The wonderful Moonlight Cinema, nestled in New Farm park until February, is back. It seems like every time these Moonlight cinemas are on, I miss them. That could be due to the fact I don't live exactly inner city, and always find out too late. I am determined not to miss out this time though. The first film on the program is Drive, which stars the argued Sexiest Man In The World, Ryan Gosling, and is about a stunt driver turned underworld crim who gets caught up in a series of unfortunate events. It also sees Bryan Cranston in another gritty role, and has garnered some very impressive reviews. The rest of the program is set to delight, with Ferris Bueller's Day Off and a Grease sing-a-long scheduled. I personally will not miss the Grease screening, and will attend rain, hail or shine. That said, the cinema operates in changing weather, but if a cancellation occurs, they will happily give you a voucher for another session, so there's no need to worry about our wild weather ruining your fun completely! You can bring blankets, your own food (plus non-alco drinks), and pillows to relax on, and even your dog if you so wish. Make sure you don't miss the Ford Focus Moonlight Cinema when its in town – did I mention they'll be showing Life of Brian?
I like whimsical, elongated names for things, ya know, they aren't just fireworks I can hear, they are explosions in the sky. Ooooh. The Explosions In The Sky in question are in fact an experimental group reigning from Texas, home of non-experimental country music. The post-rock foursome are known for their super-long instrumentals and emotional live shows. And they don't make people emotional in a Beatles frenzy sort of way either – these sprawling tracks actually hit deep into your soul. Before you dismiss Explosions In The Sky for being a boring band, you probably should give them a chance. You may have already given them a chance without knowing – they could've slipped into your subconscious if you have ever been inclined to watch the TV show, Friday Night Lights. After my first listen to 'Your Hand In Mine', I felt extremely calm. Perhaps seeing Explosions In The Sky is just what you need if you really want to find peace within yourself. Meaning of life: contemplated.
If you’re yet to hear Royal Headache’s Down The Lane or Dick Diver’s Through The D, then what the hell are you doing reading this? Rip out your debit card and splash out on some Royal Headache and Dick Diver mp3s, get learned, then come back to this article. I’ll wait here. Okay, great. So now that you’ve listened to both of those songs, you’re well aware of the brilliance that is each respective band. Wouldn’t it be perfect if they could play during the balmy weather we have coming up, while you down brews in the inflatable pool on the deck? (Yes.) Well, that’s not going to happen – sorry – but the next best thing is their split launch of their respective LPs. It’s all happening at Woodland this Friday night – head in, buy both CDs (don’tcha know they’re gonna be vintage soon?) and see the two best bands of the summer before it’s too hot for you to ever leave the pool again.
Here in Australia, we have a glasses shop called Bright Eyes, so every time I listen to or hear about Bright Eyes, I think of sexy guys on posters wearing Raybans. This wouldn't be so bad if I weren't denying myself the privilege of having Conor Oberst on my mind every time I heard “First Day of My Life” at every wedding ever. It's hard to think that Bright Eyes have been creating music for over 15 years and have only toured Australia a handful of times. Conor and bandmates Mike Mogis and Nate Wallcott may be from Nebraska but they are definitely heard much further than their central roots, even if it took us a while to get to know their sound. And if you don't know what that is, it's acoustic, indie and lovely. Speaking of getting to know them, Brisbane is lucky enough to have the godforsaken gift of a sideshow on the tail of Bright Eyes' slot at Harvest. We never get sideshows for anything, EVER, so it would be very silly if you missed Bright Eyes twice when they were in town. C'mon, they are right in front of you, you just need to look.
The literary work of Edgar Allen Poe collectively represents quality and greatness in poetry and fiction. Surviving the centuries, his infamous poem, The Raven is one upon many of Poe's influential pieces that continues to live on through the generations. Blurring the boundaries between audience and performer, home truths and vicious lies, The Raven represents a journey into the mind of a man whose imagination has taken liberties with his life. Fall deep inside an intimate and sensory experience at Metro Arts and take a seat at Poe's table as the poet shifts through splintered memories forged with his beloved wife. For those unfamiliar with the literary work of Poe, The Raven represents a dark journey into the mind of a man whose imagination has taken liberties with his life. Telling the tale of a talking raven's mysterious visit to a distraught lover, you experience a man's man's slow descent into madness. Written in the 1800s The Raven is a poem that has truly latest the test of time. A performance that will both educate and inspire, Metro Art's adaptation of The Raven is one not to be missed.
Baby animals are one of those human instant pick-me-ups, similar to coffee or brown paper packages tied up with string. Many would argue that even better are baby farm animals, mainly because they’re harder to find than your run of the mill domestic pets. Lambs, calves, piglets, ducklings; they even have adorable names to match their teeny-tiny cutesy-wutesy faces. If you disregard the fact that the majority of baby farm animals will grow up to be a meal for someone (sad face), when they’re living in a miniature barnyard and available for you to pat as much as you desire, their existence seems all very innocent and soothing – like a natural Valium. As part of the Christmas holiday entertainment this year, Brisbane City will be playing home to a collection of barnyard babies for a week. Although marketed as a children’s activity, I feel its placement in the CBD means that the organisers secretly want busy workers to de-stress in their lunch breaks. Seriously, I could probably work a 24 hour shift if every so often I could squeeze an adorable piglet.
Lightspace has been growing into an increasingly popular venue for great events as of late, and it’s not hard to see why. Lately it’s been home to fashion shows, art shows and all those other hip things to be seen at. One may even go there to crash their girlfriend’s graduation party and exploit the free booze available. If these reasons are making you miss that great white building on Light Street, well, this Friday you’ve got another chance to visit. The Whitelight ‘warehouse’ party is back, with a fantastic line up of bands that are killin’ it right now. Personally, I’m going to be at this event because aesthetically it’s a great place to be and statistically there’s probably going to be an abundance of gorgeous women. But if you need more excuses, then I’ll tell you that the last Whitelight warehouse party was incredible, with the Jezabels headlining. This Whitelight relapse will hopefully involve more beautiful women, but will most definitely involve even more great music – Belligerents, anyone? So, with all that said - I hope to see you on Friday, especially if you’re a cute girl.
Before there was The John Butler Trio, Ash Grunwald and Xavier Rudd, there was Jeff Lang. He’s an old school talent with a discography to rival all the upstarts currently cramping his style and stealing Triple J airtime from him. To celebrate the release of his new album Carried in Mind, he will be performing in his distinctive style at the Judith Wright Centre this Saturday. His many years on the scene have resulted in a reputation that precedes him and you can be sure that his performance will involve a soulful evening of guitar, acoustic melodies and unique lyrics. In fact, it has been said that seeing Mr Lang is a religious experience of sorts, which makes you ponder, would you rather chat with God on a Sunday morning or a Saturday evening? His new album Carried in Mind is a metaphor for life, with each song created to tell individual parts of a life story. It features a cacophony of emotions meant to cause reflection on the current human condition. So catch a preview of his new work live, and wake up with your existence feeling rejuvenated on Sunday morning.
A triple treat sounds like something delicious you may have received as a reward after a rough week of maths homework and soccer practice. Neapolitan ice cream perhaps? Corn chips, salsa and guacamole maybe? Or even a hot dog with cheese and tomato sauce? All very delicious options which work especially well together because of three distinctive flavours working as one. The Triple Treat Tour is coming your way and it’s a threesome glorious enough to excite your everything. Although the realm of the event is more in the aural arena than one to please your taste buds, this particular tour is still one to shout about. The three fillings to this Triple Treat pie are millions, Nantes, and Northeast Party House – a trilogy to rival the Lord of the Rings. All hailing from different states, they’ve been taking turns playing to a home crowd, and this week it’s Queensland’s turn with millions. Playing at Woodland Bar, the three bands will be bringing their distinctive garage-pop-dance-indie-rock flavour to the table, ensuring there is something for everyone. Despite there being no ice cream specifically linked to this event, it’s still very worthy of it’s Triple Treat title.
Earlier this week Block Party's Russell Lissack tweeted "Can't stop listening to @lastdinosaurs album, check it out. Best guitar work I've heard in a long time Looking fwd to crossing paths soon ;). The winking smiling face just says it all. Who needs PR workers when you've got Lissack building up your album rep? It worked an absolute treat with subsequent tweeters agreeing and praising Last Dinosaurs for their latest debut, In a Million Years. Roaring back into town this Thursday with the album launch party that's got everyone excited, catch our Brisbane boys at Cobra Kai Club Night with special guests The Jungle Giants. Don't forget to stick around after the show for the Official Neon Indian After Party. Although it didn't receive a tweet fest publicity build up, the after party will be equally as electric. Pre sale tickets have sold out but there are limited door tickets available on the night. Make sure you get in early so you don't miss out!
When I think ‘comedy festival’, I immediately start getting my grandma rant on. I mean seriously, the amount of comedians at festivals who derive their work from unintelligent vulgarity and shock rather than actually being funny at all is a depressingly high amount... Kids these days, am I right? One comedian keeping it real is Frank Woodley. You just have to look at the guy to know that he is going to be hilarious. Wide-eyed and long limbed, Woodley combines the perfect mix of slapstick, classic stand-up and musical comedy to keep you endlessly entertained. Performing a series of 60-minute solo shows as part of this year’s Brisbane Comedy Festival, his random segues and liquid limbs are sure to take you on a confusing yet side-splitting journey. Nourish your inner child and giggle yourself silly with this goofy and hilarious guy.
It is impossible to call yourself a movie buff without having seen at LEAST one Alfred Hitchcock movie, otherwise you’re just kidding yourself. His talent has far exceeded his lifetime and I’m 99.9% sure that every single one of you has either heard of one of his films, or been witness to something that was directly influenced by him. For instance, the recent movie Disturbia, was based on Mr Hitchcock’s original feature Rear Window. Maybe you have a fear of birds but can’t work out why? Perhaps you subconsciously heard about the evil variety that exists in Mr Hitchcock’s world. Finally, and most importantly, the shower scene from Psycho still remains today as his most remembered work; a game changer for the horror genre and something that still gets re-enacted today. If you’re unlucky enough to be unacquainted with Mr Hitchcock and his fabulous realm, cheer up because GoMA and the Australian Cinémathèque are putting on an entirely all-encompassing retrospective and screening all of his 56 films and 17 television shows. As with all GoMA productions, there are always accompanying positives and in this case there are two outstanding offerings. The musicians-in-residence are being kind enough to accompany the silent movies every Sunday, creating highly special viewings. There will also be the Hitchcock Lounge erected every Friday night with drinks, supper and live music to set the scene for a Hitchcock night out. Full movie schedules are available on the GoMA website.
Disco music, Venice Beach in Los Angeles, short shorts. They all have one thing in common: ROLLER SKATES. The novelty of wheeled shoes may have began as a fad, but as it has lasted the tenuous distance of time it is fair to say it’s earned itself the admiration of many, the ability to excite and the title of hip. With most roller rinks having closed their doors these days, skate enthusiasts have been having a hard time locating a place that they can meet their comrades for a spin. But! No more tears need to be shed as for the first time in Valley Fiesta history, the Chinatown Car Park rooftop is being taken over for the Red Bull Roller Disco. Giving people the opportunity to try out their 70s dance moves, hopefully wear flares and speedily skate away if rejected by the opposite sex, the night is sure to be one to remember. The best part is, if you can’t BYO skates, they are providing plenty of pairs for free! With music by DJs Cutloose, The Nice Guys and DJ Butcher, not to mention the fact that Red Bull is hosting the night, you can guarantee that this evening will not be a dud. And if wheeled shoes aren’t your thing, at least the view of the Valley from a rooftop will be something to brag about.
Keen to escape the hustle and bustle of Brisbane? The ancient rainforest and breathtaking lookouts of heritage-listed Main Range National Park are sure to soothe your soul. Covering over 30,170 hectares, the national park has rugged mountain ranges, cliff tops, rainforests, open eucalypt forest and rare wildlife. There are plenty of walks, including the Scenic Rim Trail, which is a four-day, three-night hike for experienced bushwalkers. For those looking for a more leisurely stroll, there are lots of easier tracks, such as the 30-minute Sylvesters lookout track, a 1.6-kilometre rainforest circuit and a two-kilometre loop around Queen Marys Falls, which has a great picnic spot, too. Then, head to the Maryvale Crown Hotel, found just a short drive from the park. Image: Scenic Rim Trail, Tourism and Events Queensland
It seems that 2020 is the year of staying local, although you don't need us to tell you that. For months so far — and for months to come — we're all making the most of our own backyard. We're eating local, and supporting local businesses. We're all travelling and holidaying throughout Queensland, too. And, whether you prefer a yeasty brew to cap off your week or a few cocktails whenever the mood strikes, you can drink the state's finest tipples as well. We're always keen to highlight local folks doing great things, of course — and, to showcase homegrown brewers and distillers, we've teamed up with our mates at BWS to celebrate a few of the best. Here are six must-try Queensland drops that you can pick up at your nearest BWS.
Already home to Vietnamese food hall Fat Noodle and upmarket steakhouse Black Hide by Gambaro, the Treasury Brisbane is expanding its food range — with potstickers, dim sum, barbecued meats and other Cantonese-style food. As first announced last month, the Brisbane CBD spot has welcomed Mei Wei Dumplings, with the new hawker-style eatery setting up shop on the basement level. Head underground every day of the week to eat your way through plenty of Mei Wei's titular dish — at the chain's second location, with its first restaurant already a favourite at The Star Gold Coast. Plus, in good news for Brisbanites hankering for some dumplings long after dinner time, the eatery is open until 11pm weekends and 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. Whether you like your dumplings fried or steamed — and whether you're dropping by for lunch, an after-work meal of a late-night bite, you'll find a variety of flavours on offer. Prawn dumplings, vegetable dumplings and three varieties of potstickers (beef, chicken and pork) are all on the menu, as are other dim sum staples such as spring rolls, barbecue pork buns and xiao long bao. Also on the lineup: char siu pork, crispy pork belly and Cantonese crispy duck, as part of an extended Brisbane-only selection filled with new signature dishes. If you can't choose between barbecued options, there's also a combination platter. And just like Mei Wei's Gold Coast site, there's a range of wok-cooked options, including sichuan beef, kung pao chicken and Singapore-style curry rice noodle. The restaurant also boasts a separate congee menu, with the rice porridge coming topped with the likes of pork and preserved egg, seafood, or chicken and mushroom. Design-wise, Mei Wei's Brisbane eatery includes elements of Chinese design while also taking into consideration the Treasury's 134-year history. And, in terms of places to sit, you can choose between booths, benches and tables. If you're already thinking about gathering the gang for dumplings next time you're in the vicinity of the casino, Mei Wei also features a 14-person private dining room. And, patrons can enter via a separate George Street entrance, rather than through the Treasury. Find Mei Wei Dumplings at Treasury Brisbane, corner of Queen and George streets, Brisbane — open Sunday–Thursday 11am–11pm and Friday–Saturday 11am–1am.
UPDATE: MARCH 14, 2020 — Organisers have announced that Westpac OpenAir will no longer go ahead in Brisbane in April "in line with the advice of Australia's Chief Medical Officer and Prime Minister to cancel non-essential gatherings of 500-plus people". It will be rescheduled to a later date this year " the near future when current health concerns have passed". To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Perched right by the river, boasting views of the Story Bridge and CBD, and filled with plenty of grass, the Howard Smith Wharves precinct lawn was always going to become one of Brisbane's go-to hangouts. Picnics, parties and beer festivals have all popped up there, plus exercise sessions, too — and, come April, so will the city's newest openair cinema. Already a favourite in Sydney for two decades — and running in Zurich, Basel, Rio, Sao Paulo, Lisbon, Madrid and Okinawa over the past 30 years as well — Westpac OpenAir is finally making the leap to Brissie. Between Sunday, April 5–Sunday, April 26, it'll screen 22 nights of movies on one mighty big screen and with one helluva backdrop. The screen is as much an attraction as what it'll be playing. Measuring 170 square metres, it'll reach three storeys high. And, it'll be set against the river, so the city's skyline will form quite the striking background — so if whatever flick you're watching doesn't do it for you, you can always marvel at the surrounding sights. That said, OpenAir's film lineup boasts plenty of exciting titles. Kicking things off is the Keira Knightley-starring Misbehaviour, about the 1970 Miss World competition in Britain, while, at the other end of the season, Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan will eat their way around yet another country in The Trip to Greece. Both flicks will screen before they hit regular cinemas, too — as will Coogan's other new movie, satire Greed, plus Australian music biopic I Am Woman. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5KKS9xBzPc For those fond of catching classics under the stars, Pretty Woman and Dirty Dancing are both on the bill, as is an ANZAC Day session of Gallipoli. Otherwise, Brisbane cinephiles can catch up with the likes of The Invisible Man, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker on OpenAir's spectacular screen — or Little Women, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), Jojo Rabbit and A Quiet Place Part II. Food trucks will also be onsite from 5pm each night and, if you're looking for some pre-movie dinner, Felons Brewing Co, Greca, Stanley, Yoko, Ciao Papi and Betty's Burgers are right next door. Westpac OpenAir's debut Brisbane season runs from Sunday, April 5–Sunday, April 26 at Howard Smith Wharves, 5 Boundary Street, Brisbane City. For further details — and to buy tickets from 9am on Monday, March 23 — visit the cinema website.
Already one of southeast Queensland's best places for a scenic stroll, the Sunshine Coast's Cooloola Great Walk will soon boast a new attraction: tiny eco-cabins dotted along the epic 102-kilometre trek. As part of the state government's push to turn the walk into an ecotourism trail, nature-based accommodation outfit Cabn has been awarded the tender to build its quaint, compact and cosy solar-powered homes along the picturesque Great Sandy National Park track. That means, come sometime in 2021, you'll be able to make the five-day hike from Noosa North Shore to Rainbow Beach, wander past everything from lakes and sand dunes to woodlands, and bunker down in a luxe off-grid house each night. Forget carrying a tent with you — as already seen in both New South Wales and Victoria, Cabn's small abodes typically feature timber fit-outs, a loft with queen bed, a bunk bed, an indoor shower, a fully stocked kitchen, and an outdoor barbecue and fire pit. And, so that you can peer out over your surroundings, they also come with glass doors and windows that maximise the view. Popping up between Noosa and Double Island Point, and created in close collaboration with with the Kabi Kabi people (the area's Traditional Owners), Cabn's new cabins will be made with locally sourced materials — and designed to complement the region's flora, beaches, rainforests and rivers. The company works to a 'leave no trace' philosophy, aiming to leave each cabin's natural surroundings untouched. "We want to offer an authentic eco-tourism product for local and international travellers to experience one of Queensland's most environmentally significant and popular tourist areas," said Kabi Kabi representative Brian Warner in a statement. "At the same time, we want a minimal impact on the habitat that fosters cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation of the environment." Exactly when the cabins will open in 2021 is yet to be revealed, but construction is due to both start and likely be completed by the end of this year. For further details about Cabn — and to keep an eye out for updates on its new Queensland cabins — visit the company's website. For further details about the existing Cooloola Great Walk, visit the Queensland Department of Environment and Science's website. Top image: Sadie Cabn in Victoria
If you didn't know that Jordan Peele was involved with HBO series Lovecraft Country, it really wouldn't take you long to guess. As based on the novel of the same name, the horror-drama steps back to 50s-era America, to a time of segregation, and into the life of Atticus 'Tic' Freeman (Jonathan Majors). He has returned from the Korean War, is trying to track down his missing father (Michael K Williams), and soon finds himself surrounded by monsters of the fantastical and very real kind. Yes, as he did so impressively in Get Out and Us, Peele once again examines the historical and current treatment of Black Americans through an unflinching and unsettling genre lens. He's Lovecraft Country's executive producer, rather than taking on writing or directing duties, but this is another exceptional, thematically powerful and visually engaging addition to his resume.
It made stars out of Adam Brody, Rachel Bilson, Mischa Barton and Ben McKenzie. It made everyone want to visit Orange County. And, in perhaps its longest-lasting effect, it also ensured that everyone would always sing the word 'California' in their heads in exactly the same way as the show's earworm of a theme tune (as you are right now after simply reading this sentence). We're talking about The OC, of course, which sits alongside Beverly Hills, 90210, Dawson's Creek and Gossip Girl as a teen TV drama all-timer. The 2003–7 show might've only run for four seasons, but its culture clash-driven setup — sparked by the adoption of a troubled teen by a wealthy family — and heightened adolescent antics had a hefty impact. If you've ever celebrated Chrismukkah, you know what we're talking about.
The 2021 Tokyo Olympics will kick off after the game's official opening ceremony on Friday, July 23. If you've already binged your way through your favourite shows, swap the channel and sit down to watch our country's best and brightest athletes compete on the world stage. It'll also be great planning prep for 2032 when Brisbane will host the Olympic Games. Of course, when you're enjoying some world-class sport on TV, it's vital to have the perfect drink on hand. Here are six sports that you can catch over the next two weeks based on your favourite cocktail choice, which will perfectly complement these feats of athleticism. You can watch the 2021 Olympics via Channel 7, 7two and 7mate or stream it on 7plus. NEGRONI & LONG JUMP On the surface, a negroni seems like a reasonably simple set-up — just mix gin, campari and vermouth. But it's incredibly easy to mess up the balance and finding the perfect mix takes a decent amount of bartending experience and skill. In a purely theoretical sense, long jump seems like the kind of event that should be easy. In theory. But anyone who's been tormented with high school athletics can attest to its difficulty and appreciate the sophistication that goes into perfecting what seems like a straightforward event. When can I catch it? The men's qualifiers kick off on Saturday, July 31 at 8.10pm, while the women's qualifiers begin on Sunday, August 1 at 10.50am. Can I catch any Aussies? Yes, Brooke Stratton and Henry Frayne will both be competing. PIMM'S & TENNIS Pour yourself a Pimm's and pretend you're watching the tennis live from Tokyo. The light refreshing drink is a tennis staple for good reason, radiating warm summer energy, despite how gloomy the weather might be here at home. When can I catch it? The tennis kicks off at 12pm on Saturday, July 24 and runs until Sunday, August 1. Can I catch any Aussies? Yes, world number one Ash Barty will be competing alongside nine other Australian competitors including Sam Stosur and John Millman. MARTINI & DIVING Sophisticated, elegant and a little dangerous. These are all words that describe both James Bond's signature martini and diving. Sip this classic cocktail as you watch the astonishing aerial acrobatics of the Australian divers. Plus, after a few of Sydney's best martinis, you won't know whether the drinks or the diver's backflips are causing you to feel a touch lightheaded. When can I catch it? The diving will run from Sunday, July 25 until Sunday, August 7. Can I catch any Aussies? Yes, seven divers will represent Australia in this year's Olympics include previous medal winners Anabelle Smith and Melissa Wu. ESPRESSO MARTINI & ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS If you feel like life is best enjoyed with a healthy mix of enthusiastic energy and class, you're bound to enjoy both an espresso martini and the range of gymnastics events on offer throughout the Olympic Games. Whether it's the beam, vault, bars or floor, Australia's top-tier gymnasts will inject a burst of energy to match the caffeine hit in your espresso martini. When can I catch it? The artistic gymnastics will begin at 11am on Saturday, July 23 and run until Tuesday, August 3. Can I catch any Aussies? Yes, Australia has three artistic gymnasts competing this year as well as six rhythmic gymnasts and two athletes competing in the trampolining. [caption id="attachment_795641" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Millie Tang[/caption] A SHOT & 100 METRE SPRINT As the Olympics marquee event is over in under ten seconds, you'll need a drink that's consumed equally quickly. Obviously, that's where shots come in. Just pick whichever tipple you prefer, pour it into a shot glass before the starter's pistol fires and you're ready to go. When can I catch it? The women's 100 metre will take place on Saturday, July 31 with the final taking place at 10.50pm. The men's 100 metre will then take over next Sunday, August 1, with the final occurring at the same time. Can I catch any Aussies? Yes, Hana Basic and Rohan Browning will both compete. LONG ISLAND ICED TEA & MODERNS PENTATHLON The modern pentathlon is a mix of five different sports: running, swimming, fencing, shooting and show jumping. Just like the long island iced tea, it's the perfect event if you're a bit indecisive about what you want to watch (or drink) and are just happy to enjoy the experience. When can I catch it? Both the men's and women's modern pentathlon will run from Thursday, August 5 until Saturday, August 7. Can I catch any Aussies? Yes, we have two competitors in the modern pentathlon, Ed Fernon and Marina Carrier. You can watch the opening ceremony of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics on Channel 7, 7two and 7mate or 7plus from 8.30pm on Friday, July 23. Top image: Atlanta Bell.
This spring, the Night Noodle Markets will return for 12 nights of culinary delights — and plenty of tasty things on sticks, bowls of noodles, bao and extravagant desserts. There are a few changes this time around, however. Firstly, the event will take place after being postponed from July to September. Secondly, Brisbanites will be heading to the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens to get their fill of hawker-style dishes. This is a case of new location, same delicious outcome, however. From Wednesday, September 22–Sunday, October 3, visiting the inner-city spot will prove a surefire way to work up an appetite, with the hawker-style array of stalls slinging all manner of foods. In total, 17 stallholders will set up shop, all so you can feast on everything from chicken karaage noodles to deep-fried Milo gelato. Expect a heap of pop-up bars, too, and a generally busy and bustling vibe. If you've been to the Night Noodle Markets before, you can start getting excited about a few returning favourites — such as Hoy Pinoy, Bao Brothers, Bangkok Street Food, Donburi Station and Gelato Messina. That means Filipino barbecue street food will be on the menu, including pork belly skewers in a banana ketchup glaze and chicken skewers in traditional soy glaze. So will gua baos, tom yum noodles, pad krapaw, grilled pork balls and Japanese fried dumplings. As for Messina, it's doing Asian-inspired gelato and desserts such as the aforementioned Milo number (which also includes Messinatella pudding and Oreo crumble), HK French toast (made with dulce de leche and peanut butter French toast) and its famed mango pancakes (which stuff mango sorbet and vanilla chantilly into mango crepes). Other national stallholders serving up their wares include May's Malaysian, Shallot Thai, Wokmaster and Everyday Bao, which'll be serving fried radish cakes, crackling pork noodles, roasted duck Hokkien noodles and fried custard bao as part of their menus — and Twistto/ Flying Noodles, too, so you can tuck into twisted potatoes again. From local favourites Teppanyaki Noodles, Raijin and Steamed Dim Sum, you'll be able to enjoy yakisoba fried noodles, the aforementioned chicken karaage noodles and rainbow-hued dumplings. And, a few Brissie eateries are joining the lineup for the first time, which is great news if you like roti wraps (from Schillykickk) and Thai, Malaysian and Indian cuisine (from Stone & Copper Curry and Snack Bar). Hashtag Burgers & Waffles will also be serving up the obvious, while Nodo Donuts will bring its gluten free doughnuts — and its sundaes and whips. The 2021 Night Noodle Markets will pop up at the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens from Wednesday, September 22–Sunday, October 3. For further details, head to the event's website. This article was first published in June, but has been updated to reflect the Night Noodle Markets' change of date after it was postponed from July to September.
A sunny getaway favourite for interstate tourists when the weather gets frostier down south, the Gold Coast isn't typically considered a winter wonderland. But that isn't stopping Cali Beach, the rooftop beach club that's usually about everything that Surfers Paradise's sultry climes have to offer, from embracing the dipping temperature with an alpine makeover. In 2022, the venue debuted The Rooftop Lodge, its wintry alter-ego — a place where you can still peer out over the coast, but you'll do so surrounded by snow and ice. The cold-weather revamp is returning in 2023, too, from Saturday, June 3 until the end of August. And this time, it's bringing ice skating with it. Each Friday–Sunday across the pop-up's season, you can head to the 5000-square-metre venue on a fourth-floor rooftop to pretend you're somewhere far less beachy and yet still at the beach. Yes, the bar is taking the concept seriously, with more than 60 snow-topped trees helping to set the mood and even fake snow part of the site. Expect big alpine energy and mountain chalet vibes as you get warm by the open fire pits as well. With this year's $350,000 temporary revamp, the ice-skating rink is a big addition, and has been purpose-built to replace the volleyball courts for winter. For when you're not sliding across its chilled expanse, The Rooftop Lodge will also feature ice-hockey machines, pop-up performances and market food stalls running all day from 11am till late. Cali Beach's VIP cabanas are also being decked out as luxury alpine lodges, with facades that fit the theme, more fire pits and Swiss ski village-style cosy furniture. So, gathering the gang and hanging out in your own space is still on the agenda, just adapting to the season. One key feature, so that you can still enjoy a dip on the coast: hot tubs. And, in partnership with Veuve Clicquot, The Rooftop Lodge will feature snowy igloo experiences for up to seven people, complete with the obvious drinks. Those transparent but warm spaces will also be decked out chalet-style, and whiling away your time in them will involve winter cocktail and food platters — and a $350 price tag. Wherever you decide to get comfy at The Rooftop Lodge, there'll blankets to help lock in the toastiness, plus fondue, marshmallows to roast by the fires, charcuterie boards, snowball martinis and boozy hot cocoas. Or, opt for the wintry dine-in menu at the View Deck. "Following the success of last year's winter lodge, we knew it was important to think bolder and to go bigger, providing an experienced-based activation unlike anywhere else in southeast Queensland — and hence why we've built a marketplace, [and] sourced a purpose-built ice-skating rink and interactive games," said Matthew Keegan, Managing Partner of Artesian Hospitality. [caption id="attachment_824728" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cali Beach Club[/caption] Find Cali Beach Club on the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Elkhorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise. The Rooftop Lodge will be open from 11am–late Friday–Sunday weekly from Saturday, June 2–Sunday, August 27.
Florian Rivière, an 'urban hackivist', wants to inject a little fun into the urban mundane. Whether the 'fun' involves a spontaneous game of soccer or a curbside beer depends on whichever of Rivière's masterpieces you stumble across. His installations, or interventions if you will, convert the material of Strasbourg, France into a humourous spattering of playthings. Benches become recliners, a meter-maid becomes a bottle-opener, and an ironing board is stationed as a diving board. By cheekily altering the everyday objects one may pass on the street everyday, Riviere transforms the city into a giant jungle gym. [via Architizer]
I'm not going to lie, I'm not the biggest fan of pizza. I could never find a really great one, but that's because I had not yet discovered The Burrow! Walking down Boundary Street on a cool autumn night, I managed to strut past my usual haunts to find what is soon to be my new local pizza shop. In the dark evening, this new space of beautifully dressed timber beams, long wide communal tables, great music, tasty pizzas and a healthy beer list of great boutique brews is like a candle to a hungry moth. This is not your classic Italian pizza place and it's not your '90s fusion pizza disaster. The Burrow has managed to create a smart mix of pizzas, some in the more traditional style and others with the mindset of 'let's just make it tasty'. When looking down at the menu, my heart flutters as I come across the ‘lucky chick’ pizza, consisting of harissa chicken, artichoke and caramelised onions on a thin (not too crispy) pizza base with a great chewy quality ($18). If you're up for a challenge, ‘the calzone of champions’ is filled with champignons, ham, cheese and artichoke then topped with napoli and parmesan ($18). It will have you relaxing your belt buckle to try and fit the monster in! The ‘mr potatohead’ pizza is also great and is just that - rosemary seasoned sliced potato, parmesan and prosciutto($18). This is taking you down the more classic vein of pizza traditions. The mood at The Burrow is casual and relaxed with no pretence. The staff are really helpful and their relaxed nature helps to make you feel welcome. This is the perfect place to catch up with friends or a chill for a relaxed mid-week dinner. Take off your fancy tie and horribly high heels and pop on your favourite hoodie and cons' to enjoy a delicious pizza in the comfort of The Burrow.
This coffee hub offers something that sets it apart from all other entries on this list: 24 hour caffeination. That's right; whether your cravings hit at 3pm or 3am, you'll find an open door and a hot coffee at Death Before Decaf. You can take your Bellissimo coffee with you or take five in the comfy leather sofa or milk crates out front. Shift workers, musicians and other creatures of the night have never been so awake.
Think you know what's on the menu at Cheddar? Think again. Rather than a haven for cheese-loving folks, the cafe on the corner of Albert and Mary streets offers up brunch and burgers. You'll find a certain dairy product on the both though, don't worry. Parmesan-topped herb pesto and prosciutto on sourdough, zucchini fritters with haloumi or a double cheeseburger should be enough to satisfy your cravings — assuming that, like most people with a pulse and an ability to eat lactose, you have an obsession with cheese. Or, opt for the distraction method. From good ol' smashed avo to Tasmanian smoked salmon to croissants aplenty, you'll also find enough tasty bits and pieces to whet your appetite. Other morning options include an array of tried-and-tested favourites such as bacon and egg rolls and granola, while the burg range features chicken, braised pulled pork, beef, and slow-cooked lamb and fennel. Grab a cup of Campos coffee with it, and you're set, with Cheddar open for brekkie, brunch and lunch during the week, and for your early food fix on weekends.
Science is everywhere, and Brisbane has an annual festival dedicated to that fact — an event that features everything from the physics of skateboarding through to the Antarctic landscape in 2025. For movie lovers, World Science Festival Brisbane also delivers an annual treat in the form of a dedicated cinema lineup, taking over the Gallery of Modern Art's Australian Cinematheque for a few days each March. From Friday, March 21–Sunday, March 24, this year's film program is all about seafaring cinema. Sharks and other sea creatures, Studio Ghibli and Disney, lingering under the ocean's surface: covering all of the above, Into the Deep has a flick on the bill for everyone. It all kicks off with The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, so with one of Wes Anderson's greats — and if you want to make it a double feature, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is also playing on the Friday night. Come Saturday, it's animation time — and viewing for all ages, too — via Ponyo and Moana 2. Then, you just might be afraid to get into the water after Sunday's sessions, with documentary Playing with Sharks: The Valerie Taylor Story and classic blockbuster Jaws hitting the screen. Session times vary each day, but this is one of the cheapest cinema dates on offer right now, with tickets costing $10 — or $7 for GOMA members. Playing with Sharks image: Digital Scanning by Oscans in 2019 on authority of Carl Reinecke of WildBear Entertainment.
If you've ever wanted to get your hands on any of Frank Green's popular products, here's your chance to score some for free. To celebrate the recent launch of the brand's new three-in-one insulated iced coffee cup with a straw, Frank Green has teamed up with Melbourne coffee brand Industry Beans to sling some freebies. For one day only, Industry Beans will give away a limited amount of free Frank Green coffee cups with every iced coffee purchase. In Brisbane, head into Industry Beans' Newstead cafe on Friday, February 9 from 7am to grab your very own Frank Green iced coffee cup — which is available in a range of colours, from the pearly white cloud to pastels like mint gelato and lilac haze. But be sure to get in quick as stocks are limited. The reusable cup provides a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic cups, which a classic iced coffee usually comes in. And, it also offers up solutions to pesky problems that iced coffee fanatics know all too well. Frank Green's iced coffee cups contain a double-wall vacuum insulation feature to prevent condensation and guarantee that your drink will stay cool by maintaining the ice for up to 12 hours, as well as a splash-proof lid and a stainless steel straw. Plus, you can ensure that your barista never spells your name incorrectly, as the cups are monogrammable. In extra brownie points for versatility, too, it can double as a stubbie holder or cocktail glass.
Sit in a chair. Embrace the otherworldly. Whether you're ready for it or not — physically and emotionally alike — bear witness to the dead being summoned. Speak to those who are no longer in the land of the living. Perhaps, while you're chatting, get caught in a dialogue with something nefarious as well. Talk to Me used this setup to audience-wowing and award-winning effect. Now comes Baghead, which stems from a short film that pre-dates 2023's big Australian-made horror hit, and was shot before Michael and Danny Philippou's A24-distributed flick played cinemas, but still brings it to mind instantly. Audiences can be haunted by what they've seen before, especially in a busy, ever-growing genre where almost everything is haunted anyway and few pictures feel genuinely new. Here, there's no shaking how Talk to Me gnaws at Baghead. First-time feature filmmaker Alberto Corredor adapts his own applauded short, which picked up gongs at film festivals around the globe. Both of his movies — abridged and full-length — possess the same moniker as a mumblecore effort starring Greta Gerwig before she was directing Lady Bird, Little Women and Barbie. That's where the similarities between 2008's Baghead and 2024's end, but the new Baghead doesn't stop conjuring up thoughts of other flicks. The director and screenwriters Christina Pamies (another debutant) and Bryce McGuire (Night Swim) make grief their theme, and with commitment; the pain of loss colours the movie as much as its shadowy imagery. But, despite boasting two dedicated performances, Corredor's Baghead is routine again and again. At The Queen's Head in Berlin, Owen Lark (Peter Mullan, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) oversees a ramshackle four-centuries-old pub where customers aren't there for the drinks. The basement is the big drawcard for those in the know, with the being that resides in it, in a hole in a brick wall, luring punters in the door. Everyone who arrives with cash and a plea for help is in mourning. When Neil (Jeremy Irvine, Benediction) makes an entrance, he knows exactly what he wants. Baghead begins not with Owen letting his latest patron meet the entity that shares the movie's title, though, but with him endeavouring to vanquish it. If he was successful, there'd be no film from there. Because he isn't, his estranged daughter Iris (Freya Allan, The Witcher) is summoned to the German city by a solicitor (Ned Dennehy, The Peripheral), becoming the watering hole's next owner. It's thanks to Neil that Iris discovers Baghead's namesake. In addition to being determined to talk to his deceased wife, he's persistent. And yes, the witchy being does sport a sack, which is removed when it is spends 120 seconds transforming into another soul. Also, the $2000 that Neil is offering is more than a little helpful for the twentysomething who grew up in the foster system after her mother's (Saffron Burrows, White Widow) death, just had her landlord change the locks on her and only can only lean on her best friend Katie (Ruby Barker, Bridgerton). Potential financial benefits, plus a roof over her head, are why she agrees to sign up for taking over the bar to start with. No amount of money could compensate for becoming saddled with a necromancer that doesn't want to be holed up underground and has a bag of tricks to mess with anyone willing to use its eerie skills, however. A VHS tape from Iris' dad detailing instructions can't stop Baghead, either. As Scream satirised three decades back in the slasher realm but horror loves in general, there are rules. There's also consequences for not abiding by them. Exceed the time limit with Baghead and the malevolent creature could spirit up anyone. Going into the cavern beneath the tavern is also forbidden — and so is Iris trying to snatch time with her own lost loved ones now that she's the entity's guardian. With the basics laid out, and viewers knowing that all of the above will happen, the predictable plot's expected beats become a matter of if rather than when. There's no subtlety to the storytelling, nor to the tension-courting score or gloomy visuals. Luckily, Baghead does have both Allan and Mullan, even if the latter isn't around for long (but longer than getting bumped off in the introduction would mean if this wasn't a flick about conversing with the fallen). In her first lead film role, as well as just her ninth screen credit — The Third Day and Gunpowder Milkshake are among the others; Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the fourth flick in the current Planet of the Apes franchise, will become the tenth within months — Allan takes convincingly to being a horror heroine. Iris is also a horror-movie character who has clearly never seen a horror movie in her life given her choices, but emotion anchors Allan's performance. The star best-known as Crown Princess Cirilla of Cintra to-date tries to help the film overcome its many cliches; that it can't is never on her shoulders. Mullan, one of Scotland's great acting talents since the 90s, is also crucial, particularly for getting audiences paying attention at the outset. Baghead doesn't match his intensity, but it's better for having him brooding within its Cale Finot (Leopard Skin)-lensed frames. If viewers only had two minutes to choose a recent back-from-the-dead feature to watch, Baghead isn't the pick. That said, although it hardly dives deep or does much with it, it understands grief. That the picture's protagonist is another of Baghead's characters with unresolved emotions tied to losing someone might sound too neat, yet thankfully it isn't. Setting up a sequel proves clunky. Attempting to add a feminist spin plays too conveniently. Facing loss: that resonates. Corredor, Pamies and McGuire know how pervasive that mourning is, and how universal that grappling with mortality is, too. In fact, if Iris didn't have her own brush with loss, as everyone has, that'd stand out. If only Baghead's creative forces knew how to build a film that wasn't so by the numbers around its premise — and for 94 minutes.
Movies don't have pores, but How to Have Sex might as well. Following a trip to Greece with three 16-year-old best friends who want nothing more than to party their way into womanhood — and to get laid, too — this unforgettable British drama is frequently slick with sweat. Perspiration can dampen someone when they're giddily excited about a wild getaway, finishing school and leaving adolescence behind. It can get a person glistening when they're rushing and drinking, and flitting from pools and beaches to balconies and clubs. Being flushed from being sozzled, the stickiness that comes with expending energy, the cold chill of stress and horror, the fluster of a fluttering heart upon making a connection: they're all sources of wet skin as well. Filmmaker Molly Manning Walker catalogues them all. Viewers can see the sweat in How to Have Sex, with its intimate, spirited, like-you're-there cinematography. More importantly, audiences can feel why protagonist Tara (Mia McKenna-Bruce, Vampire Academy) is perspiring, and the differences scene to scene, even when she's not quite sure herself. How to Have Sex also gets those watching sweating — because spying how you've been Tara, or her pals Em (debutant Enva Lewis) and Skye (Lara Peake, Halo), or lads Badger (Shaun Thomas, Ali & Ava) and Paddy (Samuel Bottomley, The Last Rifleman) in the neighbouring resort unit, is inescapable. Walker has been there herself, with parts of her debut feature as a writer and director drawn from her own time as a Tara, Em or Skye while also making the spring break and Schoolies-like pilgrimage from England to the Mediterranean. When the movie doesn't lift details directly from her own experience, it shares them with comparable moments that are virtually ripped from western teendom. One of the feature's strokes of genius is how lived-in it proves, whether Tara and her mates are as loud and exuberant as girls are when their whole lives are ahead of them, its main character is attempting to skip her troubles in a sea of strobing lights and dancing bodies, or slipping between the sheets — but not talking about it — is changing who Tara is forever. If a film called How to Have Sex had arrived in cinemas in the 80s, 90s or 00s, viewers would've known exactly what was in store from its title. Indeed, more than a few teen comedies of the era, American Pie especially, could've adopted the non-Google-friendly moniker. But Walker's picture isn't those flicks, despite starting with Tara and company almost dizzy with euphoria about wrapping up their exams, farewelling secondary schooling and dashing eagerly into their vision of adulthood. Rather, How to Have Sex is a portrait of the details that don't typically get seen and definitely aren't stressed when garnering laughs about coursing hormones is the aim of the game. As it unpacks consent and coercion in a real and raw way, Walker's feature is steeped in the confusion, the hurt, the quiet "yeah" that isn't a hearty yes, the peer pressure and rivalries, and the fact that sex is almost everywhere — in one based-on-reality sequence, oral sex is a basically a contest in front of a vast crowd — but any genuine and considered "how to" is far from everyone's thoughts. In its first half, there's a woozy buzz to How to Have Sex that matches the slinky outfits, glittery faces, neon lights and constant chase for the best holiday ever. Tara, Em and Skye are in Malia, Crete, but there's no time for sightseeing when there's shots after shots to down, dance floors to cut loose on, splashes to be had, and Badger and his crew to pursue. "Oi, smokeshow" is how the bleached-blonde fellow Brit first greets Tara from across their balconies. There's a goofiness to him that pairs well with her bubbliness; her "angel necklace" and his "hot legends" neck tattoo also appear to match. But Skye doesn't approve, in the way that besties who don't always want what's best for their friends can nix someone's crush because they're thinking about themselves. After dubbing Badger a clown, she suggests with forcefulness that Tara set her sights on the supremely confident Paddy instead. If you're not aware going into the movie that Walker is also a cinematographer, it's evident in every frame of a film that she doesn't actually shoot herself. Nicolas Canniccioni (A Respectable Woman) takes on that gig, but How to Have Sex is made with a meticulous sense of colour and light, as Walker's lensing on the also-visually expressive Scrapper similarly possessed. While the in-the-moment flavour to the imagery thrusting Tara's plight to the screen doesn't subside, the hues and the gleam reflect the delicate tonal rollercoaster her story takes. In its second half, then, all that shines, fluoresces and fizzes isn't shimmering with exhilaration. After Paddy takes her to the beach alone, and Tara drunkenly loses the virginity her mates have been just as adamant that she can't go home with, nothing looks or feels the same. How Tara regards herself, not clocking the myriad of reasons why her situation has been so many other teen girls' situation and the societal underpinnings behind that truth, also shifts shatteringly. The before, the after, the seesaw from hedonistic bliss to gutwrenching discomfort, the sensitive lack of judgement shown to both How to Have Sex's women and men, the utter unwillingness for the feature to never stop being frank: with them all, Walker beams as brightly as a glowstick that she's an exceptionally talented, perceptive and compassionate filmmaker. At the centre of the booze and the horniness, so does McKenna-Bruce; that they've both been collecting accolades and awards attention, including Cannes' Un Certain Regard Award and BAFTA nominations for Walker, plus the British Independent Film Awards' Best Lead Performance and BAFTA Rising Star prize for her main actor, is deeply deserved. Calling this a launching pad for McKenna-Bruce isn't accurate, though, because her How to Have Sex performance should always be mentioned whenever her name comes up from now on out. Brassy, energetic, vulnerable, insecure, disoriented, regretful, dread-filled, let down by a fantasy of growing up that's never real, still picking herself back up: her stunning portrayal has it all, and she shouldn't ever want to soar away from it. It isn't just teen-comedy antics that How to Have Sex eschews; this story would never be easy to tell or witness, and nor should it, but Walker clearly doesn't pour it into the standard dramatic template. As much as it brings them both to mind at times, her film isn't Aftersun-meets-Spring Breakers, either — two excellent pictures themselves — but it's as honest and potent, and also as intensely immersive. Charlotte Wells' tender father-daughter trip played like a haunting memory and desperate attempt to hold onto someone lost. Harmony Korine's bacchanalian crime-comedy jaunt to Florida was rendered with a dreamlike air. How to Have Sex stares unblinkingly, knowing how many women have stood in Tara's shoes, how many men in Paddy's, and how a definitive resolution where everything falls where it should is a rarity. Sweat is far from the only aspect, then, that's messily real.
Heartbreak is two souls wanting nothing more than each other, but life having other plans. So goes Robot Dreams, another dialogue-free marvel from Spanish filmmaker Pablo Berger, who had audiences feeling without words uttered with 2012's Blancanieves — and showed then with black and white imagery, as he does now with animation, that he's a master at deeply expressive visual storytelling. His fourth picture as a director was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2024 Academy Awards. In most years, if it wasn't up against Studio Ghibli's The Boy and the Heron, it would've taken home the Oscar. It earns not just affection instead, but the awe deserved of a movie that perfects the sensation of longing for someone to navigate life with, finding them, adoring them, then having fate doing what fate does by throwing up complications. Usually this would be a boy-meets-girl, boy-meets-boy or girl-meets-girl story. Here, it's a dog-meets-robot tale. The time: the 80s, with nods to Tab and Pong to prove it. The place: a version of Manhattan where anthropomorphised animals are the only inhabitants — plus mechanised offsiders that, just by placing an order and putting together the contents of the package that arrives, can be built as instant friends. Eating macaroni meals for one and watching TV solo in his small East Village apartment each evening, Dog is achingly lonely when he orders his Amica 2000 after seeing an infomercial. As he tinkers to construct Robot, pigeons watch on from the window, but they've never been his company. Soon exuberantly strutting the streets hand in hand with his maker, the android is a dream pal, however, but this kismet pairing isn't what gives Robot Dreams its name. What do two beings, human, animal, automaton or otherwise, do when they're falling head over heels for each other's presence? They glide through their suddenly sunny existence like there's nothing else in the world, joined at the hip and the spirit. This pair explore. They mosey blissfully around New York, which finally feels like a playground for Dog, rather than a place where everyone else is happy. They eat hot dogs from street vendors and dance on rollerskates in Central Park. They swoon over a shared favourite song — embracing the pull of Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September' (because if it can't bring folks together, cementing connections and glorious memories, then nothing can). As the summer nears its end, Dog and Robot also decamp to Coney Island, to the beach, for a cheery day of swimming and sunbathing, and also of relaxing slumbering on the shore. Alongside slip-slop-slap advice, plus the rule that everyone is told as a kid about waiting before swimming after eating, Robot Dreams adds another piece of guidance: watch out that your metal mate doesn't rust and short-circuit from the saltwater and sea breeze if you're taking them out for sun, surf and sand. When Robot can't move after the duo wake up, Dog's only choice is to leave him there overnight, then return the next day with the requisite supplies. The season is truly saying farewell, though — and September, the month, takes on a more mournful tone than in the disco classic that cribs its moniker, as the film also goes on to reflect as the song keeps popping up. When Dog endeavours to bring Robot home, the beach is shut and gated. The reopening date: June 1 the following year, when summer approaches again. In Berger's adaptation of Sara Varon's 2007 graphic novel of the same name — the author and illustrator's Chicken and Cat also gets a shoutout within the flick's frames — Blade Runner's "do androids dream of electric sheep?" isn't the question. Visions frolic through Robot's bucket-shaped head while he sleeps, all toying with the only query that anyone watching is asking: will Robot and Dog reunite? Robot Dreams is a movie of yearning, a picture about the unwanted surprises that can derail contentment and a portrait of the fact that that's the fundamental reality of life. This hauntingly candid truth blows through the film gently but crisply, like a flurry from the ocean on a mostly still day. It sweeps through The Wizard of Oz-inspired reveries and solitary Halloweens, too, plus new friendships forged with a family of birds, and also with the outgoing and outdoorsy Duck. With its line-heavy 2D animation creating a world awash with loving details — the spooky costumes come October 31 are just one delight — this poignant tale is also one of reality and resilience. Everything that Robot Dreams muses on is handled with soul-stirring tenderness and astute recognition, such as the way that fulfilment can flow out with the tide for no other reason than that's how things work sometimes, that living is a balance of weathering disappointment and appreciating joy when and where you can interlace fingers with it, and that knowing when to ride what the next wave brings in is one of the most-crucial lessons there is. Premiering at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, and winning Best Film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival the same year, Robot Dreams first debuted before animated series Carol & the End of the World hit Netflix; however, they share the same emotional texture, and the same being-seen sensation, like they've peered into hearts and minds to render the results with strokes, shapes and colours. No words are needed to tell this narrative not only because that's Berger's savvy decision, but because no words are required to describe a journey that everyone has taken. We've all been Dog and we've all been Robot — forced to move on and left behind, that is — and so pictures here do say far more than dialogue ever could about the feeling of standing in both shoes (or paws, or metallic feet). As much of a toe-tapping gem now as it has been since its 1978 release and always will be, 'September' also conveys everything, crooning as it does about love changin' minds, chasin' clouds away, getting souls singin' and hearts ringin', and also about recalling such golden dreams and shiny days gone by. Do you remember revelling in the glow of someone that completes you, pining for them when they aren't by your side, and realising that everything is transient, elation and sorrow included? Thanks to Robot Dreams, you will.
For when you can't decide between dancing and playing a game that your grandmother might love, bingo raves were invented. Now, for when you want to see a musical theatre show and you're also keen to stamp squares on a card, Broadway Bingo is here, too. It's a performance. It'll get you playing along. There'll be singing, as well as winning. Running from Friday, April 19–Sunday, April 21 at Brisbane Powerhouse, taking over the venue's Underground Theatre, this entertaining mashup draws each tune that'll be crooned from the bingo cage. And, yes, the audience gets its own card to play along while they watch. You'll be keeping an eye out for things that correspond with the squares on your pivotal piece of paper — which might include "someone does a pirouette", or maybe "an audience member cries". Stamping them all and yelling "bingo!" isn't just allowed; it's mandatory. As the onstage talent dives into the costume box to match their outfits to their randomly chosen tracks, expect to hear songs from Les Misérables, Rent, The Sound of Music and Wicked, as well as Waitress, Cats, West Side Story, Dear Evan Hansen and more. Brisbane's own Outside the Jukebox is behind the show, adding it to its list of productions alongside Merry Mixology and Mixtape: Rewind to the 80s. [caption id="attachment_882045" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption]
When it comes to finger-lickin' goodness, fried chicken isn't the only delicious dish in town. Who doesn't love getting all sticky eating a big batch of ribs? And as regulars at the Boundary Street Markets will agree, Big Roddy does some of the best. Since April 2016, Big Roddy's Ripping Rib Shack has been one of the best places in the city to get your Chicago-style barbecue fix — and they're not done filling your stomachs just yet. Like so many market stalls before them, they made the leap to a permanent store because everyone really does need more beef and pork ribs, buffalo wings, poutine and burgers in their lives. Also following in the footsteps of plenty of other Brisbanites, Big Roddy's set up their bricks-and-mortar shop in Fish Lane in South Brisbane. As for what's on the menu, expect half and full racks of both pork and beef ribs; veggie, cheese and fried chicken burgers; and a combination of both ribs and burgers in the form of The Ribwich. Certain to tempt your tastebuds, the ribs-meets-burger comes served on a brioche bun. Snacks include wings dripping in sauce and dipped in homemade garlic aioli, chicken bites, chilli fries, jala-macca-peño poppers (which, yes, really do stuff good ol' jalapeño poppers with mac 'n' cheese) and the fries, gravy and cheese curd combo that is poutine. Be warned: if you weren't a rib lover before, you will be soon.
Anything that Brisbane's north can do, the River City's south can do too, or so says indoor marketplace VEND. Earlier in 2023, it expanded its footprint to give its OG Virginia site an Annerley sibling. Now, the pet-friendly shopping hub is also spreading its popular events to the other side of the river. How is VEND's second location celebrating its first winter? With Christmas in July markets, of course. And, it's getting in before Virginia, getting festive from 4–9pm on Saturday, July 8. Here, more than 120 small local businesses will embrace the midyear mood, complete with bites to eat, a pop-up cocktail bar and a best-dressed contest with a $100 voucher as a prize. And yes, winter in Brisbane means spending every weekend hopping between excuses to pretend that Christmas arrives during our chillier months. Who doesn't want to get merry all throughout winter, then again when present-giving season actually arrives?
Everyone should see Henry Rollins on a stage. Luckily, audiences have had ample opportunities for more than four decades. The musician first came to fame singing behind the microphone in punk-rock band Black Flag and then Rollins Band, but is now just as renowned for his spoken-word shows, where he waxes lyrical (and candid and amusing) about his life, fame and the state of the world. Australians are no stranger to Rollins getting chatty; however, thanks to the pandemic, he hasn't taken to stages Down Under since 2016. That's changing this winter, with the icon, actor, author and radio host heading around the country on a 17-city tour. Rollins' spoken-word gigs always sell out, and they're always an entertaining — and unflinchingly honest — night spent listening to the Sons of Anarchy, Lost Highway and Heat star. This time, he's visiting both capitals and regional centres, and notching up every Aussie state and territory, on a tour dubbed 'Good to See You'. His Brisbane stops: Thursday, June 15, Friday, June 16 and Sunday, June 18 at The Tivoli. Attendees can look forward to Rollins looking back over the past seven years since he last visited Australia, stepping through his life from 2016 until COVID-19 hit — and, of course, exploring what's happened since. Fingers crossed for more mullet insights, too. Rollins makes his way around Australia after a massive leg in Europe, where he's been flitting from Croatia, Poland and Finland to Sweden, Germany, France and the United Kingdom — and more. And, his latest tour comes after he added two more books to his name in 2022: Sic, which draws upon the frustration of not knowing if his touring life would ever return; and Stay Fanatic!!! Vol. 3. Top image: Morten Jensen via Wikimedia Commons.
There are plenty of ways to embrace football fever in Brisbane during the 2023 Women's World Cup, which is being held right here in Australia — and also across the ditch in New Zealand — for the first time ever. Some matches are taking place at Suncorp Stadium. South Bank is hosting the official hub, showing every game live. Also, pubs and bars around the city are getting into the soccer spirit. One such spot: Archive Beer Boutique, which is pouring its usual array of brews and popping the world's best football players on its screens seven days a week. You'll find key matches showing, and you can request others. We're betting that the Matildas will feature heavily. Wearing green and gold is obviously up to you. If you want to try to pair dishes from Archive's street food and pub favourite-heavy menu with the teams playing, that's up to you as well. [caption id="attachment_908789" align="alignnone" width="1920"] IQRemix via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption]
Maybe you really love Patrick Swayze. Perhaps you just need some more terracotta or ceramics in your life. Or, the idea of pottering around a clay-based showcase and finding pottery pieces — for yourself or as gifts — could just be your idea of a great Saturday. Whichever category you fall into, coast on over to Clayschool's Winter Market for 2023. Browse, buy, support local artists — it's the ultimate exhibition-slash-market. [caption id="attachment_893249" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Clayschool[/caption] Indeed, while we're talking multi-tasking, Clayschool's students are hoping to show off their unique, handcrafted designs, and sell some as ace one-off wares. Christmas might be quite a few months away, but you can start planning already — or pick up something special for someone special, just because. (Yes, that includes for yourself). Plus, given that it's all taking place at West Village from 9am–1pm on Saturday, June 17, that means food and drinks will be in the vicinity as well. No one likes shopping on an empty stomach, after all — or while thirsty.
Mention Caxton Street and a few things automatically spring to mind: the football stadium, pubs and seafood, to be specific. No matter how you feel about sports or even booze, the roadway's regular ode to the ocean's finest is always worth a trip to Paddington — and yes, the Caxton Hotel Seafood Festival is back for 2023. This street party loves everything from fish and prawns to oysters and calamari — and tunes, brews and a good time all round as well. On the culinary side of things, expect seafood galore on the menu on Saturday, July 15, plus all the drinks that the Caxton Hotel serves to wash it down with. Also on the agenda: live music, with Grinspoon's Phil Jamieson headlining the main stage in the hotel's beer garden. The aforementioned pub is driving the whole shindig, with the watering hole a fest staple since the event first launched more than a quarter-century ago. And, while you're sipping brews and cocktails with a soundtrack, and tucking into seafood platters, there will be sports on the big screen — it is The Caxton, after all.
To look back at the Archibald Prize's history is to ponder Australia's own past. Since 1921, the acclaimed portrait prize has immortalised the nation's faces on canvas — and what a tale all those works can tell. The list of subjects captured is who's who of the country's best-known names. High-profile sitters only relay part of the Archies' story, though. Among the instantly recognisable folks is a survey of Aussies from all walks of life, of their diverse experiences, of the artists that immortalised so many people through their pieces and of art styles over the years. Expect to revel in all of the above at Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize, which does exactly what's on the box: celebrates a century of this prestigious Australian art accolade. Displaying at HOTA, Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast from Saturday, July 15–Monday, October 2, it presents a carefully and lovingly curated selection of portraits that've been entered since the Archibald Prize's inception — and heads to Queensland from the Art Gallery of New South Wales. More than 6000 previous Archie works were considered — a massive range — with Art Gallery of NSW Curator Natalie Wilson and her AGNSW team also going digging to find lost portraits. Some pieces hail from other galleries, museums and libraries across both Australia and New Zealand. Others come from private collections, including internationally. In fact, a number of the paintings haven't been display in public since they were shown in their initial Archibald Prize year. If you're keen to head along more than once, HOTA is doing season passes. Fancy a party? It's also hosting an Up Late session. And, guided tours are on offer as well if you're keen on hearing more from art experts.
Talented pooches have been barking their way to big-screen stardom since the birth of the medium, and Cannes Film Festival even gives out awards for ace pupper performances. In Australia for a few years now, we also celebrate the intersection of canines and cinema — via our very own dog-themed movie showcase. At the Top Dog Film Festival, doggos and puppers cement their status as humanity's favourite film stars in a touring program of pooch-centric shorts. For a couple of hours, dogs will leap across screens in a curated selection of heartwarming flicks about humanity's best friend. Over the last few years, the lineup has included films about dog-powered sports, dogs in space, dogs hiking through the desert, senior dogs and more — with this year's bill highlighting dolphin-spotting dogs, animal actors and mountain pups. The festival hits Brisbane Powerhouse on Saturday, August 5 as part of its 2023 run, and rushing after tickets the way your best four-legged friend rushes after a frisbee is recommended. Given how much we all love watching dog videos online, not to mention attending pupper-centric shindigs in general, this event is certain to be popular. You'd be barking mad to miss it, obviously.
One week, you can pretend you're in France without leaving Brisbane, just by eating French food, drinking French brews and celebrating Bastille Day. The next week, you can do all of the above with Belgium thanks to Belgian National Day. Your destination for the latter: Saccharomyces Beer Café, which is spending Monday, July 17–Monday, July 24 looking abroad. The South Brisbane venue is also calling its celebrations Belgian Beer Week, and pouring Belgian brews every single day. That's what you'll find pumping through its taps, with more than 35 different varieties on offer. And, there's a lineup of bottled Belgian beers as well, including limited-edition drops. Think you can pick different Belgian beers? Blind tastings will be on the agenda from Monday, July 17–Wednesday, July 19. Fancy watching a TV show about Belgian burgundies while sipping them? That's also on the menu to kick things off. Old beer and cheese, which makes quite the pairing, gets its time to shine on Tuesday, July 19. On Thursday, July 20, fruity beers are in the spotlight. Over the weekend of Friday, July 21–Sunday, July 23, you'll be celebrating Belgian beer in general — and, over the entire week, the bar's kitchen will be doing Belgian specials. Then, come Monday, July 24, it's time for whatever's left — or kliekje, which is Flemish for leftovers. [caption id="attachment_669543" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cole Bennetts[/caption]
In Hobart for Dark Mofo 2023 earlier this month, Max Richter performed all night. That mightn't seem like surprising news at the winter festival, but his show was designed to be listened to while attendees slept. Keep that in mind for a second. Also, take note of the upcoming plan in Brisbane to break the world record for the most amount of kazoos played at once. Supernova at HOTA, Home of the Arts is primarily about the piano, but this Gold Coast event is also playing music all evening as Friday, June 23 becomes Saturday, June 24. And, it's endeavouring to get into the history books in the process. Composer Charlie Chan will tinkle the ivories for more than 24 hours in an effort to set the world record for the longest improvised piano concert — with a slumber-focused 8.5-hour sleep experience where you'll get some shuteye to binaural beats part of the performance. The sleepover costs $40, but the rest is free to attend as Chan — and a few friends — hit the keyboard. Supernova kicks off at 4pm on the Friday with yoga and tunes, greets Saturday morning the same way, welcomes dogs over breakfast, will feature First Nations stories about the sky, and pays tribute to Charlie's 40-year career as a pianist and composer across the full stretch. Also on the lineup: learning about composing for the screen with Elvis' Elliott Wheeler, tunes with local Indigenous didgeridoo players and a jazz-fusion orchestra for the big-bang finale.
Why drink at one watering hole, when you can head to two, three, five or seven? That's always been the motivation behind everyone's favourite boozy journey, aka a pub crawl. And, it's the exact same type of thinking behind the Urban Wine Walk. Taking another wander around Brisbane, it's the bar-hopping excuse every vino lover needs — if you need an excuse, that is. From midday until 4pm on Saturday, August 19, you'll saunter around the city — but this event isn't any old Urban Wine Walk. This time, the focus is on Newstead, and solely on pinot noir. There'll be seven types on offer at seven different watering holes. Your destinations: Ardo's, Maggie May, Newstead Social, Ruby, My Dear, After Dark, Botany and Working Title Brew Co — sampling pinots and having a mighty fine time. As for the tipples at each of the seven spots, they'll be taken care of by a heap of top wineries such as Alkimi Wines, Zonzo Estate, Konpira Maru and more, so prepare to get sipping. Tickets start at $65, and are on sale now, with places limited. This moving cellar door will not only serve up a heap of wine tastings, but also your own tasting glass — plus a $10 voucher for some food.
The idea behind The Lume was always a stunner, giving Australia its first permanent digital-only art gallery. When the Melbourne venue started welcoming in patrons in 2021, it lived up to its immersive, multi-sensory promise, initially with a spectacular Van Gogh exhibition that let visitors feel like they were walking right into the artist's work, and then with the French impressionism-focused Monet & Friends Alive. The latest showcase set to grace the site's agenda has those past shows beat, however, heroing First Nations art and music. On display from Friday, June 23, Connection features more than 110 Indigenous visual and musical artists in a dazzling fashion. At this Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre gallery, the art gracing its walls towers over patrons, with the space filled with large-scale digital pieces. And Connection is full thanks to more than 550 works — digitals and originals alike. Earning some love: art by Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Tommy Watson, Anna Pitjara, Lin Onus, Sarrita King, Kate Constantine, Wayne Qulliam, Clifford, Gabriella and Michelle Possum Nungurrayi, and many more, in a walk-through exhibition that presents its pieces through the themes of land, water and sky Country. Their work is scored a soundtrack by Yothu Yindi, Archie Roach, Emily Wurramara, Gurrumul, Alice Skye, Baker Boy and others, plus composers such as William Barton. Grande Experiences, the company behind The Lume and its touring exhibitions — Van Gogh Alive made its way around Australia, plus Monet in Paris from June — says that Connection boasts the largest representation of First Peoples art and culture ever assembled. It spans over 3000 square metres, and its remit is just as sizeable: highlighting pieces by past and present artists, and surveying the entire country and Torres Strait. Shining a spotlight on emerging talents while showing their work alongside their inspirations is another key mission. If it sounds familiar, that's because a smaller version premiered at the National Museum of Australia in 2022, with Grande Experiences joining forces with the Canberra gallery. Connection also benefits from an advisory panel featuring Constantine, Quilliam, King, Aboriginal art specialist Adam Knight, the National Museum's lead Indigenous curator and academic Margo Ngawa Neale, arts executive Rhoda Roberts AO, and designer and film producer Alison Page. Updated: Thursday, October 12.
When Coachella was the only thing that everyone could think and talk about in autumn, South Brisbane's sky-high bar Lina Rooftop embraced the occasion, giving itself a Californian-style temporary revamp. Now that winter is here and bringing a chill, the venue is also going all in, this time via a two-month-long seasonal makeover that'll help Brisbanites make the most of the frostier weather — well, Queensland's version of cold — and pretend they're somewhere snowier. And yes, there will be snow. Obviously, the fact that this snow will be on a rooftop is a hefty point of difference. That also applies to another winter favourite that's part of the Lina Rooftop Winter Wonderland from Wednesday, June 28–Sunday, August 27: igloos. Those private igloos can welcome in up to six people, and will come equipped with a heater, mini bar and fairy lights. Because they're clear, you'll still be able to soak in the view as you get snacking on cheese and chocolate fondue, plus marshmallows, and while sipping mulled wine. The snow around the place will help set the mood, and so will the firepits and logs, with Winter Wonderland running from Wednesday–Sunday weekly. Eager partygoers have two options in terms of food-and-drink packages, too: a $79 fondue-heavy offering and a $99 spread with raclette. Go with the first pick and you'll tuck into cheese fondue, baguettes, rosemary- and garlic-roasted chats, cured meats, gherkins, on-vine cherry tomatoes, and porcini and truffle arancini. From the sweet side of the menu, there'll also be chocolate fondue, plus strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, marshmallows, brioche and apple to dip in it. If raclette has your tastebuds watering, that package includes the same chocolate fondue lineup as outlined above, but swaps cheese fondue for a 1.8-kilogram block of raclette melted on a hot grill. Also, it pairs the cheese with a French-style platter including potatoes, gherkins, baguettes, cured meats and Swiss brown mushrooms. Everyone gets a glass of mulled wine as well, because it really wouldn't be winter without it — and two-hour seatings take place from 12–2pm, 2.30–4.30pm, 5–7pm and 7.30–9.30pm.
Spinning tops at the ready — it's time to enter the dream within a dream that is Christopher Nolan's filmography. With Oppenheimer, the British writer/director's 12th feature, on its way to the big screen in July, Palace Barracks is dedicating its regular Palace Encore! retro screening program to his flicks for two action-packed months. Memento, The Prestige, Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk, Tenet — they're all on the lineup, with the season running from Friday, May 12–Friday, July 14. Largely, the sessions take place at 6.30pm on Friday nights and cost $10 for Palace members and $15 otherwise, but there is one big exception: a day-long marathon of The Dark Knight Trilogy (aka Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises) from 11am on Saturday, June 17, where you'll pay $25–30 for grim caped-crusader antics. At Beyond the Infinite: The Influences and Films of Christopher Nolan, as the program is called, there's another dream layer to plunge into as well. Palace is also celebrating the films that've left an imprint on Nolan and his work, which opens up the door to a couple of other masterpieces. Everyone should see Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey on the silver screen at least once. The same goes for Ridley Scott's OG Blade Runner, too. And, also on the ten-week bill is a jump back almost a century with 1927's highly influential German expressionist gem Metropolis.
