover. A forum for showcasing, networking and inventing, TINA is a festival targeted at launching a generation of aspiring artists and fostering the creativity of local communities. Capping off a weekend of bold and dynamic events, don't miss the epic closing party hosted by Electrofringe and featuring a swag of emerging electro artists from Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle spinning danceable tunes and experimental beats.
From Brisbane Festival's free program comes A Force, an interactive, immersive installation from artists Hiromi Tango and Craig Walsh. Taking over Flowstate between Monday, September 10 and Sunday, October 14, it'll evolve and change over the course of its stay — adding materials, responding to ideas and capturing memories. This part of the festival isn't just something to look at, however. If you have a spare morning between Tuesday, September 11 and Friday, September 14, you can also participate. In sessions facilitated by Queensland College of Art students, you'll learn about transforming materials such as cables and wires into a piece of art, contemplate the connectivity that they represent and think about linking up with the world beyond the confines of a digital device. The workshops are also free, but you'll need to register to attend. Image: Simon Hewson.
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 means Queensland Ballet's final production for the season, with The Nutcracker brightening up the QPAC stage every year. Whether you've experienced the Tchaikovsky-scored two-act performance about sentient toys, dancing snowflakes and the Sugar Plum Fairy before, or you're joining little Clara on her Christmas Eve journey for the first time, you're certain to get swept up in the show's magic. And if you don't already have a ticket, don't delay — selling out is also an annual tradition. Image: David Kelly.
What do The Simpsons, Star Wars and Shrek have in common? They've all graced the big screen, they clearly share a love for the letter S and they're each huge hits. Oh, and they've all inspired their own firmly adults-only stage parodies, as pop-culture favourites starting with the 19th letter of the alphabet happen to do in Australia, it seems. Somebody once told us that Shreklesque is the burlesque and drag take pop culture's favourite green ogre that you didn't know you needed — and we're telling you that now. (And no, nobody informed you two decades ago that the animated hit would turn out like this, because no one could've predicted it.) On the bill at the aptly named show: the kind of irreverent and raunchy take on all things Shrek that The Bad Collective will be serving up with its upcoming The Stripsons, too — and, while Shreklesque has been around for a couple of years now, earning awards and acclaim in the process, the Aussie production is hitting the road for a national and New Zealand tour in 2022. That means that it's time to make a date with a production that might share a general storyline and a fondness for the colour green with the much less satirical — and actually family-friendly — Broadway hit Shrek the Musical, which came our way a year or so back, but couldn't be more different in a heap of ways. If you're wondering who had the brainwave to turn Shrek into a burlesque show, that'd be Trigger Happy as Shreklesque's creator and director. For this tour, the show's cast includes Bebe Gunn, Rainbow, Tugboat Tiffy, Baron Von Envy, Henny Spaghetti, Barbie Banks, Selin Tian, Rosaline DeRussi, Indea Sekula and De La Vinx. When Shreklesque hits The Tivoli from Wednesday, June 15–Saturday, June 18, wearing green is obviously recommended — although you'll be seeing plenty of it on-stage anyway. And if this is exactly your sense of humour when it comes to beloved pop-culture commodities, all that glitters is gold, naturally. Image: SomeFX.
Once the site of Expo 88, and now a sprawling riverside precinct with everything from pools to eateries, South Bank is about to become a Christmas wonderland. When Friday, December 1 hits, festive cheer will take over the waterside parkland with activities for Brisbane's merriest residents. Chief among them: the return of the annual free outdoor Christmas cinema. Getting jolly by the river has meant settling in for themed films without paying a cent for years now, and 2023 is no different. With two screenings per night from Monday, December 18–Saturday, December 23 — at 6pm and 8pm — at River Quay, Christmas movie lovers can settle in for a selection of yuletide favourites, including Elf and The Holiday. Those dates will see the bulk of South Bank's Christmas festivities start raining down on the precinct, including a seasonal song-and-dance show, photo opportunities with Santa, carols by the river and live tunes performed on the lawn nightly, soundtracking bites and drinks from nearby eateries. When December kicks in, however, South Bank's Christmas tree will light up from that very day, with decorations set to dazzle the parkland until Wednesday, January 3, 2024. Another huge drawcard, especially if you're a last-minute shopper, is the return of The Collective Markets Christmas Edition from Friday, December 15–Saturday, December 23. Under twinkling lights, rows of stalls will sell everything from clothes to homewares — with a big focus on handmade goods — to help you find gifts for your nearest and dearest. While South Bank's Christmas antics light up the south side of the river in the inner city, the Brisbane CBD's already-announced festive lineup has plenty on offer across the water — including the return of The Enchanted Garden at Roma Street Parklands. Grinches, consider yourselves warned. Christmas at South Bank runs from Friday, December 1 — head to the South Bank website for further details.
Winter is upon us, the gloves and beanies are out of storage, and it's time to start loading up on sweets and carbs. That's how every June starts — and, this year, Krispy Kreme wants to help with the latter. How? By giving away an extremely excessive number of doughnuts. You're probably now wondering what constitutes an excessive amount of doughnuts. No, polishing off a packet by yourself doesn't count, at least in this instance. Krispy Kreme's giveaway is going big, with the chain slinging 10,000 original glazed doughnuts on Friday, June 7 in conjunction with National Doughnut Day. Whether or not you're a big fan of food 'days', we're guessing you are quite fond of free doughnuts. To snag yourself a signature glazed freebie, head to your closest Krispy Kreme store. Queenslanders can hit up eight different locations, with the most central in Albert Street in the CBD. The National Doughnut Day deal isn't available anywhere other than Krispy Kreme stores, or via online orders or third-party deliveries. There's also a limit of one freebie per person, and the giveaway only applies to the original glazed variety. The 100,000 doughnuts will be spread across the participating stores around the country, so you'll want to get in relatively early if you want to kick off your Friday with a free sweet and doughy treat. Obviously, whether you nab one or not is subject to availability.
Like beer? Like monsters? Like your brews named after creepy critters, with bottle, can and label artwork to match? Horror-loving drinkers, there's never been a better time to pair your beverages with your fondness for all things scary — but from 12pm on Saturday, October 14 will be even better than usual thanks to Netherworld's Monster Menagerie Beer Festival. The returning event, this year named Monster Menagerie VI: Beers of Blüdsbane, will bring together nine yeasty tipples, strange creatures and stellar collaborations, all for a day of boozing fun. And if you're wondering why it takes place in October, just think about it for a second. 'Tis the month of Halloween, after all. The big focus in 2023: brews with a vampiric spin, and of the red and black variety. Taking part: 3 Ravens Brewing, Range Brewing, Sea Legs Brewing, Common Ground Brewing and Helios Brewing, plus Revel Brewing, Seven Mile Brewing, Working Title Brew Co and the delightfully named Hohly Water. Tickets cost $35, which include a tasting paddle featuring 150 millilitres of each and every one of these beers, as well as a limited edition enamel pin and five game tokens. Top image: Cole Bennetts.
One person's trash is another's treasure, and that jewel in the rough might just become part of an artistic marvel. Ten Brisbanites have certainly tried their best to ensure that that's the case, with their work now on display at Salvage: Recycling Art Exhibition. Taking over the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts until July 7, Salvage is the ultimate showcase of recycled, reclaimed and reused creations. Everything on display has been crafted from items sourced from one of the city's two tip shops, as well as other second-hand stores throughout Brisbane. That's right — these pieces are made from objects that were once discarded and destined for landfill. Salvage isn't just about celebrating resourceful artists, though; it's also about finding out how these wonders came to be, and then learning how to fashion your own. That all forms part of the accompanying event program. You'll never throw anything out again.
There ain't no party like a backyard party — and, when the backyard in question is attached to an iconic Brisbane venue, things get a little more epic. Think of A Night at the Old Museum as the kind of home shindig you've always wanted to throw, but with Stone & Wood doing the work for you. A free-entry, outdoor party, A Night at the Old Museum will have beers and more beers on offer, including a special Brewsvegas tipple. S&W will be donating all the proceeds to OzHarvest, so consider having a brew a good deed. Ze Pickle, King of Wings, Cone Queen and Luigi Italian will also be on hand to fill your stomach, Sonic Sherpa will help stock your record collection, and yard games, live art from DRAPL and Your Mates DJs on the decks will cap off the fun. Come 9pm, step inside for a gig by The Belligerents, with the $20 ticket price once again going to OzHarvest.
For five nights in October, Palace Barracks will become home to all manner of unnerving tales. There'll be head-spinning stories of possession, demonic children, haunted dreams and more than one person running around with a chainsaw — all on the big screen, of course. If you're wondering why, the answer is obvious. With Halloween approaching, and the month before it generally earmarked for all things spooky anyway, the Petrie Terrace cinema is getting into the unsettling spirit of the occasion with Palace Encore: The Horror Season. It's a retro movie bonanza, with screenings happening at 8.30pm on Friday nights between October 4–25, then swapping to 7pm on Thursday, October 31. It all begins with one of the biggest horror movies there is, aka The Exorcist, which has scared people out of their seats for decades for good reason. Next up comes Mia Farrow's pregnancy from hell in Rosemary's Baby, before a road trip goes oh-so-wrong in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. After that, you won't want to fall a sleep in the original A Nightmare on Elm Street, with Freddy Kruger always lurking. Finally, you'll want to grab your boomstick, because Bruce Campbell is fending off zombies in The Evil Dead.
I love Neil and Tim Finn, and I wish wish wish they were Australian so we could claim them as our own. But I do think the Aussie love affair with those boys has really had a fantastic impact on Australian/New Zealand relations. Really, it’s most likely the only reason we are still allies. It seems a lot of other Australians are head over heels for Neil and Tim as well, even some pretty fabulous musical Australians. In fact, a whole raft of them created two fantastic albums titled She Will Have Her Way (released in 2005) and He Will Have His Way (released in 2010) a tribute to the songs of the Finn Brothers. Obviously the ‘She’ album features lady musicians and the ‘He’ album has the blokes. Both albums are totally great with the likes of Clare Bowditch, Missy Higgins, Boy and Bear, Lior and many more playing their favourite songs by Neil and/or Tim Finn. This includes the oldies from Split Enz through to Crowded House, and their more recent solo and duo efforts - all totally beautiful and fabulous. Now these songs will be performed live with a raft of lovely Aussie musicians (Clare Bowditch, Sarah Blasko, Sally Seltmann, Holly Throsby, Paul Dempsey, Lior and Alexander Gow) strutting the sounds of Neil and Tim on stage at QPAC. There really is no need to spruik this, it will be amazing, and you should go.
It has only been five 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 the 2018 event fast approaching, they've announced the first taste of things to come on May 6. And, like last year, it comes local legends and a beer garden. In fact, the latter was such a hit when it was introduced in 2017, that this year it's going to be even bigger. Leading the music lineup is Custard, once more turning the festival into a celebration of one of the city's best and longest-running bands. They'll be joined by The Mavis's as part of a 20th anniversary reunion tour celebrating their ARIA-nominated 1998 album Pink Pills, plus Screamfeeder, Diana Anaid, Shag Rock, Eliza & The Delusionas and The Brains Trust, with others set to be added before the event. As for that huge outdoor drinking area on the corner of Logan and Old Cleveland roads, expect it bring together a host of breweries and wineries, including a ticketed VIP experience with Canadian Club & Byron Bay Brewery. Food trucks, market stalls, a petting zoo and a range of activities will round out what's shaping up to be another great day out, all on a Sunday that's oh-so-conveniently before a public holiday. Image: Stones Corner Festival.
We've known for a while that the Wynnum-Manly area is brimming with the ocean's finest bounty. In fact, we've even suggested going on a fish and chip crawl there. Who doesn't want to mosey between coastal greasy spoons and eat seafood by the seashore at every one of them? Well, the fine folks in the city's east have gone one better: they've made a whole day of fun out of the bayside's fondness for bugs, crabs, prawns, oysters, scallops and plenty of kinds of fish. That'd be the Wynnum Manly Seafood Festival, a community seafood event that'll take over George Clayton Park overlooking the iconic Wynnum jetty on Monday, May 4. Previous fests have attracted more than 15,000 people, so attendees could have a heap of fish-loving company. [caption id="attachment_762591" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Wynnum Manly Seafood Festival[/caption] This time around, there'll be seafood stalls, a licensed bar, live music and activities for kids. And eating. So much eating. Arrive hungry and hankering for an ocean-fuelled feast, obviously — with everything from seafood curry, deep-fried seafood and seafood pizza to seafood dumplings, seafood crepes and seafood tacos on the menu.
Calling all Ozploitation fans and Mad Max obsessives, plus anyone who wishes that they'd been living in Australia in the 70s: Brisbane Festival has the show for you. Stunt Double can't actually transport you back in time, but it will take you there in spirit — and, in the process, onto the set of an Aussie action flick in the era. A blend of theatre and dance that's clearly targeted at film fans as much as stage devotees, this piece goes behind the scenes on a movie shoot as chaos ensues — for the titular figures, that is, not the actors. Cue jumps, flips, frays and other physical displays as a blockbuster gets made, plus laughs and high-octane thrills as well. Yes, there's comedy in the show, but this performance takes its name seriously. This is a four-days-only affair, unleashing its stunts upon Brisbane Powerhouse from Wednesday, September 6–Saturday, September 9. Stunt Double hails from The Farm, adding to a resume that includes past must-sees such as Throttle (which also makes great use of a car), installation The Sanctuary, the apocalyptic The Ninth Wave and the delightfully titled Hold Me Closer Tony Danza.
It's not every night that you eat a meal prepared by one of Sydney's top chefs, aka the man dubbed Australia's godfather of Turkish cuisine. And it's not every night that you can devour four courses of his delicious fare in a mouth-watering feast — but you can at Gerard's Bistro on June 22. That's when the Istanbul-born culinary wiz behind Sydney's Anason takes over the James Street favourite for an evening to remember, and a meal to remember as well. At A Night with Somer Sivrioglu, you'll chomp your way through a flavoursome banquet of recipes from his award-winning cookbook Anatolia, and feel like your tastebuds have been whisked back to the Ottoman Empire. You can also grab a signed copy of his book if you want to try to rework his magic at home. Dishes include icli kofte, kuzu tandir and somon pastirma — or pulled duck dumplings with kashk yogurt, lamb neck with spring onion and garlic and fenugreek cured salmon with zucchini flowers. For dessert, prepare to indulge in a Turkish mess with gullach, mastic merengue, rose cream and berries. The dinner costs $150 per person, but it's worth it (and cheaper than flights down south to do the same thing).
It's possible that after directing the pastoral idyll that was the Olympic Opening Ceremony, Danny Boyle felt the need to dirty things up. That would explain Trance, a gangster/heist movie that takes a turn into the unexplored psychosexual corridors of Inception. James McAvoy stars as a young art auctioneer, Simon, who gets mixed up in some bad business. Charged with hiding the most valuable artwork on the auction block in the event of a heist, Simon cops a severe bump on the head after Franck (Vincent Cassel) and his men breach the building. He now has amnesia and doesn't know what's what. It's soon made clear to him, however, that this was an inside job of his orchestration, and that he's the only one who knows — knew? — where the painting is hidden. In an attempt to retrieve the buried information, Franck sends Simon to a hypnotherapist, Elizabeth (Rosario Dawson), who soon inserts herself into the gang. Things get crazy from here on in. Boyle might never have made a bad film (or play or Olympic spectacle). His titles range from Trainspotting to 28 Days Later and 127 Hours (how is that range possible, even?). Slumdog Millionaire was universally adored. But Trance will divide people. A film like this really rests on the payoff of its twist, and the Trance twist is limp and signposted early on (and I'm not one of those actively thinking cinemagoers who can usually guess the ending). There seems no good reason for the lack of subtlety throughout. On top of that, some debasing things are inflicted on the single female character, and you'd really like that kind of treatment to only happen with good narrative cause. That said, Trance is definitely interesting. You should see it just so you can have a healthy argument about it with your movie date. It's dark, complex, challenging and so inventive as to demand attention. Above all, it has a distinct and mesmerising visual style. Most of the shots you see are indirect; you are not looking at the actors as they stand in front of the camera lens but at their image as reflected off potentially several mirrors or other reflective surfaces. At one point, it's such that I swear I can see a pool cleaner crawling along the kitchen ceiling. What we think we're looking at is literally not what we are looking at. It could be a kitchen. It could also be a pool. It's a beautifully accomplished metaphor for the hypnotised state that Boyle has realised together with cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle, a frequent collaborator. Their saturated blue-orange colour palette is a stunner. Another frequent collaborator of note is Rick Smith of Underworld, the iconic electro band who have worked on Boyle's Trainspotting, Sunshine and, yes, the Olympic Opening Ceremony, among other things. Smith adds another literal dimension to Trance — the music. Those demanding, racing beats are one unsubtle touch that works. Read our interview with Danny Boyle and the cast of Trance here. https://youtube.com/watch?v=L4_bdS3_gr0
Whether you're settling in for karaage chicken wings, matcha soft serve or a sake flight over killer river views, Yoko Dining is one of Brisbane's must-visit (and best) restaurants and bars all year round, at all times and no matter the occasion. Here's a new excuse to head by: the Howard Smith Wharves izakaya's New Year's Eve and New Year's Day bottomless deal, which is being served up from Sunday, December 31, 2023–Monday, January 1, 2024. From 11.30am–3pm on both days, the returning Buns + Bubbles will get you enjoying those chook pieces and more over plenty of effervescent drops. The drinks will flow for an hour and 45 minutes, pouring prosecco and house wines — all for $95 per person. Food-wise, you'll also tuck into togarashi edamame, nikkei ceviche and koshihikari rice as starters. Save some room, too, because then comes a honey koji roast duck set complete with bao buns, pickled kohlrabi, cucumber, kimchi and nitsume. If you're keen on adding mimosa slushies, lychee nigori jugs and yuzu spirit jugs to your bottomless spread to celebrate the occasion, your spread will cost you $130 per person. Images: Nikki To.
The acclaimed musical, Jersey Boys, has finally hit Brisbane after months of anticipation. Thankfully the wait is well worth it, as the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons is reportedly a wickedly entertaining show. The Four Seasons sold over 175 million records throughout their storied career, not bad for four former blue-collar workers from the wrong side of the tracks, right? Notable hits featured in the show include ‘Sherry’, ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, ‘Rag Doll’, ‘Oh What a Night’ and ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’, timeless classics that will be sure to get your feet tapping. The Brisbane season of this must-see production runs until the 16th of September, but don’t get complacent, tickets are selling like hotcakes. Purchase your tickets from the QPAC website before they dance their way out of stock!
Australian superhero fans, your must-see movies over the next few years are going to look very familiar. You won't just spot parts of the Gold Coast and Brisbane in Marvel's Thor: Ragnarok, which is due in cinemas in October 2017 — come 2018, DC Comics' Aquaman will also boast plenty of Queensland scenery. What's good for a a hammer-wielding god is good for a water-dwelling hero, it seems (and, given that the Gold Coast has plenty of water parks, it certainly appears to be a great fit). Aquaman will start shooting in early 2017 at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast and on location in south-east Queensland. As well as starring Game of Thrones' star and Port Adelaide AFL supporter Jason Momoa, Amber Heard (who we're guessing won't bring any pet pooches with her), Patrick Wilson and Willem Dafoe, it'll mark the homecoming of Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring and Fast & Furious 7 director James Wan. "This is another huge win for our local industry and testament to the international reputation of our people," said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. The Federal Government pledged to provide $22 million in tax breaks to entice the production to come to Australia. Indeed, it's shaping up to be a busy time for the local industry, with the just-renamed Pacific Rim: Uprising also resuming filming early in 2017, and the likes of Kong: Skull Island, The Shallows and San Andreas shooting on the Gold Coast in recent years. It's also a great time to be a comic book movie lover in Queensland. After trying to spot Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston running around Brisbane in 2016, superhero aficionados can explore all things Marvel at the Gallery of Modern Art's upcoming Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe exhibition come April, and then attempt to catch a glimpse of the next effort in the DC realm.
Death is a very tricky subject, and one that theatre masters POST attempt to conquer in Oedipus Schmoedipus. A theatre piece like no other, this Frankenstein-style performance strays from the conventional play structure to present something far more unique and grizzly. With the finest of stitching, this play's challenging script brings together the dismembered death scenes from 200 pieces of literature in an absolute manifesto of death. This latest performance by POST draws snippets, characters, dialogues, and scenes from the best of western canon. Using the words of these old plays, poems, and stories — from Shakespeare to Shaw — POST bring to life a performance that is deeply unsettling and daringly original. Ambitiously scripted, this tongue-twister of a performance is a brilliant marriage of black comedy and dramatic death. It's part of the World Theatre Festival's scratch series showcasing work in development, so at the end you'll have the opportunity to provide feedback that will help shape its next stage of life.
In Her's almost certainly near future, Joaquin Phoenix plays Theodore Twombly — a gentle, retiring man who works at BeautifulHandwrittenLetters.com penning heartfelt correspondence between people he's never met. In his personal life, his wife (Rooney Mara) has left him and now communicates exclusively via their lawyers. In short, nobody really talks anymore. Then one day he buys and installs a new operating system called 'OS1' — an artificially intelligent construct that names herself, or rather itself, 'Samantha' (voiced to perfection by Scarlett Johansson). At first Samantha simply streamlines Theodore's life, triaging his emails and encouraging him to get out more, but gradually, as she evolves and learns more from their interactions, they begin to fall in love. It seems ridiculous, yes, but thanks to Spike Jonze's masterful script and direction, it never really feels it, and that's what makes HER the first must-see film of 2014. it is a beautiful, imaginative and provocative offering by Jonze that asks some fascinating questions about the direction love is taking in the technological age. Her is in cinemas on January 16, and thanks to Sony Pictures, we have ten double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Read our full review here. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=1awGTPsEmiU
From the city's big stars to its everyday faces, everyone earns at place at the Brisbane Portrait Prize. The initiative kicked off in 2019, showcasing the folks that make this town of ours great — plus the talented Brisbane artists who've committed their likenesses to canvas. Indeed, subject-wise, these pieces always read like a who's who of Brissie each year. And if you're keen to see 2023's crop, select works are on display at Brisbane Powerhouse from Thursday, September 28–Sunday, October 29. Free to attend — and on display from 10.30am–4.30pm daily, as well as till 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays while the venue's night food market Night Feast returns for spring from Wednesday, October 4 — 2023's Brisbane Portrait Prize exhibition spans 70 finalist works, as well as 14 in the event's Next Gen strand. Impressive renditions of an array of faces await, but keep an eye out for this year's winners, of course. Yuwi, Torres Strait and South Sea Islander man Dylan Mooney took out the $50,000 Lord Mayor's Prize with Still Thriving — which features Mooney with his friend Sam in a statement on Country and connection. Among the other recipients, Irish-born artist Robert Mercer won the $10,000 Digital Award with a self-portrait, and interdisciplinary artist Zoe Porter's watercolour portrait of CIRCA member Billie Wilson-Coffey earned the $7,500 Performing Arts and Music Award. Also, Fiona Lowry immortalised her son Vincent Orellana on canvas to score the $5,000 Sylvia Jones Award for Women Artists Award.
So far in 2016, it seems that Brisbane has gotten a little Carrie-d away. Hot on the heels of embracing Stephen King's creepy classic in musical form, the city is being treated to an anniversary screening of the original film version. Yes, the titular teenager is back on the big screen — and we don't mean in the recent remake everyone should probably just forget. Forty years after it first made viewers feel like they'd been caked in blood themselves, the Brian De Palma-directed effort is back for one night only. You haven't really understood how hellish high school can be until you've seen this. Of course, the film is only the beginning, because a session like this isn't just an ordinary trip to the movies. To make the occasion extra special, attendees are encouraged to get creative when it comes to costuming, with "prom horror" the theme. Yes, a king and queen will be crowned. Yes, you should avoid sitting near or standing under any ominous looking buckets.
Need an excuse to celebrate Rocky Horror? Bistrotheque has you covered. Not that anyone really requires a reason to do the time warp again, but hey, if the Brunswick Street bar wants to celebrate the 1975 musical comedy film that became a cult classic, you won't hear anyone complaining. Of course, the timing is more than a little spot-on given that the television remake of the movie everyone's parents forced them to watch when they were old enough airs in the US this week. And with Orange Is the New Black's Laverne Cox playing Dr. Frank-N-Furter, and the original's Tim Curry popping up as well, expect a new wave of Rocky Horror mania. For Bistrotheque's part, they're just doing what they do best: choosing a theme, inviting The Missing, Vertigo and more to either crank out or spin some tunes, and trusting that the rest will take care of itself. How else will you celebrate the week before Halloween? No, that's not a thing — but we can make it one.
You can't finish off a week of shaking up your routine with your regular avo and eggs. Instead, spice up your usual Sunday brunch with the menu at Chop Chop Chang's in West End. Forget about your regular eggs Benny, and get acquainted with the bao Benedict, which features roast pork belly, poached egg, kale, lemon hollandaise, ginger and chilli sauce. Or if you're after a pan-Asian take on something a little more sweet, go for the French toast with glazed mango, strawberry, tropical fruit and coconut ice cream.
Get ready rock fans, for the Arctic Monkeys are returning to Australia and New Zealand. The British band will embark on their biggest down under tour to date this autumn for their latest album, AM. The album, which was released this past September, is the band's fifth consecutive number 1 in the UK and also debuted at the top spot in the ARIA Albums Chart. So, Aussie and Kiwi fans, get stoked because you'll soon have the chance to hear their awesome collection of new jams, including chart toppers such as 'R U Mine?' and 'Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?' Original fans needn't worry, because the Monkeys never forget to pay tribute to their old school favourites. You'll probably still get your chance to belt out 'Fluorescent Adolescent's, "Oh the boy's a slag / The best you ever had / The best you ever had." https://youtube.com/watch?v=6366dxFf-Os
Writers' festivals are getting more and more 'with it' these days. People wear shirts with hashtags on them, you're encouraged to live-tweet questions for authors on panels, and the events are no longer held at local library reading rooms, but cool back-alley warehouse spaces. The kind of place where everyone's wearing black-rimmed glasses and talking about Tao Lin. All this is old news now however, as the Emerging Writers' Festival has just announced the creation of the world's first exclusively online writers' festival to take place in February 2014. While writers' festivals once lamented the damning effects of the internet and digital technology on the written word, the Digital Writers' Festival will be a 12-day celebration of it. Digital publishing, eBooks, alt lit, fan fic, webcams and Twitterbots — the publishing industry and the nature of writing itself has transformed dramatically in even the past few years, and DWF is going to be a dedicated space in which to examine it. This also has a huge impact on accessibility. Do you live in the Northern Territory and always feel jealous when you see pictures of the Melbourne Writers' Festival? Maybe you live in Melbourne, but never felt quite cool enough to head along to the events. Perhaps you tried, but got lost looking for the event down a laneway? The DWF will be the first truly accessible festival for a vast array of people all over country, and more than that, the world. Read our Twitterview with DWF director Connor Tomas O'Brien here. Update 29 January: The full program for the Digital Writers' Festival is now up on the site.
Responsible for over seven studio albums, five Billboard Chart top-10 singles and countless record sales worldwide, Pitbull is currently on top of the popular music world. After selling out arenas in the United States, the Miami, Florida native is on his way to Brisbane for perform at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Hits such as ‘I know You Want Me’, ‘Give Me Everything’ and ‘Hotel Room Service’ have energized fans worldwide, along with numerous collaborations with the likes of Usher, Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez. Performing with Pitbull on this tour are award winning songwriter Taio Cruz, sensational Aussie export Havana Brown and Australia’s Got Talent star, Timomatic.
When The Flying Cock opened its chicken-centric eatery, it couldn't have been a better fit. But, come October, the chook is leaving the building. Actually, all meat-based dishes will be off the table to make way for its new menu item: vegan ramen. While the Fortitude Valley watering hole is retaining its overall name, it's closing down its on-site bistro The Coop to make way for I Like Ramen's first Brisbane store. It's not the first time that the pair have teamed up, with The Flying Cock hosting a number of pop-ups by the Gold Coast-based I Like Ramen in late August and early September. When The Coop shuts up shop on Saturday, October 20, the two outfits will be making the arrangement permanent. Just when I Like Ramen will officially open is yet to be revealed, although expect to set punters slurping in late October or early November, after the space has undergone a refit. Just what the Brisbane menu will offer will also be unveiled closer to the opening, however the pop-up was dishing up chick'n white miso, mushroom in an earthy shiitake and soy soup, kimchi with plenty of spice, plus 'mean green', with spinach, bok choy and wakame. With The Coop saying farewell, that means the end to a number of the eatery's very non-vegan specials, such as its two-for-one parmigianas on Wednesdays and $3 tacos on Thursdays. Chicken nugget fiends will be sad to hear The Nugg Club is also wrapping up, with the last all-you-can-eat nugget feast to be served on The Coop's final day of operation. I Like Ramen will open at The Flying Cock, 388 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley from late October or early November.
First things first: if it's your first meal of the day, it arrives well past your usual breakfast time and you haven't yet had lunch, you can still call it brunch. Of course you can. That's the kind of justification you might want to use when it comes to Warehouse 25's new event, with the Milton bar hosting brunch sessions from 1pm. Book a $75 ticket for Saturday, April 10 or Sunday, April 11, and prepare to get eating — and drinking. Both the pizza and the cocktails will keep coming for three hours, finishing up at 4pm. While you're spending your afternoon at the inner west gin and vodka distillery, you'll also receive a side of your choice to break up the slices (not that anyone ever needs help when it comes to pizza). On the beverage list, you can pick between mimosas, lemon spritzes, Aperol spritzes, bloody marys, margaritas and espresso martinis. Whether you stick with one or taste your way through a couple, you won't be thirsty.
After the year we've had, some relaxation time is just what we all need. And while putting on a face mask or body scrub is a great way unwind, a good skin care routine — with natural, locally sourced and cruelty-free skincare products — can often be hard to come across or too expensive. Body Blendz is an Australian owned skincare company that produces vegan skincare products that are not tested on animals — and it's offering a huge discount on its whole range this week. Its selection of face masks and body scrubs are designed to improve circulation and reduce inflammation and blemishes on your skin. The brand's best seller is its range of coffee scrubs designed for full-body exfoliation. The coffee scrubs come in four varieties: coco luxe, sugar glow, coffee buff and vanilla blush. Up until Tuesday, December 29, you can pick up 30 percent off everything on the Body Blendz store. Just head online, select what you want and then enter the discount code 'END2020' at the checkout to receive the discount. 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.
Feel like you've experienced every at-home, low-key, socially distanced date option that Brisbane has to offer? Run out of new ways to spend an ace night with your mates in these COVID-19 times? If glitz, glamour, drinks, dinner, feeling like you're in a speakeasy several decades ago and enjoying a taste of normality amount to your idea of a good time, then make a beeline to Cloudland's returning Big Band Cabaret dinner and show. Taking place in the Valley venue's Rose Room, the decadent shindig will have you and your loved one tapping your toes (in your chairs, of course) to the Franky Smart Big Band, and lapping up burlesque performances. And, you'll do all of the above while eating your way through a three-course meal and enjoying a three-hour package of beer, wine and sparkling. The event has been such a hit over the last couple of years, it's no wonder that Cloudland keep bringing it back, including in these ever-changing times — with the next event happening from 6.30pm on Friday, September 25. Tickets are limited in line with current COVID-19 restrictions. Tickets aren't cheap at $119 per person, but it's certain to liven up your Friday night with something more than a little different. Cloudland's Big Band Cabaret Dinner and Show next takes place from 6.30pm on Friday, September 25, with tickets on sale now. Top image: Cloudland. Updated September 3.
Looking for something to fill your time (that's not live streaming koalas or re-watching Tiger King over and over again)? TAFE Queensland is offering free online short courses that you can home complete at home — without spending a cent. The fee-free courses are to help people diversify their skills during the COVID-19 pandemic, and are broken into two categories: micro-credentials and skill sets. The former are open to anyone, take about an hour to complete and, once finished, come with a 'digital badge', which can be shared with future or current employees. There are six micro-credentials courses available, including one on cyber security, another on data analysis and a course all about using software and technology to increase productivity (which could be extra-helpful if you're currently WFH). You can complete one or more of these, if you like. The skill sets are open to Queensland residents whose work has been impacted by COVID-19 and/or are on Jobseeker, with an aim of helping them upskill or retrain while unemployed (or working less). If you tick these boxes, you can enrol in one of nine skill sets, with courses running for between 2–12 weeks. There are currently courses focused on the medical industry — including ones about community care, health support and mental health — administration, transport, hospitality and agriculture. While you can only enrol in one of these at a time, you can complete multiple. TAFE Queensland has adapted how it offers its courses during COVID-19, with many of them now mostly (or completely) online. You can find out more here. To find out more about and enrol in one of TAFE Queensland's fee-free online short courses, head to the TAFE Queensland website.
Maybe you like to slather it all over everything you're about to eat. Perhaps you like to get your doses in more restrained dips and dollops. Either way, if you're a mayonnaise fan, Japan's latest food trend has you covered. At a mayo cafe, two things are on offer: the condiment in the spotlight, of course, and the ability to indulge in its creamy goodness in your ideal fashion. Here's hoping that your preferences include mayo on pasta, salad, seafood dishes, with hot and cold eggs, turned into a custard pudding, and served as a variety of dips, because you'll find all of the above on the menu — and more. Don't just expect any old egg-and-vinegar concoction, though. The cult favourite that is kewpie is not only the variety everyone will be gorging on, but also the company behind the dedicated eateries. The first Kewpie mayo cafe opened its doors in Tokyo's busy Shibuya district on March 1 to mark NationalMayonnaise Day (yes, it's a thing), with a second due to follow in Nagoya in central Honshu from April 1. Both will shower eager customers with all the kewpie they could dream of (not literally, of course) for a full month; however, we're guessing this won't be the last time mayo-centric establishments pop up. Via Munchies. Image: Takeaway / Creative Commons.
Four Pillars' bloody gin season is back for another year, which is one piece of bloody excellent news. There's more where that came from. In 2023, the Healesville-based distillery has two limited-edition wine-infused concoctions on offer: the cult-favourite Bloody Shiraz Gin and new sibling Bloody Pinot Noir Gin. Spirits fiends familiar with the shiraz version will know that it is ridiculously popular for a reason. Also, it's gin infused with shiraz grapes. That blend gives the drop its cerise hue, and provides sweet undertones — but means that it avoids a higher sugar content. It is boozier, though, with an alcoholic content of 37.8 percent (compared to an average 25 percent in regular sloe gin). The 2023 Bloody Shiraz Gin follows that process again, while the Bloody Pinot Noir Gin sees Four Pillars try another grape variety. If the distillery is bottling it and selling it, clearly it turned out well, too. This newcomer also sources its fruit from Yarra Valley again. The end result is softer and lighter but with a heavier gin taste, and with aromas of rose petals, strawberries and cherries. Also bloody brilliant: to celebrate not one but two bloody gins, and bloody season overall, Four Pillars is hosting a midwinter gin fest. Running from Wednesday, June 28 till the end of July in Brisbane, the festival is actually a couple of events heroing the two tipples (and getting everyone saying "bloody" over and over). So, Newstead's Stratton will celebrate the with a month-long takeover, complete with a special Bloody Shiraz Gin drinks menu. And, it's hosting a feast on Wednesday, July 5, with courses paired with the both gins and tickets costing $120 per person.
Every city has one: an area littered with the usual eateries, convenience stores and variety shops, with a slightly grimy, ripped-from-the-'70s pawnbrokers nestled smack bang in the middle. In Melbourne, the suburb of Footscray offers up just that — and provides Pawno with its setting. Indeed, actor-turned-filmmaker Paul Ireland doesn't just stroll the streets to make his directorial debut, but endeavours to bring the thriving locale to the big screen. A diverse Aussie drama is the end result, offering a lived-in slice of neighbourhood life, its ups and downs, and its multicultural populace. Unsurprisingly, the titular cash-for-goods establishment sits at the centre of the action. Run by the gruff but kindly Les Underwood (John Brumpton) and his lovesick offsider Danny (Damian Hill), it's the kind of place that all of the locals drop by during the course of the day. Over a 24-hour period, a number of shoppers, pals and others stop in or loiter around outside. Some, like transgender woman Paige (Daniel Frederiksen), are after quick cash. Others, such as visibly upset mother Jennifer (Kerry Armstrong), are trying to track down both goods and people. And then there's Kate (Maeve Dermody), who works in the nearby bookshop, needs help fixing her glasses, and happens to be the secret object of Danny's affection. In addition to playing Danny, Hill also provides the low-budget indie with its screenplay. Despite this, his character is just one of many. Pawno proves less concerned with charting one person's journey, and more interested in weaving snippets of stories into a textured tapestry of the community. Alas, that choice proves both a strength and a weakness. While the unassuming feature boasts variety and vibrancy, its episodic narrative lacks a sense of cohesion. Fortunately, the talented ensemble of performers — which includes Malcolm Kennard and Mark Coles Smith as a duo of homeless hangabouts, as well as Holding the Man's Tony Rickards as one of Les' pals — keep things intriguing, especially when the script goes down many an expected path. They might all be playing thinly written characters, but they each make their respective roles feel real. Thanks to their combined efforts, the ample amounts of Aussie slang and swearing aren't the only aspects of Pawno that come across as genuine. As clichéd as it sounds, the suburb of Footscray also helps ramp up Pawno's atmosphere of authenticity. The graffiti-strewn streets are as significant a presence as Les, Danny and company, with cinematographer Shelley Farthing-Dawe finding the right balance between gloss and grit. Of course, that's the combination the feature aims for overall: candid but caring. It's an ambitious mix for an ambitious feature, even if the patchwork package doesn't always convincingly come together.
Music and wine festival Grapevine Gathering is gearing up to return to Brisbane's vineyards in 2022. The festival pairs the very best drops with a vibrant music lineup full of local talent. British indie-rockers The Kooks who are currently touring their beloved 2006 debut album Inside In / Inside Out lead the lineup alongside party-starters Peking Duk and 'Untouched' icons The Veronicas. They'll be joined on the winery stage by Ball Park Music, Jack River, Confidence Man, Cub Sport, Alice Skye, Nyxen and Becca Hatch. It's going to be a big day of tunes, folks. Aussie sketch comedians and Instagram celebrities The Inspired Unemployed are taking on hosting tunes to keep you entertained between acts. In addition to the tunes, punters will have access to an array of first-rate food options and a heap of wines, of course. To help make commuting to-and-from the vineyard a little easier, the festival has organised return buses from Mount Cotton central, Toowoomba, Maroochydore, Capalaba, Brisbane, Victoria Point and the Gold Coast. You'll just need to add a (slightly pricey) bus pass to your ticket.
The glare from a ray of sunshine bouncing off of a window, or the silhouette that the shadow a building casts: they're they type of frequent yet fleeting occurrences we all see, even if we don't always give them our utmost attention. They also stem from the interaction of two important parts of our modern environment, aka the ever-present natural elements and the man-made structures our society has fashioned. In his latest collection, Japanese-born, Australian-based artist Kenji Uranishi contemplates these instances, aspects and ideas, all while working with his preferred medium. Across a series of handcrafted ceramic pieces inspired by his time in both countries and responding to the importance of place and the role of the city, he attempts to capture the short-lived interplay of light on the urban landscape. The stunning presentation of 50 new shapes and forms that results might be called Momentary; however that's a reflection of the passing seconds Uranishi's work endeavours to immortalise, and not of a judgment of the exhibition's impact. Indeed, whether you gaze upon the showcase of patterns and designs at your own pace, take a tour with the artist or participate in his first-ever solo masterclass, we're betting that you'll remember the experience for much longer than a moment. Image: Carl Warner.
Time flies when you're having fun and eating fried chook, which means that it's now five years since poultry buffet restaurant KaiKai Chicken first opened its doors. Since 2017, it's been asking a crucial question in St Lucia: why did the fried chicken fan cross Hawken Drive? The answer: to eat all the greasy chook they could handle. The eatery has helped Brisbanites solve the eternal query faced by hungry chook fiends everywhere, too — aka whether to have one finger lickin' good piece, several, or more than anyone should actually admit to. It serves up an endless array of poultry in a dozen different flavours, plus all-you-can-eat fries, rice, other sides and desserts to round out the meal. A la carte orders are also available, but who wants that when there's bottomless fried chicken at arms reach? To indulge in all of the above, likely while wearing your stretchiest outfit, you've needed to head to Brissie's inner west — but come April, you'll also be able to venture south. An exact launch date hasn't been announced yet, but KaiKai is opening its second yellow-hued store in Springwood, complete with its beloved all-you-can-eat fried chicken buffet. That means that you'll have twice as many spots to hit up for the chain's affordable — albeit hardly healthy — $24.95 bottomless package, which includes those 12 flavours of chicken, six types of loaded fries, steamed rice, mashed potatoes and gravy, bread rolls, and cinnamon jelly doughnut sandwiches for dessert. Also on the menu at the new Kaikai spot: a $75 option that also includes a 90-minute alcohol package spanning bottled beers, mimosas and soju jugs. If it sounds too good to be true, we're here to tell you that it's a clucking reality — as it has been in St Lucia for half a decade now. That said, visits to Kaikai do have a time limit. Just like sipping that aforementioned bottomless booze, flocking customers are asked to get their chicken fix within 90 minutes due to the demand — and, let's be honest, after an hour and a half of seeing how much chook you can feast upon, you're probably be ready to fly the coop anyway. Find KaiKai Chicken's new store at 3/25 Watland Street, Springwood sometime in April. We'll update you with an exact opening date when it is announced — and you can head to the chain's Facebook page to keep an eye out for further information in the interim. Top image: Atlanta Bell.
The Caxton Hotel Seafood Festival is back, again. Once a mainstay on the inner west calendar, it took a few years off before returning in 2019 — and then was forced to skip 2020 for pandemic-related reasons. Now, it's serving up plenty of the ocean's finest again in 2021. Of course, if there's any street party that's up to the task, it's this Paddington party. Think food, tunes, brews and a good time all round. On the culinary side of things, plenty of fresh fish, prawns and more will be on the menu on Sunday, May 2, as well as drinks to wash it down with. Also on the agenda: two stages of live music, food trucks, pop-up bars and fun in The Caxton Hotel's beer garden. It'll all kick off from 10am, with the aforementioned pub driving the whole shindig. That's another blast from the past, with the watering hole a fest staple since the event first launched more than a quarter-century ago.
