To put it simply, Stephen Hart is a creative genius. His artistic skills are phenomenal, as are his creative visions. His latest project, Fellow Humans, sees him immortalise 20 significant people from his direct community in the form of stunning sculptures. While some may be close friends of Stephen and unknown to the wider audience, others are major players in Brisbane's creative scene and will be instantly recognisable. Stephen is known for his traditional techniques regarding hand-carving timbers. His sculptures are eerily realistic and capture both the physicality and the spirit of the subject. Fellow Humans is part of a larger piece of work entitled, Document, a collection of exhibitions that explore the relationship between artists and Brisbane as a whole. Catch the artist talk on 20 October 2pm and 27 February 11am. Email publicprograms@museumofbrisbane.com.au with 'Stephen Hart' as the subject line for more booking information.
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 from 2022 onwards, 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 the returning Dog's Day Out at Gasworks is all about doggos, it really is their time to frolic. Browsing market stalls with your pupper is on the agenda from 9am–1pm on Saturday, June 10 in Newstead, with more than 20 different spots to go barking mad at — and pull out your wallet. There'll also be workshops and live music. Entry is free, and dogs of all sizes are welcome. [caption id="attachment_758933" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Market Folk[/caption]
If you've got a pile of gold coins burning a hole in your wallet, pockets or that void down the back of your couch — or just a spare $1 in your bank account because you haven't handled physical cash for years — BrewDog might just have the best way to put it to good use. Like beer? Keen to sample it? Always wanted to learn more about the amber liquid you're so fond of drinking? Meet BrewDog's $1 Beer School. No, there's no typo in that figure. A digit or two isn't missing, either. The Scottish brewery wants you to head by either of its two Brisbane locations — its Australian base by the river at Murarrie and its Fortitude Valley beer bar — and go to class. Beer class, that is, aka the best kind of learning there is. All throughout May at both venues, for less than the price of a coffee (or just about anything for that matter), you'll taste four BrewDog sips and boost your beer knowledge via a self-guided online tour. The two caveats: you do need to book in advance, meaning that you can't just walk in and decide it's time to go to beer school; and you can only have a maximum of eight people per booking. Happy learning — and drinking. Images: Anna Kucera.
Splendour in the Grass ain't all about dancing like a proper noob to That Song You've Been Waiting For and Only You Understand. There's plenty of brain food afoot, with a big ol' program announced for this year's colossal Splendour Forum. Opinionated tweeters, keep your pants on as the Silver Fox comes to Splendour for some hardcore hashtagged debate. Q&A's Tony Jones brings his hard-hitting swagger to the Forum for a special Splendour version of Australia's favourite "NO THEY DIII-IN'T" show on the Saturday. With an all-new Forum Twilight Film Festival, Tropfest live Q and A talks and the very first Splendour Late Night Comedy Club geared up to shake up the sets this year, you might even miss Interpol and Outkast this year. Dusk hours will see A Taste of Tropfest take over the Forum, a dandy little showcase of the film festival's most memorable awww and oooh moments. Comedy enthusiasts and those who enjoy a hearty, ugly-faced chuckle should stick around after dark, as Australia's top comedians (we're talking triple j favourites Matt Okine, Tom Ballard and Mel Buttle, Good News Week’s Claire Hooper, Spicks & Specks host Josh Earl, Greg Fleet and so many, many more) make y'all laugh until a little bit of wee comes out. Writers Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire bring their beloved literary salon 'Women of Letters' to Splendour with Lauren Mayberry (Chvrches), Courtney Barnett, Gossling, Jennifer Boyce (Ball Park Music), Nkechi Anele (Saskwatch), Liz Drummond (Little May) and musical comedians Alice Fraser and Genevieve Fricker — all narrating their "Letter to the Song They Wish They’d Written". Love a good keynote? You love a good keynote. Lindsay "The Doctor" McDougall chats to TED Talker Paul Gilding about our super messed up planet (or is it?) in 'Life on Earth in 2030 - Fun, Frazzled or F%*ked?'. There's a bunch more to squeal about at the Splendour website. The Forum is open 10am ‘til late daily at Splendour. If you haven't got tickets yet, the re-sale facility is open until 9am Monday 16 June through moshtix.com.au or phone 1300 GET TIX (438 849). Worth a shot.
If you've got hungry eyes for one of the most popular movie soundtracks of all time, have practised your dance moves with watermelons and fancy getting lifted up into the air Patrick Swayze-style, then make a date with The Triffid on Saturday, January 18. From 8pm, that's when Cheap Fakes will be living out every 80s film fan's romantic dreams and playing the entire Dirty Dancing soundtrack live. Obviously, you'll have the time of your life. Prepare to hear the Brisbane and Gold Coast band belt out their rendition of the Swayze-crooned and co-written 'She's Like the Wind', too. From the sultry sounds of Eric Carmen's 'Hungry Eyes' to The Ronettes' classic 'Be My Baby', if it's on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, it'll be echoing through the Stratton Street venue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU9p1WRfA9w The gig will be accompanied by visuals from the movie and the appropriate dance moves, naturally — and dressing the part is encouraged. Tickets cost $35.10, and remember — no one will be put in a corner here.
Are you the kind of bar-goer who likes sipping drinks, hanging out with your mates and soaking in the atmosphere, but absolutely hates having to get up to grab another beverage? Even if you're not, every group has one. You know the type — they stay comfy when it's time for a refill, and they're always asking you to get their next round. The Parlour's new martini trolley experience solves this issue. No one minds nabbing a beverage for their friends, but this Wednesday–Saturday special means you won't have to. So, you'll sit in the Fortitude Valley bar, and you'll have your cocktails made right in front of you — without getting up from your seat — because the trolley brings the bevvies to you. Expect gin concoctions including your choice of martini— you can curate it however you like — as well as cocktails such as The Refined Australian (with gin, a vermouth blend, toasted macadamia and wattle seed, black walnut bitters, lemon zest and macadamia praline) and The London Cup (with gin, ginger-infused Pimms, clarified quince juice and orange bitters). Expect to turn your regular stint of drinks with pals into a far fancier experience, too.
If it's ethereal indie folk you're after, Dustin Tebbutt is your man. His music is described by his record label as "the music for your autumns and winters" which, in our opinion, couldn't be more accurate. The haunting isolation that comes through his high echoey vocals and crisp acoustic guitar certainly create feelings of isolation and introspection. Well, it's a good thing he's coming to town as the temperature is starting to drop. Tebbutt's latest national tour is for his latest EP, Bones, and it's gorgeous. First single 'Bones' is much like what we saw on debut EP The Breach; incredibly entrancing music that has the ability to transport its listeners far away from anyone or anything. If you enjoy the thoughtful sounds of Bon Iver or Sigur Rós, then Dustin Tebbutt is a local boy you definitely shouldn't miss. https://youtube.com/watch?v=OysNiYXWga0
Ever said something you wish you hadn't? Or gone home from a party when things were starting to get interesting? Like a swift punch to the stomach regret can be gut-wrenching. Whether it be utter embarrassment, not seizing an opportunity or ignoring your heart in favour of your head, regret is familiar to us all. Performance collective, The Good Room, have designed an event to exhibit regret in all of its cringe-worthy forms. In February the team asked strangers to anonymously share their biggest regrets. Over 500 secrets were collected and now, it's time for them to see the light of day as part of, 'I Should Have Drunk More Champagne'. In Metro Arts' basement you will find a tangle of tales from wallflowers, outspoken drunks and victims of lost love. Some will make you squirm, others will make you laugh but they will all remind you that each of us is prone to a good old face palm.
There’s nothing better than local produce, espescially when it comes to art. Brisbane-based Reframed has long made it their agenda to keep eagle eyes on Brisbane’s best creatives and put them in a gallery space to show off their flying colours. Now, in their fifth annual exhibition,Reframed14, they’ve curated an array of styles and mediums across painting, photography, objects, installation and jewellery, all from artists with postcodes begin with four. The exhibition will feature the work of 17 artists such as Belinda Giddins, Tessa Brown, Ari Fuller, Kerryn Lane, and a dozen more. From the extraordinary and whimsical pen and collage images of Rachael Sedgman, to Alithea Josaphine's finely balanced blends of geometry and nature (pictured), Refreamed14 will be showing work that will please even the fussiest of artistic palate. The opening night for Reframed14 will be the 3rd of July, kicking off at White Canvas Gallery at 5pm. But if you’re not a party kind of person, then you’ve got until the 13th of July to check out the exhibition during the day.
In celebration of her highly anticipated debut album Nightswim, Owl Eyes is back for a national tour throughout May and June. She’ll be visiting all major cities for the first time since her sold-out tour in May 2012, this time being the first opportunity for fans to hear her new material. Owl Eyes, otherwise known as Brooke Addamo, is no stranger to the stage, having supported the likes of The Wombats among others in the early years of her career. However, she shines in her own light, with her surprisingly mature and definitive sound crafting a well-rounded fanbase for herself. Her song ‘Raiders’ attracted mass attention, as did her pairing with Illy for ‘It Can Wait’ and her cover of ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ by Foster the People. Owl Eyes is bringing along some of the country’s biggest upcoming acts – Collarbones, heralding from Sydney and Adelaide, and Sydney’s own Mammals. The tour is sure to be a slice of homemade, synthpop heaven – grab your tickets before they surely sell out.
Whether you're too young, too old or just too cool for Laneway, The New Globe Theatre is throwing together a Saturday night lineup for a reason that isn’t so cheery. Brisbane-based music press Audio Collective are calling it quits, but not before they throw a huge party to celebrate the memories. There will be prizes, a raffle and two stages hosting some Audio Collective’s bestest pals who want to say goodbye with a few boppy tunes. Local superstar Jeremy Neale will have everyone forgetting this is pretty much a funeral for one of Brisbane’s music heroes, and The Missing, Youth Allowance and a heap more bands will be putting on a brave face in this time of loss. Bat away the tears, and try your best to dance, drink and win the raffle. Tickets are only $15, available on the door on online here. If you are under 18 but still really want to pay your respects, then tickets are $25 and you need to bring a parent. That's not entirely a bad thing; a hug from mum might be quite nice when you're farewelling a friend.
They call it Tina — The Tina Turner Musical, oh Tina — The Tina Turner Musical — and, while it finally arrived in Australia in May 2023, premiering in Sydney, it's now playing Brisbane. After debuting in London in 2018, this stage ode to the music icon that's had Aussies dancing to 'Nutbush City Limits' for decades is touring Down Under, making a date with Queensland Performing Arts Centre's Lyric Theatre from Saturday, June 29, 2024. No, it isn't taking to the stage in a church house, gin house, school house or outhouse — or on highway number 19, either. But Tina — The Tina Turner Musical will obviously have the QPAC crowd enjoying Turner's greatest hits in one massive show. The list of musical numbers includes 'Nutbush City Limits', naturally, as well as everything from 'River Deep, Mountain High' and 'Proud Mary' through to 'Private Dancer' and 'What's Love Got to Do with It?'. For its Aussie run, The Lion King, We Will Rock You, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Ragtime and Moulin Rouge! The Musical star Ruva Ngwenya plays Tina, with In the Heights, Fame: The Musical and fellow Moulin Rouge! The Musical alumni Tim Omaji as Ike Turner. Penned by Tony Award-nominee and Pulitzer Prize-winner Katori Hall, plus Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, and directed by fellow Tony-nominee Phyllida Lloyd, Tina — The Tina Turner Musical clearly has quite the story to tell. The show steps through Turner's life and fame, including growing up in Nutbush, Tennessee, the hard work that led to her career, all of those aforementioned hits, her 12 Grammy Awards, her volatile time with Ike and her huge solo success. If you're a fan, Turner herself summed it up — yes, it's simply the best. Images: Daniel Boud. Updated Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
This winter, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre is hosting a sales event of most peculiar stock. Strange things they are, full of pages, rampant with words and with covers of the most beautiful colours. You can't charge them, they don't run out of battery, their brightness is unalterable, and they won't smash when you drop them. Lifeline Bookfest is coming back for another round of vintage bargains between Saturday, June 17–Tuesday, June 20. It's where you'll find everything from Australian Women's Weekly cookbooks to a bit of cheeky erotica, as well as games, DVDs and puzzles. If you've been before, you'll know there are warehouse quantities of books for sale – your grade five diary is probably hidden under a copy of Shantaram, and you'll come across at least three copies of Cooking with Days of Our Lives. In fact, over this four-day run, more than one million items will be up for grabs. In a first, this round will also feature more than 10,000 comics, manga and graphic novels. Also, a heap of special guests like sports stars Alastair Lynch and Ian Healy will be popping up. Prices range from $2.50 to the big bucks, and you'll have plenty to choose from. Whenever Bookfest hits Brisbane, it always brings hundreds of crates of reading materials with it. You'll still want to bring a trolley and your glasses, obviously, and to clear some space on your shelves at home. And, you'll want to bring your cards, because this Bookfest is cashless. Also, you'll need your own bags, as books won't be wrapped for you this time around. Head along from 7.30am–7pm on Saturday, June 17 and 8am–7pm between Sunday, June 18–Tuesday, June 20. And if you're wondering why this Bookfest is shorter than usual, that's because BCEC is jam-packed with other events. Images: Bookfest.
If smooth, often improvised sounds get your toes tapping, then the Brisbane International Jazz Festival probably gets your heart racing. Where else can you celebrate experimental melodies and witness some of the best musicians in the world? Or move and groove to what just might be one-off performances. That's the joy of jazz: no show is ever the same. There's so much in the festival's fourth-year program that you probably won't get to test that — but you will get to enjoy the talents of an impressive array of performers from around the country, plus a few international guests. Local hotshots including The Mal Wood's Bowery Hot 5, Aathmika and Parmis Rose and the Beauty School Dropouts are certain to be a highlight, as are an afternoon jazz workshop and a Women in Jazz panel. Or, get a dose of global sounds courtesy of New Zealand's Wil Sargisson Trio and Marcus Strickland's Twi-Life from New York.
From board game to movie to in-cinema whodunnit — that's the journey that Metro Arts' Friday night screening has taken. First, Cluedo became the 1985 movie Clue, and now it's returning to the big-screen for one evening only with some suitably mysterious pre-show activities. On Friday, September 28, you'll be treated to interactive entertainment from 8.15pm, with the film kicking off at 8.40pm. And yes, throughout the night you'll be pondering life's important questions. Was it Colonel Mustard in the study with the candlestick? Or Miss Scarlet with the rope? You've played the game, so you know how it goes; however that's not the end of the fun. You can also turn the evening into a double or triple feature with Pretty in Pink and Barbarella. Sure, those films don't quite fit the theme, but you'll be in for an intriguing movie marathon.
Sure, you've eaten tacos and burritos before — but have you tried tortas and arepas? One of the benefits of the street food surge is the easy accessibility of different types of international delights. And when it comes to all things Latin, Comuna Cantina is jumping on that bandwagon. The upcoming addition to Albert Lane will champion the flavour, experience and spirit of South America in a market-style eatery in the heart of the Brisbane CBD. That means more than just Mexican cuisine, though a few old favourites are also on the low-carb, high-protein menu. Expect everything from grilled street corn to cassava chips to barbecue skewers — all made fresh in-house daily, right down to the sauces and salsas. When it opens its doors in March, Comuna Cantina will be the kind of place that you can grab a char-grilled chicken torta and go, or settle in for a few share plates and frozen margaritas — the choice is yours. And while the former is perfectly acceptable, it's the latter that will really be encouraged, as the space will feature a well-stocked cocktail bar serving Comuna Coladas and Comuna Martinis, and no doubt some great, lively Latin vibes. Comuna does mean community in Spanish, after all. Comuna Cantina is set to open in March in Albert Lane, Brisbane. For more information, keep an eye on their Facebook page and Instagram.
If you're going to celebrate an invented food-themed holiday, you have to go big. If you're Mister Fitz and it's National Ice Cream Sandwich day, then you clearly have to turn things to eleven. Behold, their 20-scoop monster of an ice cream sandwich. Dubbed the 'Baby Got Back' in keeping with the ice cream parlour's usual hip hop-themed menu, the giant creation features more ice cream than you've probably eaten all winter, all stuffed between two super huge M&M cookies. Because old Fitzy is known for smashing extra goodies into its frozen treats too, the dairy deliciousness inside also boasts a decent smattering of mini M&Ms. If you're keen on trying it out and you've got a few mates to help — you only need to look at it to know this isn't a solo dessert — then you'd best get in quick, with the mammoth ice cream sandwich only available today, August 2. It's also only available via Deliveroo, meaning that you won't have to worry about gorging on this behemoth in public (but hey, if you're keen on munching your way through this, you're probably not all that worried about making a mess anyway).
Yatala Drive-In's big screens are back in business, playing recent flicks and retro favourites every weekend. For four nights between Thursday, May 21–Sunday, May 24, one of the outdoor cinema's fields is going green, too — with nightly sessions of animated favourite Shrek. Rediscover why it really isn't easy being an ogre, all while watching vibrant CGI animation and listening to the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz. And, as no one who has ever seen Shrek before can manage to forget, you'll also get a whole lot of Smashmouth — aka 'All Star' and their version of 'I'm a Believer' — stuck in your head as well. As always, your night at the flicks will cost $35 per car, which covers up to six people. Keeping in line with Queensland's social-distancing requirements, the venue has also implemented some new rules and procedures, however, to keep everyone safe and healthy. They include contactless entry, hand sanitiser stations, restricting capacity to 50 percent or less, only making restrooms available for emergencies, and limiting the candy bar to ten patrons at a time. If you're choosing to go out and support local businesses, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health.
If you have been through grade eight drama, or have watched Whose Line Is It Anyway, then you will know the theatre sports game where one person starts a scene, and as the next person jumps into the scene, they create their own new storyline, and so on. Apply this theory to music composition, and you have Ten Hands. Brisbane-based group Topology have created their latest piece of work collaboratively through a series of recorded collective improvisations. After each recording the members would listen independently and then write out the best moments and bring these to rehearsal. The quintet would play each annotated piece of music, rehearse these and then continue improvising until they formed a one hour long piece, which is Ten Hands. Don’t miss this astonishing performance on Thursday and Friday 2-3 August at the Powerhouse.
Brain freeze or caffeine hit? Sweet, sweet sugar in ice-cold slushie form, or a soul-warming cup of joe? Brisbanites, you have an important decision to make on Tuesday, November 7: would you like a free slurpee or a free coffee? Pay particular attention to the date, not just to put in your calendar, but to explain why you're scoring freebies. It couldn't be the more perfect time for 7-Eleven giveaways, on a day that the convenience store chain has dubbed 7-Eleven Day — and the celebrations will be running at the brand's 740 stores Australia-wide. Here's how it works: head to a 7-Eleven store all day — so, from 12.01am–11.59pm —then purchase anything other than tobacco or tobacco-related products to receive your choice of either a free regular coffee or a large slurpee. In more great news for your wallet, you can spend as little as 25 cents on a lollipop or 50 cents on a chocolate to still score a free drink.
Take a deep dive into the wondrous cinematic worlds of Wes Anderson — symmetry, quirkiness, pastel cinematography and all. From October 17 through until December 5, Palace James Street is dedicating every Thursday night to the acclaimed director's work. Film buffs can enjoy a weekly serve of Anderson's distinctive visual stylings, compelling soundtracks and all-star casts, with the Fortitude Valley venue playing a different flick each week. First up, catch 1996 crime-comedy Bottle Rocket, followed by the Jason Schwartzman-led hit Rushmore on October 24, and October 31's non-spooky showing of The Royal Tenenbaums. This is a near-complete retrospective, so most of Anderson's iconic movies are hitting the big screen — including The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (November 7), The Darjeeling Limited (November 14), Fantastic Mr Fox (November 21), The Grand Budapest Hotel (November 28) and Isle of Dogs (December 5).
The Pope of Trash is back, he's here to have a lively chat and you won't see anything quite like it this year. We're talking about John Waters, of course, with the cult filmmaker, queer icon and all-round pop culture legend heading to Brisbane for a divine evening of revelatory reflections, eye-opening anecdotes and shameless secrets from a life spent making cinematic trouble. In fact, Make Trouble is the incredibly apt name of his live show. Waters is the rare auteur who doesn't just craft vivid, transgressive, larger-than-life movies such as the notorious Pink Flamingos, big-budget hit Hairspray and black comedy Serial Mom — he's also as lively and fascinating as you'd expect based on his incredibly distinctive filmography. (And, he has a killer pencil-thin moustache.) Expect to dive into his 50-plus years in the business, hear about his time spent working with everyone from Mink Stole and Divine to Kathleen Turner and Patricia Hearst, and get an earful of insights into his opinions about today's chaotic existence. There'll be more topics of conversation, too; if there's one thing that Waters knows about, it's everything. You'll laugh at his gleefully filthy tidbits (in fact, you might even cry from giggling so hard), and you'll also soak up the best kind of devilish yet worldly wisdom, all while spending an evening in the company of a talent like no other. Timed just after the release of his latest (and ninth) book, The Tarnished Wisdom of a Filth Elder, John Waters hits the Brisbane Powerhouse stage on Wednesday, October 16. Image: Prudence Upton.
While incest is usually looked down upon — in a Marty Mcfly, Luke and Leia, Woody Allen and co sense — the Brisbane's music scene has actually taken the idea, worked it liberally and made it all the rage. Bands are supporting each other, trading members, and even forming fresh collectives all under an umbrella locality, which has created a musical climate fuelled on collaboration over competition. Strange Yonder is just one music management group, dabbling in events and promotion, that's found good for the bands under their wings, and the hopeful talent each holds. "Strange Yonder is Kurt and myself," says Trent, founding member of the independent record, artist management, and event promotion label. "We do believe that James Murphy is the third member even though he has never heard of us, thought about us or even knows that we are the only two members of the James Murphy appreciation nation," he adds, with a cheeky glint is his eye. They are a partnership who have based their management style on organic, communal means, over the Us vs. Them approach that's traumatised music scenes since the birth of bands. "Live music in our opinion is the heart and soul, blood and guts and shit and piss of the industry," he says. "It's everything that is good and great about what we do. At our core we are simply lovers of landscapes brought on by sound and try to involve ourselves at every level." The duo's meeting and eventual collaboration can be pinpointed to one single night, an empty promise and a few illegally downloaded episodes of The Sopranos. "We originally got started by chance meeting," says Trent. "Kurt had put an event together and I didn't want to pay 10 bucks to get in, so I said I'd push the event around a bit on social media if he gave me a plus one." The rest of the story is a little hazy, resulting in a no-show on Trent's behalf — The Sopranos long taking blame. Not long after, Trent found himself at a gig, graced in the musical presence of the duo's current lovechild, The Ottomans. "I knew Kurt was involved with them. He was playing bass for them at the time as well as managing them, so I contacted him to book them," says Trent. What came next was their own take on creative collaboration over competition that's spawned the success of so many bands and management groups. "In a way we were competing against each other creatively so we decided to join up in a more structured way and see if we could create a little momentum off the back of what we were both doing," he says. Strange Yonder has since taken the reigns of western-psych rockers The Ottomans, Tsun, Silas and The Seasons, and their biggest act: long-haired, dream spinner Karl S. Williams. "Everyone was, and still is at each other's shows supporting each other," Trent says. "When any of our acts are recording we all get together and share in the process." On the side, Strange Yonder puts together sold out shows across the Gold Coast and Brisbane, curating single and LP launches as well as tours. Earlier this year, they hosted international rock icons The Oh Sees, with bass guitarist Petey remarking, "We haven't played a show that fucking crazy in more than two years." Less than three years old, Strange Yonder have built a creative realm that handpicks talent, simultaneously fuels it as a collective, and emits the bi-product of a uniquely creative family, glory-filled gigs, and the sweetest of sweet tunes to match. "All in all, what started as a hobby, born out of necessity to get involved, has grown into something that consumes time, triggers frustration, break hearts, gives boners, loses sleep, pushes boundaries, and deeply satisfies the both of us … but we wouldn't want to be anywhere else or have it any other way."
Icons teaming up with icons: when documentary series Pretend It's a City hit Netflix in 2021, that's what it served up. Earning attention: Fran Lebowitz, with Martin Scorsese directing. The focus: the acclaimed writer, humorist and social commentator chatting about her life for the legendary filmmaker, following on from Scorsese's Lebowitz-focused 2010 feature-length doco Public Speaking. Of course, Lebowitz doesn't need to be nattering with Scorsese, or in front of The Wolf of Wall Street and The Irishman helmer's lens, to prove a must-watch figure. Her sharp opinions and deadpan humour have made her famous for more than five decades now, and over a career spanning magazine columns, books, working with Andy Warhol, notable late-night talkshow appearances and public-speaking tours. It's the latter that's bringing her back to Australia in 2024 — including getting talking at QPAC. [caption id="attachment_912246" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bill Hayes[/caption] Lebowitz will take to the stage for one night in Brisbane, on Thursday, February 15, as part of a tour aptly dubbed An Evening with Fran Lebowitz. Will she chat about attending the Succession season four premiere party? Her role as a judge in the Law & Order franchise (and The Wolf of Wall Street)? Saturday Night Live's parody of Pretend It's a City? Being a columnist for Warhol's Interview mag? Growing up in New Jersey? New York in the 70s? Topics such as race, gender, media and politics? Anything that vexes her? Everything? At least some will earn an unfiltered mention — including at the audience Q&A. Top image: Harrison Dilts.
Keeping track of the pooch-friendly events around Brisbane almost requires a separate calendar — a doggo diary if you like. If taking your pet pupper to all the places you can is your idea of a great time, here's the latest thing to add to your schedule: The Prince Consort's Paws and Pints session. All throughout August, the venue is celebrating Pawgust — and this Sunday session, taking place from 11.30am on Sunday, August 14, is one of the star attractions. Yes, it's a chance to take your furry best friend for a few brews. Plus, if Max or Frankie is judged the cutest canine there, you'll also get some time in the pupper photo booth. Entry is free and, to get your dog's tail wagging, treats and bowls will be available for the barking attendees — and the usual bar menu will be on offer for two-legged patrons. Sip Stone & Wood pints and you'll be helping a great cause, too, with proceeds being donated to the Animal Welfare League Queensland. As for the soundtrack, you can expect 'Who Let the Dogs Out?', 'Hound Dog', 'Black Dog' and more appropriately themed tracks to get a whirl.
Here's one of Brisbane's inescapable truths: if you're wandering along Given and Latrobe terraces in Petrie Terrace and Paddington, you'd best be ready to eat and drink. Throwing a stone along the popular roadway isn't recommended, of course, but you'd hit a heap of restaurants and bars if you did. To celebrate all of those eateries and watering holes lining the precinct, Taste of the Terraces is giving Brisbanites an excuse to drop by between Friday, May 20–Sunday, May 22 (not that you ever need a special reason to make a visit). Stretching along down to the Collingwood Street intersection, 38 venues will be dishing up food specials and cocktails across the three days — whether you're keen to head along for breakfast, lunch, an afternoon drink or to make an evening of it. Exactly where will be serving up what — and for how much — hasn't been revealed, but you've got plenty of places to hit up anyway. Naïm, Hope & Anchor, Kettle & Tin, Darling & Co, Remy's, King Tea, Nota and its new neighbourhood wine bar, Ngon, Sassafras and Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers are just some of the venues taking part. Arrive hungry and thirsty — and full of love for Paddington — obviously. Top image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Been dreaming of sick tricks since seeing Andy Samberg be "too legit to quit" in Hot Rod? Thankfully, you don't have to go searching on every single streaming platform to get your fix of action sports. Instead, you can catch a whole bunch of adrenaline-inducing stunts up close at Nitro World Games this October. On Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23, the global championship takes place in Brisbane where the world's top athletes in BMX, FMX, skate and scooter will converge at Suncorp Stadium for a showdown like no other. Expect gravity-defying stunts and brand new courses featuring the largest ramps to ever appear at the competition. The semi-finals will take place on the Saturday evening with the nail-biting finals scheduled for Sunday's program. Keen to see the jaw-dropping action up close? The action will kick off at 4pm on both days with tickets starting from $55. For more information and to secure your spot, visit the website.
We all love a good combo and Fat Freddy's Drop certainly deliver the combined goods, being the ultimate collaboration of collaborations. Drawing members from The Black Seeds, Bongmaster and Trinity Roots to make their dub reggae sound, it's no wonder the band has enjoyed international success. They must have some good vibes for Brisbane, having aptly named their first tour in town since 2009 ‘On the Road to Brisbane'. Speaking of good vibes, you may have caught (or missed) Fat Freddy’s Drop at Good Vibrations Festival this year, priming the stage for Nas. Everyone in the massive crowd can agree their live show can bring together even the most keen fans and curious, unknowing punters. Even with two back-to-back shows this week, Fat Freddy’s Drop guarantee each will be diverse due to the awesome improvisation the seven-piece group is renown for. Get down to the Tiv on Thursday or Friday and experience the Drop for yourself
Gelato Messina first introduced its cookie pies to the world in 2020, and tastebuds across Australia thanked them. Then, it kept bringing the OTT dessert back when we all needed an extra dose of sweetness across the year. In fact, the dessert fiends have been serving them up for more than 12 months now. Messina celebrated that one-year milestone back in April; however, it isn't done with cookie pies yet. The chain has proven that a few times already over the past couple of months. And, it's committing to the concept in a big way in its stores going forward. Brisbanites, get ready to head into Messina's South Brisbane outpost, then walk out with a single-serve cookie pie. Yes, this cookie pie really is just for one person — and not just because you're not willing to share. The smaller-sized desserts come ready to eat as well. They're also topped with a scoop of gelato, because of course they are. Hang on, cookie pie? Yes, it's a pie, but a pie made of cookie dough. If you're new to the concept, that's all you really need to know. To pick up one of these single-serve desserts, you'll need to head to the South Brisbane stores from 6pm on Monday and Tuesday evenings. That's the only time they're available, so marking your calendars is perfectly sensible. Don't worry about pre-ordering, though, as that isn't required. Expect to pay $12 with a scoop, or $10 if somehow you don't want gelato on top.
Welcome to the Legless Bar, where, once a year, regulars and newcomers alike test their talents at the venue's open mic night. Four keen folks in particular will try their luck: the bar's owner and MC, a guy on a blind date, a karaoke champ and a trivia host. That's the setup for Look Mum… No Hands!!, the first-ever production from indelabilityarts. Established in 2015, the performance ensemble aims to create work by and with people who identify as having disabilities. Now that's how you make your own opportunities in an industry that sadly provides very limited professional and creative avenues otherwise. Because anything can happen in a play about an open mic night, expect laughs, music and stories — and an amusing, inclusive show all-round. Expect lively performances from indelabilityarts' main players Michel Labosse, Maddie Little, Karen Lee Roberts and David Waldie, too.
Do you live in a dog-friendly house? Do you have some spare time on your hands? Do you fantasise about hanging around at dog parks with an actual dog? The good folk at Vision Australia need you. As part of the organisation's seeing eye dog program, they have puppies running around the place quite often, and they're in need of volunteers to raise them. In other words, they're giving away puppies — but you will need to give them back. If you put up your hand to become a puppy carer, you'll get a puppy for about a year — from around its eight-week birthday to when it turns turns between 12–15 months old. During that time, you'll be responsible for introducing the sights, sounds and smells it'll meet when it starts working as a seeing eye dog (and giving your new friend heaps of cuddles). Of course, it's not all just fun, games and cuteness. You'll have to be responsible enough to take care of regular grooming, house training and exercise, and be available for regular visits. A fenced-in backyard is mandatory, too. In return, the organisation provides a strong support network, and all food, training equipment and vet care. You'll also need to be home most of the time — so you won't be leaving the puppy alone for more than three hours a day, sat in front of Dog TV — and to be able to put effort into training and socialising the pup. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Seeing Eye Dogs Australia (@seeingeyedogsaustralia) Vision Australia is looking for people in a few of Melbourne spots: in the east to the Yarra Ranges; in the southeast to Portsea; and in Kensington, Flemington, North Melbourne, Ascot Vale and West Melbourne. They're also looking in the Bendigo and Geelong regions, too. In Queensland, the north Brisbane and Sunshine Coast areas are the current priorities. Once the pups reach 12-15 months old, they'll return to Vision Australia — and complete their journey to become four-legged companions for people who are blind or have low vision. Keen? You can apply online right now. For more information about Vision Australia's puppy carers, and to apply for the volunteer roles, head to the organisation's website.
Christmas is coming to Rocklea, and that shouldn't come as a surprise. The Brisbane Markets love celebrating an occasion, so dedicating three Saturday mornings in December to all things festive was always bound to happen. Taking place from 6am–12pm on Saturday, December 10, 17 and 24 — yes, even on Christmas Eve — Christmas Lane will be filled with holiday supplies. If you normally do your grocery shopping here, then your ham, prawn and produce needs will be sorted. But stocking your shelves and fridge at home is just one part of the market. For presents, you'll be able to browse the markets' dedicated gift area (just don't let your loved ones see what you're buying them). Think: arts and crafts, homewares, fashion, jewellery and other handmade goods. If you're keen on giving plants and flowers — or food — you'll find them here as well. And, because all of that shopping is hungry work, you can nab breakfast onsite. Expect entertainment as a soundtrack, too — likely something that'll make you feel mighty jolly.
Everybody loves a countdown. Watching rage, voting in Triple J's Hottest 100: they're all Australian traditions. In Brisbane, we love all of the above — and we're also very fond of 4ZZZ's Hot 100. It's the poll voted by locals, celebrating locals and brimming with the best of everything that's hit local airwaves throughout the past year, and it's coming to The Triffid once more. See in the new year with a song (or 100) as the Newstead venue throws its first hangout of 2023. From midday, the entire 100 tracks will be blasted through the Triff with a live broadcast, as you sit, drink, recover or do whatever it is you need to on January 1. There'll be beer, ace tunes and hair-of-the-dog hangover cures aplenty — as well as games, stunts and even activities for kids. Plus, you can also bring your doggo. Happy 2023 indeed.
To watch films written and directed by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi is to watch people playing a part — in multiple ways. That's one of the key truths to features not only by the Japanese filmmaker, but by anyone helming a movie that relies upon actors. It's so obvious that it doesn't usually need mentioning, in fact. Nonetheless, the notion is as essential to Hamaguchi's pictures as cameras to capture the drama. He bakes the idea into his films via as many methods as he can, pondering what it means to step into all the posts that life demands: friend, lover, spouse, ex, sibling, child, employee, student, classmate and the like. Hamaguchi loves contemplating the overt act of performance, too — his Best International Feature Oscar-winning Drive My Car, which also nabbed its helmer a Best Director nomination at this year's Academy Awards, hones in on a play and the rehearsals for it in dilligent detail — but the auteur who's also behind Happy Hour and Asako I and II has long been aware that the art of portrayal isn't just limited to thespians. Shakespeare said it centuries back, of course. To be precise, he had As You Like It's Jaques utter it: "all the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players". Hamaguchi's Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, his second film to reach cinemas in mere months, definitely isn't a French-set comedy; however, it lives and breathes the Bard's famous words anyway. Here, three tales about romance, desire and fate get a spin. This trio of stories all muse on chance, choice, identity, regret and inescapable echoes as well, and focus on complex women reacting to the vagaries of life and everyday relationships. They're about sliding into roles in daily existence, and making choices regarding how to behave, which way to present yourself and who you decide to be depending upon the company you're in. While Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy mightn't ultimately mimic Drive My Car's Oscars success, it's equally masterful. In the first segment — dubbed 'Magic (or Something Less Assuring)' — model Meiko (Kotone Furukawa, 21st Century Girl) discovers that her best friend Tsugumi (Hyunri, Wife of a Spy) has just started seeing her ex-boyfriend Kazuaki (Ayumu Nakajima, Saturday Fiction). She's told in a sprawling taxi chat, which makes for stellar early sequence, and then she grapples with her complicated feelings while musing on what could eventuate from there. Meiko also heads straight to her former paramour, which was never going to simplify the situation. Her mantle to bear: either remaining the picture of a supportive pal by failing to tell Tsugumi about her past with Kazuaki, or laying out their history and forever shifting the dynamic. It's a devastating tale in how intricately it understands the push and pull of bonds that splay in different directions, and how we hold ourselves in various ways depending on who we're with. Next, in 'Door Wide Open', college student Nao (Katsuki Mori, Sea Opening) is enlisted to seduce Professor Sagawa (Kiyohiko Shibukawa, Tezuka's Barbara) as part of a revenge plan by her lover Sasaki (Shouma Kai, Signal 100). She's forced into the part — which blatantly requires her to play a part — by the entitled Sasaki, all because the professor won't give him a passing grade. Nao is married, adding further shades to the roles she's inhabiting at any given time. She's also wholly uncomfortable with the position that her boyfriend has placed her in, but it still leads to authentic connections and revelations. Another of Hamaguchi's strong and frequently repeated truths: that the pretences we all sport, for whatever reasons we adopt them in any particular circumstances, are often barriers to genuine emotions and attachments. Finally, in a world where the internet has been eradicated due to a virus — making third chapter 'Once Again' a piece of science fiction, too, and as quietly fantastical as the feature gets — Natsuko (Fusako Urabe, Voices in the Wind) and Nana (Aoba Kawai, Marriage with a Large Age Gap) cross paths. The former has returned home to attend her high-school reunion, bumping into the latter within moments of getting off the train, with the two women instantly thinking that they were classmates decades ago. Thanks to the preceding portions of the film and also Hamaguchi's filmography in general, it's instantly clear that this scenario won't be straightforward, either. Nana invites Natsuko back to her house, the two chat and reminisce, but neither is all that confident about their shared history in a segment that tenderly but candidly examines role-playing as a two-way street, and also deception as a social grace. Hamaguchi's resume is littered with other obsessions beyond the fictions people spin to get through their days — to themselves and to each other, and willingly and unthinkingly alike — many of which also pop up in Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy. Coincidence has a role in each of the movie's trio of intelligently and painstakingly plotted narratives, and destiny and fortune as well (as the name makes plain). The tangled web that romance weaves, and the sticky strands that represent alluring exes, also leave a firm imprint. So does seduction, and not always in its usual and most apparent form. All three of the picture's sections could stand alone, but each could've been fleshed out to feature length as well; as they exist, they leave viewers wanting more time with their lead characters. Commonalities ebb and flow between them, though, because this is a smart, astute and savvily layered triptych that's brought to the screen with everything that makes Hamaguchi's work so empathetic, warmly intimate and also entrancing. On the list: a canny knack for domestic drama that spies the revelatory in the seemingly ordinary and mundane; a willingness to let dialogue guide each story, yet never by resorting to only speaking in exposition dumps or lazily telling over showing; and, to help with that crucial last component, piercing and haunting long shots by cinematographer (Yukiko Iioka, Listen to Light) in every chapter. Indeed, each portion of Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy almost resembles a full-length film as it is courtesy of these trademark traits, which make the entire movie seem deeply lived-in. It should come as no surprise, then, that Hamaguchi's cast fares just as brilliantly. With the filmmaker's patent fascination with performance on full display, the restrained yet meticulously textured portrayals he exacts from his cast are uniformly excellent. They're more than that; in a beguiling piece about playing parts, and that makes the process of adopting a role its very reason for flickering, peering at its actors feels like peering at reality at its most soulful, insightful and also playful.
There’s not an awful lot you can do in 48 hours. You could get halfway through all of Lost, two sevenths of the way through all the Doctor Whos or have just enough time to track down a killer, as proved by Eddie Murphy - let alone, make a movie! Alas there’s a group of local filmmakers who’ve defied the odds, given up on Sawyer’s plight and traded in the couch for a camera for two days of intense movie making. These filmmakers will join more than 60,000 people from 120 countries to see who can make the best short film in a weekend – they’ve even got a chance to be screened in Cannes 2014. The Judith Wright Centre will be debuting these Brisbane entries over two big nights, 4-5 October. Check out the screening program here and get behind a bunch of up and coming JJ Abrams.
Any good 'twist movie' carries with it two inescapable truths: joy to behold, bitch to review. The best to which a critic can aspire is circumspection bordering on indifference, tempered like a card shark sitting on an unbeatable hand. That task becomes even more formidable when the twist itself provides the basis for the entire plot. In those cases, as it is with Steven Soderbergh's latest (and supposedly last) film Side Effects, even just stating what the film's about in the broadest possible terms discloses more than can ever be justified. Ultimately, there's little more that can be said beyond "This film is great and you really ought to see it." And yet, sufficient as that review might be, in this instance Side Effects' name and tagline — "One pill can change your life" — helpfully offer at least a permissible insight into the movie's umbrella theme: prescription drugs. Its main character Emily (Rooney Mara) flits back and forth from one antidepressant to the next like they were competing brands of cereal, forever in search of that consequence-free panacea to her daily "poisonous fog bank rolling in". Her well-intentioned psychiatrist (Jude Law) dutifully doles out each prescription, just as eager to cure her melancholy yet also candidly advocating certain medications over others in exchange for those companies' generous consultancy fees. However, just as Side Effects appears to be establishing itself as the fictionalised version of similarly themed documentaries like Generation RX and Prescription for Disaster, it takes such a sudden and monumental shift that the audience audibly gasped in our screening. From that moment on, Soderbergh (who also filmed and edited the movie under pseudonyms) has you questioning and requestioning everything you see and hear, grasping for clarity, and staving off paranoia like the very characters before you. If indeed this is to be his swan song, then we can take solace in knowing he's left us with another gripping, intelligent, and complex psychological thriller befitting both his status as an auteur and his extraordinary back catalogue of films.
You don't have to go to Tokyo to enjoy an immersive Japanese experience. You can, of course, and you should at some point, because there's really nowhere else in the world quite like it. But if you're eager to eat like you're already there, watch performances and take part in cultural activities, you can save yourself the airfare at the Matsuri Japanese Festival. Your bank account will thank you, and you'll take care of that nagging travel envy for an afternoon. A one-day celebration returning to Mount Gravatt Showgrounds from 12–6.30pm on Saturday, September 7 after last year's fest proved such a hit, it's Brisbane's own ode to the country that brought us sushi, katsu, yakitori, sake, matcha lattes and more. Expect to find more than a few things from that list on offer, and plenty of things to see and do as well. Admission is free and, like every great cultural festival, you can expect a little bit of everything that makes Japan so ace.
Here's the exceptional thing about being a movie lover: you're never short on stuff to watch. And, because where you see something can have a big imprint on your viewing experience, you're rarely lacking great places to get your cinema fix. Brisbane's latest: the city's riverside CBD brewery. On Tuesday nights between now and Christmas, in a series called Summer Cinema Sessions, Felons Brewing Co is turning its Barrel Hall into a cinema and showing classic flicks — for free. From 7pm, you'll get comfy on a bean bag, lock your eyes on the big screen and enjoy a movie fave, all without paying a cent. You'll also drink brews, but that part will cost you. There'll be cinema snacks on offer as well and, again, that's when you'll need your wallet. On the agenda: Kill Bill (on November 8), The Breakfast Club (November 15), Jurassic Park (November 22), Shrek (November 29), The Grinch (December 6), Elf (December 13) and The Polar Express (December 20), so you have options in terms of genre. Those last three festive screenings — made all the more merry with beers, naturally — will definitely have you feeling jolly heading into Christmas.
One of the things I miss the most about being younger is my childlike outlook on life – if I wanted to climb a tree, I didn’t think about falling off; if I didn’t like something, I didn’t worry about if someone opposed my opinion. Then, with age comes life experiences that eventually quash that blindly optimistic and innocent perspective (‘if I fall out of the tree, I’ll definitely break an arm or a neck’/‘I can’t tell him his hair is stupid because he’ll totally bitch about me when I leave oh my god but it really is so dumb’), so sometimes I need a reminder of that childlike grace. Enter The Alphabet Two Ways – a picture book developed and shot by four-year-old Cody King and her mother, Tricia King. It retains the basic concept of an alphabet book – with a picture corresponding to each letter – with a unique twist: each ‘word’ is shot by both Cody and Tricia simultaneously, offering varying physical perspectives of each object and displaying varying elements of interest in each scene. Example: in R for Rain, where mum sees the reflection of the sky on the wet concrete, daughter sees her bare feet standing on the wet deck. It’s a simple concept that challenges little minds and big minds both with a beautiful series if photographs.
Mockumentaries tend to get a bit of a bad rap in critical circles. 'Lazy filmmaking' is the most common smear, and — to be fair — they are a far gentler form of screenwriting than an out-and-out screenplay. They've also experienced massive growth in recent years, most notably in television, with the likes of Modern Family, The Office and Summer Heights High all achieving both popular and critical success. In film, This Is Spinal Tap set the benchmark way back in 1984 and has reigned supreme ever since — an 11 out of 10, if you will. The newest edition in the genre is What We Do In The Shadows, a collaboration between writer/directors Taika Waititi and Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement. Billed as "a couple of interviews with a couple of vampires", it's a fly on the wall 'documentary' about four vampires sharing a flat in present-day New Zealand and is, quite simply, hilarious. The subjects of the film are: Viago (Waititi), an 18th-century dandy whose anal retentiveness makes him 'that' flatmate; Vlad (Clement), a legendary Lothario and formerly prolific hypnotist; Deacon (Jonathan Brugh), the self-proclaimed 'sexy one'; and Petyr (Ben Fransham) an ancient vampire from the early days. Key to its appeal is the way What We Do In The Shadows presents the needs, problems and activities of vampires as entirely commonplace. It makes them immediately relatable, treating something like the accidental puncturing of a victim's jugular and subsequent living room mess with no more pomp or fanfare than a spilled drink on a beige couch. The flatmates cruise the clubs of Wellington seeking victims like others seek a one night stand, they jeer each other on when a back-alley argument descends into a 'bat fight', and they projectile vomit blood when they absentmindedly eat actual food. Yes, they've their share of 'vampire' problems (sunlight, vampire hunters, etc), but also more normal ones, like having to tell your best friend you're the undead and suppressing the unceasing desire to kill him. What We Do in the Shadows also comes in at the welcome length of just 87 minutes, but its brevity doesn't come at the expense of jokes. It's packed with laughs, both visual and scripted, as well as offering a decent dose of improv (a common trait for mockumentaries). There's also more than a bit of horror and gore (so much so that with minimal tweaking this could easily have been reshaped as a solid B-grade scary film), yet there's no fear of fear thanks to the unbroken procession of gags. If this is lazy filmmaking, then bring on the trackies and couch surfing, because it suits us just fine. Check out Concrete Playground NZ's interview with Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Cv568AzZ-i8
There’s more to Chicks on Speed than 'We Don’t Play Guitars', the 2003 single so catchy that you probably have it stuck in your head just from reading its title. They pioneered the electroclash style of 1980s disco meets 1990s synth pop, but that’s still only the beginning of their feats. Since forming in Munich in 1997, the multidisciplinary art collective has dabbled in performance, collage, photography, textiles, short films and more. By more, we mean smashing records while DJing, and founding illegal bars. We also mean creating wearable sound sculptures, called objektinstruments. Now you can sample just what makes the music and fine art ensemble great across the audio and visual spectrums. In their first exhibition with Milani Gallery, they’ll present a selection of new and recent efforts from their range of artforms. Expect a little bit of everything — and, in keeping with Chicks on Speed’s style, expect surprises.
If jungle vibes inside a Coorparoo warehouse sounds like your perfect outing, head along to the Jungle Collective's indoor plant sale on Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25. It's the latest greenery-filled Brissie market from The Jungle Collective, a Melbourne nursery that stocks all kinds of weird and wonderful species. Yes, it is trucking its way up north again for another Queensland venture. Whether you're after a hanging pot plant, some palms for the garden or a giant Bird of Paradise, chances are you'll find it here. Have a reputation for killing your cacti? Overwatering your ferns? Don't worry — there'll be horticulturalists on site on the night to give you advice and chat through any questions you might have. Get inspired by greenery aplenty and learn to incorporate plants into your home and living spaces, all while browsing and soaking up some tunes. Best get in quick though — these markets are always popular, with more than 150 different species usually on offer. Due to expected demand, the sale will be held in four sessions on Saturday (8-10am, 10am-noon, 12-2pm and 2-4pm) and two on Sunday (10am-noon, 12-2pm), and attendees will need to register for free tickets in advance. Plus, if you wear a onesie — and spend at least $10 — you'll get $5 off your purchase.
If jungle vibes inside a Brisbane warehouse sounds like your perfect outing, head along to the Jungle Collective's indoor plant sale on Saturday, October 20. It's the latest greenery-filled market from The Jungle Collective, a Melbourne nursery that stocks all kinds of weird and wonderful species. After opening up their warehouse, which isn't usually open to the public, for a markets on home turf and in Sydney, they're trucking their way up north for a one-off Brissie venture. Whether you're after a hanging pot plant, some palms for the garden or a giant Bird of Paradise, chances are you'll find it here. Have a reputation for killing your cacti? Overwatering your ferns? Don't worry — there'll be horticulturalists on site on the night to give you advice and chat through any questions you might have. Here, you can be inspired by greenery aplenty, and learn to incorporate plants into your home and living spaces, while browsing and soaking up some tunes. Best get in quick though — their Melbourne and Sydney markets are always popular, so we can only imagine that their first Brisbane appearance will be as well. Due to expected demand, the sale will be held in four sessions on both days (8-10am, 10am-noon, 12-2pm and 2-4pm), and attendees will need to register for free tickets from noon on Monday, October 15. Plus, if you wear a jungle-inspired print, you'll get $5 off your purchase.
If you're of an age when you can remember burning your friend's So Fresh CD so you could stay up to date with the coolest songs of the season, congrats. You're old now. But also, congrats, because you will seriously enjoy this So Fresh shindig. Returning for yet another round, the old-school get-together to end all old-school get-togethers is coming to The Wickham from 10pm on Saturday, April 13, 2024 — and it'll be playing bangers strictly of the 2000s and early-2010s vintage. You can expect a sing-along to The Veronicas' 'Untouched', a 'Macarena' flashmob (even though the song dates back to the 90s) and, of course, 'Mr Brightside' as a finale. Tunes from High School Musical, Glee, One Direction, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Black Eyed Peas, Taylor Swift, Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Kelly Clarkson and LMFAO will also feature. And, just throwing this out there: we're desperately hoping for a comeback of the Duff sisters duet 'Our Lips Are Sealed'. As always, the retro tunes will come with plenty of party fun — such as 00s-themed drinks, a balloon wall for photos, a free glitter station, and even free fairy floss and lollipops. And the dress code? Donning threads from the era is recommended. Tickets are on sale now, and of course it's obviously 18 and over — because if you're under 18 you definitely don't know what So Fresh is. Or CDs, probably. If you need some motivation, let the Duff sisters take care of that:
While Brisbanites don't experience winter quite as much as our southern counterparts, we can still celebrate the chilly weather. To help you do so, Customs House is bringing back its popular igloo pop-up with fine French bubbly label Veuve Clicquot. The wintry wonderland is inspired by the French Alps, so you can get your winter escape without even having to leave the city. Opening from Friday, July 24, the aptly named Winter Chalet pop-up will see three igloo chalets take over the riverside spot. You can choose to stay out in the crisp air or book a night in your own private haven with your crew. Each igloo can fit between four and six people and has a minimum spend of $50 per person, which will be easy as long as you're willing to indulge in a few cocktails, glasses of champagne and snacks. In celebratory fashion, you'll be sipping glasses of Veuve Clicquot NV ($22) or, if you're keen to party, bottles of the fine bubbly ($120). Or, order yourself an espresso martini or Polish Mule, with vodka, elderflower, bitters, lime and ginger beer (both $20). Bottles of Veuve Clicquot Rosé ($130) and Veuve Clicquot 2008 Vintage ($260) will also be available, if you're keen to splash that cash, as well as a selection of wine, beer and spirits. For food, there'll be decadent snacks such as oysters ($5 each), scallops with chorizo crumb ($8 each), baked brie served with thyme and crostini ($18) and, the star, a croissant stuffed with citrus-poached Moreton Bay bug, lettuce and lime mayo ($18). Also available will be a selection of cheese — from goats brie to aged cheddar — served with truffled honey, pear, walnut bread and house-made lavosh. Or, you can opt for a set menu for $40 a head, which includes the Moreton Bay bug croissant, chips served with truffle aioli and a glass of Veuve each. Winter Chalet is taking over Customs House on Friday, July 24 and will run till the end of winter. If you're keen to book a private igloo, head here.
Ex-boxer Henry 'Razor' Sharp (Sylvester Stallone) is reluctantly lured out of retirement to settle old scores with long-time personal and professional rival Billy 'The Kid' McDonnen (Robert De Niro) in an exhibition fight. The pair must resolve a disputed match from 30 years earlier, as well as the fact that they were both in love with the same woman, Sally (Kim Basinger). The inciting concept for this film is right there on the uncanny valley-esque photoshopped poster: it's Rocky vs Raging Bull! (Colleagues assure me that others have beaten me to the Rocky and Raging Bullwinkle gags, so there's really little pleasure to be gained here.) You have to wonder what they would have done if De Niro or Stallone had said no. Although given the last decade or so of their respective careers, perhaps this wasn't a huge concern. But one need only imagine the producers turning to, say, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Al Pacino to realise that the film's sole purpose for existing is its very specific casting. Perhaps the Alan Arkin mentor role was originally offered to Kirk Douglas, whose boxer Midge Kelly feature in 1949's Champion. But like Stallone's Expendables franchise, the idea of De Niro and Stallone settling old scores in a boxing ring is an idea that would have been far more exciting about 20 years ago. In 2013, it feels like an afterthought. It's an odd compliment to give a comedy, but I'm going to do it anyway: I like that it's not all that funny. Some of the jokes work, but most fall flat. What's heartening about this is that the film is confident to go for long stretches where they don't even try for a laugh. You can easily imagine the alternate version in which it's simply wall-to-wall bad jokes, and you become thankful you're not watching that version. The ratio of drama to comedy is an odd one, as if the movie can't decide which genre it wants to plant its flag in. It shouldn't work, but sort-of does. If this feels like muted praise, it's deliberate. Grudge Match is one of those ideas that works as a passing joke rather than an actual film, and the finished product should be a gigantic car crash. But the film's brazenness is admirable — it knows why it exists, and wastes no time apologising for the fact — and it is possible to have a good time with it. Just make sure your expectations are suitably lowered first. https://youtube.com/watch?v=1bQSOBJCPQE
Nothing says summer quite like a barbecue and a few cold bevvies in the sunshine. With an average 283 days of sunshine per year in Brisbane, you'd be a fool not to embrace the outdoors. Barbecues are etched deep in our culture here in the River City, and while there are plenty of parks to enjoy a snag fresh from the barbie not all of them allow you to legally enjoy booze. In partnership with Jim Beam, we've rounded up four barbecue spots in Brisbane where you can tuck into a barbecue and a few drinks worry-free. [caption id="attachment_668860" align="alignnone" width="1920"] New Farm Park via Brisbane City Council and Flickr[/caption] NEW FARM PARK Sprawling an impressive 37 acres, New Farm Park is undeniably a favourite picnic and barbecue spot for Brisbanites. With lush lawns, manicured rose gardens, river views and the heritage-listed Powerhouse Museum taking pride of place, it's easy to see why. There are plenty of barbecues and tables to accommodate large groups, or perhaps you'd prefer to lay out a couple of picnic blankets on the grass for a more relaxed vibe? Because it's so generously sized, the park has plenty of space to kick around a ball or play a game of bocce if you're wanting to set up camp here for the whole afternoon. You are permitted to drink alcohol here so long as you're eating. [caption id="attachment_784308" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brisbane Marketing[/caption] ROMA STREET PARKLANDS CELEBRATION LAWN Planted in the middle of the CBD, Roma Street Parklands is as convenient as it is varied. If the thought of laying on a picnic rug while you tuck into a freshly cooked barbecue feast with a cascading waterfall in the background appeals to you, then we'd recommend heading to Celebration Lawn. Come nighttime, the waterfall is lit with a range of colours, adding a touch of romance to your evening. There are plenty of barbecues, but get in early to nab a spot and settle in for a day of feasting and frolicking around the lawn. Or, you could explore the Parklands a little further after lunch. The best part is, you can bring your own booze to Celebration Lawn between the hours of 10am–8pm seven days a week. [caption id="attachment_793757" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brisbane City Flickr[/caption] ROMA STREET PARKLANDS LAKESIDE MEADOW Also situated within Roma Street Parklands, Lake Meadow Precinct is perfect for those days when you're chasing a little relaxation. With sprawling green lawns that stretch around a stunning manmade lake, the area attracts visitors and locals for its ability to make you feel like you've been transported to a tropical destination. Like the Celebration Lawn, alcohol is permitted at Lakeside Meadow between the hours of 10am–8pm daily, so you can kick back and enjoy a few drinks as you prepare a tasty lunch and relax on the grass. SOUTH BANK'S RIVERSIDE GREEN South Bank Parklands is teeming with picnic spots and barbecue facilities, but our favourite has to be Riverside Green — mostly because you can enjoy an alcoholic beverage here between 10am–8pm. With stunning, uninterrupted views of the Brisbane River and city skyline, Riverside Green is a popular spot year-round, so make sure you get in early to nab a spot on the hotplates. The free barbecue amenities are generally in high demand, but once you're done feasting there's lots of space to kick back on the lawns and watch the day go by. And, if you've got kids in tow, let them run wild on the impressive playground nearby. Top image: Roma Street Parklands via Bert Knot
