Prepare to be creeped out all over again by the man behind one of last year's huge horror hits. Hereditary writer/director Ari Aster is back with his unsettling new movie, Midsommar — and as anyone who saw his last movie will know, this flick is certain to put everyone on edge. Story-wise, the film follows Dani (Florence Pugh) and her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor). Their relationship isn't so stable, but tragedy keeps them together. Then she follows him to a once-in-a-lifetime midsummer festival in a remote Swedish village; however this isn't just a carefree summer holiday in a close-knit community. Instead, it's a nightmare in daylight. Expect a whole heap of people wearing white, nothing proving quite what it seems, and The Good Place's William Jackson Harper and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch's Will Poulter also among the cast. Expect idyllic natural surroundings and flower crowns — as corrupted by chilling rituals and unnerving antics — as well. While plenty about the film is still being kept a mystery, a new trailer has dropped, following on from the first teaser earlier this year. Remember, if you're expecting another visibly dark and sinister flick from Aster, think again. Instead, Midsommar is light, bright and filled with bohemian-looking folks — even when it steps firmly into creepy cult territory Check out the latest trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_I9ZeUWXI2s&feature=youtu.be Midsommar opens in Australian cinemas on August 8.
Everyone has their own Australia Day traditions. In the country town of Coriole, theirs includes eskies filled with beer, many a snag on many a barbecue, and the biggest party they can possibly throw — and they'll do anything to make sure that it all comes to fruition. Well, they will if the planning committee can first work through a few issues. Their topics of disagreement: what it means to be a true blue Aussie, and what a celebration of that fact should look like. Of course, everyone has a different opinion. Both writing and directing, playwright Jonathan Biggins tackles the country's annual day of days, but he's doing more than slinging a heap of slang-fuelled sayings and inspiring a few love-filled laughs about a beloved public holiday. Both reflecting and dissecting the Australian psyche, he crafts a comedy that channels the continuing debate about our national identity in contemporary times.
Can't stop, addicted to the shindig? Then you'll be excited about the latest huge music tour heading to Brisbane. Get ready to give it away, give it away, give it away now, too — your money, obviously, to see Red Hot Chili Peppers. The Los Angeles-based rockers are bringing their new global stadium tour our way, with Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith and John Frusciante singing songs to you beneath the marquee at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, January 29. The band's dreams of Californication are zipping around the planet as part of a hefty tour that kicked off in June 2022 in Spain, and also includes stops in London, Paris, Dublin, LA, Chicago, New York and more alongside its Down Under leg. And yes, the Chili Peppers have a record to plug in the process, aka Unlimited Love — their 12th studio album, which dropped back in April last year. [caption id="attachment_859838" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Clara Balzary[/caption] Both Unlimited Love and the tour mark the return of guitarist Frusciante, who left the Chilis back in 2009, then rejoined the band in 2019. And, the tour will see the group head to this part of the world for the first time since 2019, too — and playing plenty of hits from their almost four-decade run so far, obviously. There's a hefty number of songs to choose from. Since their self-titled first EP in 1984, the band has sold more than 80 million albums, won six Grammys and entered the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. They've also released tracks spanning 'Under the Bridge', 'Scar Tissue', 'Breaking the Girl', 'By the Way' and 'The Zephyr Song', as well as 'Otherside', 'Soul to Squeeze', 'Around the World', 'My Friends' and 'Suck My Kiss'. Red Hot Chili Peppers will be joined Down Under by someone else who's sold just as many records: Post Malone. Yes, it's a two-for-the-price-of-one kind of tour — two massive music names, that is. Post Malone heads our way fresh from releasing his fourth studio album Twelve Carat Toothache in June 2022. Images: Pavel Suslov
Most of the time, when bands take a break, they disappear into the land of never-to-be-heard-of-again. It's a kind of ex-rockers' purgatory, where would-have-, could-have- and should-have-beens sit around listening to early demo tapes, bemoaning the halcyon days when a record deal was forever just around the corner, and growing bitter about the fact that such-and-such became too egotistical or whatshisname retreated to the countryside to clean up his act. Not so The Basics. In their three-year hiatus, they've managed to win three Grammys (via Wally de Backer's transformation into Gotye), write a film score (Tim Heath's contribution to The Rise and Rise of Richard Latt) and catch malaria while checking out Kenya's local music scene (just one chapter in Kris Schroeder's excellent adventures). With all of that out of (or should that be in?) their system, they're ready for a reunion. So they've released new single 'So Hard For You' and will be touring nationally throughout September and October. "It's been a great challenge nutting out how to bring a large band, visuals and studio compositions together for the Gotye live shows over the last two years," Wally says. "But right now I'm looking forward to getting sweaty behind the drums and playing rock 'n' roll in these fab clubs with my brothers Kris and Tim." https://youtube.com/watch?v=bnDf9zLiUII
This spring, 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. If you're a Lifeline Bookfest fan — and therefore you've spent plenty of summer and winter days trawling through table after table of secondhand books — then you've probably started to guess where this is going. But it's currently October, so it isn't quite Bookfest time just yet. Instead, Lifeline is hosting its first ever Book and Gift Fair. Obviously, there'll be vintage reading bargains. Yes, you'll probably 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 to Bookfest 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 total, there'll be more than 500,000 books on offer, with prices starting from $2.50. Wondering about the gifts? Given that Christmas really will be here before we know it (again, it's already October), there'll be a range of brand-new items up for sale. That includes homewares, lanterns, plant pots, garden gnomes, photo frames, clocks and candles, plus soaps, diffusers, jewellery boxes and toys. 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 fair is cashless. Also, you'll need your own bags; however, if you're buying a gift, you can get it wrapped for a donation. Head along from 7.30am–6pm on Saturday, October 23, or from 8.30am–6pm across the rest of the fair. Images: Bookfest.
Delfina's Bistro might've only opened back in May 2015, but it didn’t take them long to cement their reputation as one of Brisbane's tastiest restaurants. If you've been there and tried their roasted beetroot salad, duck breast or herb-crusted wagyu brisket — or anything else on their menu, really — then you know what we're talking about. And now they're making a good thing even better by extending their range beyond their delicious lunch and dinner fare. Yep, it's the news early birds (or, earlier birds) have been waiting for: on weekends they'll be serving brunch. Let us whet your appetite for their brunch creations, which will be available 8am till 4pm on Saturday and Sunday, and on Fridays from 11.30am too. How does what we're choosing to believe is Dr. Seuss-inspired green eggs and ham sound? Or pumpkin fritters with bacon, and bruschetta topped with mushrooms and goats' cheese? And, because even Delfina's can't resist the city's current sweet treat obsession, they're also serving up a bowl of jam doughnuts with ice cream and cinnamon sugar. With a boozy spiced rum iced coffee cocktail also part of the new offerings — and everything from pulled pork pot pie to sweet 'eggs' made from mango and coconut as well — it's a something-for-everyone kind of deal. Well, we know what we're doing on Saturday morning. How about you? Find Delfina's at 50/1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, or visit their website and Facebook page for more information.
Many discovered it through its gigs. A few by suggestion, and some out of sheer chance, a drunken stumble and good luck. The reality is, most of us were lured there after a tireless, soul-crushing wait in a Rics line, where only 10 meters away, faint dance beats drifted down a Lodge stairwell, beckoning us into a pair or warm, fuzzy Black Bear arms. In two year’s, Black Bear Lodge has added more than a bit of spice to the Brunswick Street ‘party scene’. They’ve hand picked and hosted bands dreams are made of, set up a dance floor that would have Kevin Bacon weeping, and drowned lodge-goers in the finest of drinks – and for that they're celebrating with Black Bear Radio. Leading the night will be garage-psych heroes The Frowning Clouds, with all girl super-group The Madisons, and homegrown, under-aged rock geniuses The Kramers working stage. It wouldn’t be a Black Bear bash without some of our best local DJs in the mix - Black Amex, Soul Train and Bris Springsteen, as well as London’s DJ Philistine giving a hearty hip-hip-hooray on the turntable. Admit it – in the two years of Black Bear Lodge we’ve all been just that little bit more cultured and educated at their hands. Now it’s your turn to say thanks, cheers and happy birthday in one huge night of jamboree.
After bringing Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire back to the big screen with a live orchestra soundtrack in recent years, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra is giving the fifth film in the franchise the same movie-and-music showcase. Across two sessions on Saturday, March 5, 2022 (at 2pm and 7.30pm), the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre will come to life with the sights and sounds of the Ministry of Magic, 12 Grimmauld Place and the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, because JK Rowling's boy-who-lived and his pals are never far away from a theatre — or a concert hall. And tickets for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix live in concert are now on sale. If you've been to one of these events for the earlier Harry Potter movies, you can expect something a little different this time around. While the event will run as usual, it's the score itself that'll stand out. After doing the honours on the first three HP flicks, veteran composer John Williams stood aside, with two-time Oscar nominee Patrick Doyle (Hamlet, Sense and Sensibility) in charge of the fourth, and Nicholas Hooper whipping up wondrous wizarding soundtracks for the final three. And yes, if this particular session sounds familiar, that's because it was originally slated to happen in 2020; however, the pandemic changed those plans.
It has been 65 years since Godzilla first rampaged across through Tokyo, and the super-sized creature isn't done wreaking havoc just yet. Like comic book characters and Star Wars, the king of the monsters is a cinema mainstay. The scaly critter is also asserting its place atop the kaiju food chain in the latest trailer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters. If you haven't kept track of the Japanese figure's many, many screen appearances, this is its 35th. It's also the sequel to the last American-made Godzilla film, which hit screens back in 2014 — and this time, the giant critter isn't the only behemoth rampaging through cinemas. In what promises to be quite the hefty creature feature, Godzilla: King of the Monsters sees the eponymous figure enlisted to help the planet against a heap of the beast's own enemies, including Mothra, Rodan and the three-headed King Ghidorah. At one point in the new trailer, it's mentioned that there are at least 17 monsters, which will be sure to keep Godzilla and the film's human cast — including Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Charles Dance and O'Shea Jackson Jr — rather busy. Yes, plenty of oversized creature mayhem is in movie-goers' futures come May 30 — and more next year as well. Godzilla: King of the Monsters will be followed by another monster mashup in 2020's Godzilla vs. Kong, pitting Godzilla against a certain giant ape in a film that also acts as a sequel to 2017's Kong: Skull Island. Partially shot in Queensland, it stars Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Julian Dennison, Kyle Chandler and Demián Bichir. Check out the latest Godzilla: King of the Monsters trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW3xYYJ6NoE&feature=youtu.be Image: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Being abducted by a giant psychedelic bird and falling through a tripped-out realm of giant saxophones is all in a day's work for Wagons. To celebrate the announcement of a pair of Victorian shows following Wagons' recent Acid Rain and Sugar Cane album tour, the Melbourne outfit's latest single 'Chase the Eclipse' comes with a trippy new video. Featuring the super '70s claymation work of Wagons band member Si the Philanthropist, the clip is just the ticket for a boring ol' weekday afternoon. "Inspired by Gumby and the movie Jason and the Argonauts, the story is like Greek mythology meets acid trip wonderland," says Si the Philanthropist "A strange creature kidnaps Henry, then the band are transformed by its powers while trying to rescue him, until the eclipse destroys the magic and releases them. I wanted to make a strange, and colourful video to match the technicolour nature of the song. "One month, 6500 shots, all made in a home studio with a skateboard for a dolly, ten packets of modelling clay, one jumbo packet of smarties, 180 coloured paper circles, some fern trees, two guitars, a keyboard, a saxophone and Henry." Here's the clip, see you on the other side of the rabbit hole: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Hlqf43YSP1g WAGONS EXTRA AUS TOUR DATES: Fri Aug 8 at Caravan Music Club. tickets here. Sat Aug 9 at The Substation, Newport, tickets here.
Anything can be gelato, at least the way that Gelato Messina makes it. Well, any other dessert can get the the ice cream treatment, it seems. The chain has whipped up a lot of of tasty specials in its time, with plenty taking cues from other sweet treats: think red velvet cookie pies, caramel scrolls with cheesecake gelato, Golden Gaytime-inspired Viennetta and even Iced VoVo gelato. The next beloved dish getting the Messina treatment: lemon meringue pies. You can taste the tang just thinking about this gelato version, can't you? The limited-edition dessert is being dished up for the brand's Mother's Day special, but that doesn't mean that it's just for mum. If you can't spend the day with her eating this dessert, she'd want you to treat yo'self. Wondering what exactly a lemon meringue pie gelato hot tub entails? Served in an octagonal tub, this dish comes with burnt vanilla gelato, pie crust and lemon curd mousse, all topped with an intricately piped and torched Italian meringue. Obviously, it sounds delicious. If you're keen to get yourself a piece — which'll cost you $40 — they're available to preorder online on Tuesday, April 26. And, because Messina's specials always prove popular, the brand is now staggering the on-sale times. Accordingly, folks in Queensland and the ACT are able to purchase at 9am, Victorians at 9.30am, and New South Wales customers split across three times depending on the store (with pies from Circular Quay, Surry Hills, Bondi, Randwick and Miranda on sale at 10am; Brighton Le Sands, Tramsheds, Parramatta and Darlinghurst at 10.30am; and Darling Square, Newtown, Rosebery and Penrith at 11am). Gelato Messina's lemon meringue pie gelato hot tubs will be available to order on Tuesday, April 26 for pick up between Friday, May 6–Sunday, May 8. Head to the Messina website for further details.
They're taking to hobbits to Isengard at the Elizabeth Picture Theatre this autumn, with one movie marathon to rule them all. Round up the Fellowship, stock up on lembas bread for sustenance and hide your finest pipe-weed from the Southfarthing for one sitting of all three of Peter Jackson's beloved OG Tolkien film adaptations on Sunday, May 26. Kicking off with The Fellowship of the Ring and ending with The Return of the King, this cave troll of a marathon clocks in at 558 minutes, starting the journey at 10am and including short breaks between each (for breakfast and second breakfast, if you will). If you make it to the final handful of endings, you can pat yourself on the back and smash a ringwraith screech at the nearest CBD resident on your way home (note: do not actually screech at the residents). Without a ticket, expect at least one overenthusiastic cinema staff member to make an example of you, thundering "You shall not pass!" to raucous applause. So buy a ticket, precious. Actually, you'll need three — one for each film, at $12 each.
Celebrate the rebirth of Brisbane art-hub Boxcopy, as they launch their Petrie Terrace gallery space with fitting exhibition, New Dawn. The pop-culture driven art scene has long found heart in the energetic pursuit of working from the extraterrestrial and new age. No artist though, has pursued it in more divergent a medium than Chris Howlett in his latest exhibit, New Dawn. As exemplary multi-tasker, skilled in everything from installation, performance, sound art and digital modding, Howlett has a express willingness to engage with big themes and issues other artists would find to daunting – New Dawn shows he is indeed a man with no fear. This stage of New Daw will consist of a three channel machinima projection which conflates popular myths surrounding near death experiences, extraterrestrial encounters, UFO sightings and new age spirituality, all entwined with the conspiracy theories, then neatly mapped onto the medieval, magical video game Skyrim. The exhibit will be showcased from the 24th of August to the 14th of September – don’t miss the opportunity to witness, question and be mildly confronted by the daring work of Chris Howell.
Burger joint 5 Boroughs might take its name from New York's five divisions, but it could also be giving Brisbanites a sneak peek of things to come. With a new eatery set to open in Balmoral on June 23, that'll bring the chain's footprint to three stores across the city. It's not quite up to five yet, but it's getting close. Coming to the corner of Riding and Barton roads, the new burger outpost will keep slinging its American-style street food, just in a new eastside location. That means more burgers of the classic, cheese, bacon-filled and vegan variety, as well as baby back ribs in Bulldog Bourbon sauce, cheese fries, fish tacos and reuben sandwiches. The chain has also just launched five new burgs, featuring mac 'n' cheese, brisket, and both fried and grilled chicken — as well as a Manhattan Royale with Cheese, which comes with a pickle on top. Joining existing restaurants in Stones Corner and Ascot, the Balmoral space will also be getting things started in the usual 5 Boroughs fashion — that is, with a two-for-one deal. Head on down on opening day to nab an extra burger with your order, although, because the special is designed to encourage you to bring a friend, you are required to purchase two drinks. Find 5 Boroughs Balmoral at 216 Riding Road, Balmoral from June 23. For more information, visit the chain's website or Facebook page.
Could the Gold Coast be looking at a potential Renaissance ahead? The Gold Coast City Council and the Gold Coast Water Authority are joining forces to transform the lesser known, under-utilised canal and river network into something grand. While the Gold Coast might not match Venice in terms of its cultural capital, there's certainly some intriguing opportunities afoot to develop this underused area of Queensland. The council and Water Authority are specifically interested in using the canals as on-street parking; they plan to set up a metering system for water vehicles. Think water taxis instead of Venetian men in straw hats steering gondolas. The first step in making this all happen is to build a new pontoon, from which commercial operators pick up and drop off passengers. The building of the pontoon is expected begin later this year. The plan is to transform the whole riverside precinct, making it as much of a tourist attraction as the Surfer's Paradise famous beachfront. Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate told The Brisbane Times, "We have long identified that the riverside offers enormous potential, so it's exciting to be teaming up with Gold Coast Waterways Authority to breathe new life into the area." Waterways authority chief executive Hal Morris echoes this sentiment, as he explains, "A river is the lifeblood of any city and it's a shame that we don’t really appreciate and use our river as much as we could here on the Gold Coast." The Gold Coast has 400 km of canals and 160 of channels, so why not utilise them for transport? Watch this space. Via The Brisbane Times.
Cheese and pasta go together like few food combinations. As great as they both are individually, a particularly enticing alchemy of flavours occurs when they join forces. But simply sprinkling grated mozzarella or ground parmesan over your spaghetti is yesterday's news. Eating pasta served out of a cheese wheel is what it's all about now. Salt Meats Cheese is hopping on everyone's current favourite Italian culinary bandwagon with its new weekly night dedicated to the dish. Drop into the Gasworks eatery on Wednesdays from 6pm, and you'll tuck into the cheesiest bowl of pasta you're ever likely to taste — for $25, plus $5 for toppings. Flavour-wise, there's a few available, because even a meal like cheese wheel pasta can use a few additions. Just classic cheese is still on the menu, and so is the ol' fave that is truffle — plus newcomers such as carbonara, pesto genovese, gorgonzola and smoked mozzarella.
From clowns to furry critters to dolls, 80s and 90s pop culture drew plenty of scares from childhood staples. Decades later, Hollywood is conjuring up plenty more by bringing it all back again. With the IT remake not only working a charm back in 2017, but releasing a star-studded sequel later this year, the folks behind it are reviving another old favourite: Child's Play. While the horror franchise released its last instalment, Cult of Chucky, as recently as 2017, the new Child's Play is starting all over again. Remaking the original 1989 movie, it'll re-introduce the world to the psychopathic flame-haired plaything with a lust for murder. This time, the toy will terrorise Aubrey Plaza, who plays a young mother to a son who comes into possession of the knife-wielding doll. And Chucky will be voiced by none other than Mark Hamill, who's swapping lightsabers for killer dolls. Whether you've seen any of the seven other Chucky flicks or are too creeped out by the idea to watch, you can probably guess where the story goes. This time, however, the murderous plastic moppet has been updated for today's surveillance- and technology-heavy times. Indeed, there are more than a few recognisable internet-enabled gadgets in the film's new trailer — the second sneak peek, after releasing a first glimpse earlier this year. If you're particularly excited about the character's comeback, then you'll be just as excited to know that even more is in store, with a Child's Play TV series also in the works. Check out the unsettling latest trailer for the new Child's Play movie below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeHNLikDiVw Child's Play releases in Australian cinemas on June 20, 2019.
There are all sorts of bad movies. Some, like Palo Alto, smack of pretention and self-indulgence. Others, like Grace of Monaco, are poorly written and incompetently made. Yet others, like The Rover, fail on a level that is more difficult to quantify, unable to deliver a satisfying experience in spite the qualities they possess. Then there are movies like Yves Saint Laurent. For them, the word 'bad' seems inappropriate, because it suggests that they are in any way noteworthy. A French-language biopic on the eponymous fashion icon — a man whose name and designs altered the world of luxury clothing forever — Yves Saint Laurent is so bland, conventional and boring that it barely registers as a movie at all. Actor-turned-director Jalil Lespert follows the biopic playbook to the inoffensive letter. Guillaume Gallienne plays Laurent's long-time lover and business partner, whose wistful voiceover gives a rose-coloured tint to the already obsequious treatment. YSL himself is played by the gangly Pierre Niney; the competent enough actor saddled with a totally uninteresting role. And therein lies the film's biggest problem: Laurent's arc — from youthful prodigy to cocksure rebel to lonely, introverted genius — is one that we've seen played out literally hundreds of times before. So we watch, with utter indifference, as he alienates his friends and turns an industry on its head. Or so we're told, anyway. Thinly drawn side characters flit in and out as the years go by, each there to remind us that Laurent is changing the game. At a certain point, you just have to take their word for it. To be fair, even a layman can recognise the beauty of his designs, which Lespert trots out in montage after golden-hued montage. For fashionistas, at least, the film gives you plenty nice to look at. But clothes, despite what the old adage says, do not make the man. Laurent's work was remarkable, but his life, unfortunately, was not. So we're left with a film that is purely surface level, and that fades from your memory the second the end credits role. In some ways, you actually wish it were worse, because at least then there'd be something more to say about it. If nothing else, Grace of Monaco was fun to make fun of. Yves Saint Laurent doesn't even give you that. https://youtube.com/watch?v=-ec-DQ_7EUM
This online-only dessert bar clearly knows its market well. Open the menu on DoorDash, and one of the first items you'll see is Netflix & Chill, a two-person combo of waffles, Nutella, marshmallows, caramel sauce, ice cream, and crushed peanuts. Not in the mood to share? Scroll straight to the Nutella Choc Chip Cookie Pie, which is served soft and warm with a side of vanilla ice cream. Or maybe pick the Rainbow Cake: a Pinterest-worthy confection of layered butter sponge with cream cheese icing. Alternatively, the Caramello New York Cheesecake sounds mighty tasty, with a crumbly biscuit base and drizzled with salted caramel sauce. Images: Hennessy Trill
Over-the-top food and drink mashups might be popping up on seemingly every menu these days, but one has been around for much, much longer. That'd be the humble shandy, which mixes beer with something that's definitely not beer — something lemon-flavoured, usually — and makes for perfect summer sipping. Why just knock back a brew when you can also be drinking mango juice, ginger beer and squash? That's the thinking behind The Bavarian's summer shandy series — although no, you won't be downing all of the above ingredients at the same time. Instead, those tipples and a heap of others are featured in nine different shandies, which'll set you back between $10–15 each, come in 500-millilitre steins and are available all summer long. On the menu: the Summer Mango, which combines Franziskaner Hefe Weissbier with mango juice; the Michelada, a blend of 4 Pines Kolsch, bloody mary spiced juice and lime juice (with a chilli-salt rim); the Nightcap, which pairs Hofbrau Dunkel with coffee liqueur; and the Snake Bite, a mix of Bulmers apple cider, 4 Pines Kolsch and Chambord. Butterscotch, apple rye spice, whiskey and ginger, and a tequila concoction are also available — the latter called the Largarita — because these shandies can also include liqueurs and spirits. You'll find The Bavarian at Eagle Street Pier, Chermside, The Barracks, Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast, Robina, Broadbeach, Coomera, Mackay and Rockhampton in Queensland.
Get ready to chow down on mouthwatering Neil Perry hamburgers. Since opening in Sydney's World Square in October 2014, the celebrity chef's high-end fast food joint Burger Project has become a favourite with Sydney foodies, serving up a variation of his iconic Rockpool beef burger at a fraction of the price. The burger joint has since expanded to Melbourne and, after announcing back in May last year that Burger Project will be coming to Brisbane, Perry has finally confirmed an opening date: this Friday, February 17. The new store will open up at 11am on ground level at the new Southport precinct in South Bank. The venue, which will boast big floor-to-ceiling windows, will have room for 60 burger fiends inside and another 30 outside. So, what exactly do they serve at The Burger Project, anyway? Well, Perry is sticking closely to the winning World Square formula, so you can expect a variety of tried-and-tested tasty burgers including the Magic Mushroom, the spicy fried chicken katsu and of course the classic American cheeseburger. For dessert, dive into one of their decadent ice cream creations such as the Blueberry Pie or The Bounty Hunter with vanilla bean ice cream with chocolate sauce, toasted coconut and crushed meringue. The Brisbane Burger Project will also be the first outlet to offer breakfast, from Monday, February 20. They'll switch out their regular menu for bacon and egg (and mushroom and egg) burgers, BLTs, potato gems and coffee from Melbourne's Market Lane from 8–11am daily. The South Bank store is the eighth Burger Project to open around the country, and the first in Brisbane. Neil Perry's Rockpool Group was acquired by the Urban Purveyor Group last year, and, as the newly formed Rockpool Dining Group, they plan to open more stores here this year. Burger Project is set to open on the ground floor of the Southport precinct at 271 Grey Street, South Bank at 11am on Friday, February 17. For more information, visit burgerproject.com. By Tom Clift and Lauren Vadnjal.
Think size is a reflection of quality? Think again. One of Brisbane's quaintest little bars is striving to prove otherwise by showing off some of the nation's emerging talent. Just head down to Ashgrove's Junk Bar this Saturday to catch some of Australia's best acts in the World's Smallest Festival. Playing on two incy wincy stages will be Arbuckle, Scraps, plus Louis Forster and James Harrison from newly signed Brisbane band The Goon Sax. The evening kicks of at 7.30pm, with all of Junk's signature cocktails and drinks guaranteed to be flowing. It's only $8, which probably makes it also one of the world's cheapest festivals, too — and tickets can be purchased at the door. If you've never been to Junk Bar before, this is as good an excuse as any to jump on the Maroon Glider as it heads in the Ashgrove direction and check these humble little digs out. And hey, you might even discover a new favourite band while you're at it.
Dance is a primal urge that has played a role in our existence for thousands of years. From dancing around a fire to late night, air-guitar sessions with very little clothing, our bodies have a natural, deep-lodged desire to boogie. Now the Judith Wright centre is paying homage this ridiculously important part of the human psyche with a week just for dance! Even Whitney Houston would be content at the Judith Wright Centre in this coming week of dance - there’s going to be an awful lot of grooving, moving, working, twerking and everything in between. Tap, hip-hop, Bollywood, that one with the cardboard, are all going to be making an appearance. Real deal 'booteh' shakers, Claire Marshal, Gareth Belling and Lucy Ingham will be starting of the week with DANCE. INDIE DANCE. Next on the agenda - more dancing! The BIG DANCE NIGHT OUT, a collection of Brisbane’s best dance groups showing what’s what on the stage, will follow. The week will be wrapped up with STAY UP LATER, where Queensland dance schools will put together a performance featuring blockbuster tunes and fabulous classics. Kick off your Sunday shoes, cut-loose and join in this brilliant celebration!
A new wine festival is coming to Brisbane — but this one doesn't just want you to just stand around and drink. Sure, there's a lot of that on the menu at Wine Playground. In fact, there'll be more than 50 different vinos on offer for your sampling pleasure. Between mouthfuls, however, this fest will be letting you mingle with some of the country's best winemakers. From 12pm on Saturday, July 7, folks from 13 different outfits will be serving up tastings, selling their wares and chatting with you about everything that goes into making good plonk. The lineup casts its eye around the nation, so prepare to send your wine-loving tastebuds on a journey. On the bill: Queensland's La Petite Mort; New South Wales' Frankly; Victoria's Jamsheed; South Australia's Basket Range, Small Fry and Somos; Western Australia's Brave New Wine, Dormilona, L.A.S. Vino, LS Merchants and Ravensworth; and Tasmania's Shiny and Two Tonne Tasmania. Throw in open forums and snacks across the event's three-hour duration, and if that sounds like your ideal way to spend an afternoon, then Fortitude Valley's Happy Boy is the place to be. Tickets cost $65, which includes your own Plumm glass plus plenty — and we mean plenty — of sips.
Australian artist Peter Kennedy became known as a pioneer in the '70s for creating multi-media art and never-before-seen exhibition strategies. Now, over 50 years since his first creation, Milani Gallery premieres Kennedy's 1/4 inch video tapes as an eleven-channel video and sound installation. Kennedy was born in Brisbane in 1945, and began exhibiting in the mid 1960s. By the end of that decade he'd begun to forge new artistic territory in Australia through his conceptually aligned art practice and light-based efforts. He was set on creating immersive environments, in which minimalistic arrangements of coloured neon tubs made up most of his work. He went on to utilise performance, photography, sound and drawing — and by the late 1970s, his pieces were politically engaged and activism-oriented in nature. In the years since, he has exhibited wildly in both Australia and overseas, and is also the recipient of a numerous coveted grants and awards. LISTENHEAR features Body Concert 2: Extended, a five-channel video work of one of Kennedy’s body and sound performances, as well as The Photographs’ Story, part one of a new, six-part video work.
Living the yacht life without actually getting on a yacht is set to become a reality on the Gold Coast this year, with the Marina Mirage scoring its own floating beach club, La Luna, in April. But if you'd like to check out the venue's restaurant in advance for a stint of cider mussels and pineapple margaritas, the waterside spot has good news: said eatery, also called La Luna, has just opened its doors. In a space filled with soft, crisp shades — on the walls, and in the linen and curtains — and plenty of natural light from its big windows, diners can now tuck into a meal and a few drinks while looking over the marina. At present, it's only catering to small groups of six and under, but if you're keen to gather the gang or even host a function, La Luna will welcome you in in the coming weeks. Unsurprisingly, plenty of the ocean's finest earns a spot on the menu, including seafood platters with optional lobster, oysters three ways, salmon sashimi, lobster rolls, beer-battered prawns and seafood linguine from across the full lineup. The mezze range also spans goose liver and black truffle pate, wagyu bresaola and dips; the cold bar selection features crispy wonton crackers and spicy beef tartare; and saganaki cheese, four cuts of steak, three types of pizza, and mains such as miso pork belly and confit duck leg will also tempt your tastebuds. From the drinks list, expect sparkling, white and red wines to suit all budgets, plus local and international brews on tap and by the bottle — and several options spirits-wise, no matter whether you're a gin, vodka, tequila, bourbon, rum or whisky drinker. If the whole seaside setup screams cocktail to you, the signature offerings include barrel-aged negronis and mai tais, as well as non-boozy spritzes, sours and watermelon highballs. All of the above will still be available when La Luna opens the beach club side of the site, of course — adding another spot to the Glitter Strip after a rooftop beach club launched in Surfers Paradise and a pop-up beach club on the sand at Broadbeach, both in 2021. La Luna is the brainchild of the Gennari Group, which is already behind the Gold Coast's Koi Broadbeach, Glass Dining & Lounge Bar, The Loose Moose, Maggie Choo and Roosevelt Lounge, and takes inspiration from its European counterparts — and from Mykonos and Saint-Tropez in general — with a few cues gleaned from Tulum in Mexico as well. Think: daybeds, private cabanas and pools on its pontoon setup, obviously, as well as a bar, and dining not just inside but also outdoors by the water. Find La Luna Beach Club at Marina Mirage, 74 Seaworld Drive, Gold Coast — with its onsite restaurant open now, and the beach club itself due to open in April 2022.
Director Sam Raimi is no stranger to reboots. His 1981 horror flick The Evil Dead just received the reboot treatment this year, and last year's reboot of the Spiderman franchise (The Amazing Spiderman) marked a mere decade since Raimi's own version of story came out. It's no surprise, then, that Raimi was the one tapped to direct Oz the Great and Powerful — a prequel to 1939's beloved Wizard of Oz. Nor is it a shock that he's now supposedly attached to direct a remake of 1982's Poltergeist. Basically if you want something done right, again, then Sam's your man. And he'd need to be, since tackling The Wizard of Oz — a film often ranked in the 10 best of all time — has traditionally been a fool's errand fraught with difficulties. Just consider 1978's The Wiz, an African American version starring Diana Ross as Dorothy and Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow (...if he only had a nose...). Then came Disney's terrifying attempt at a sequel, Return to Oz, in 1985. The opening scenes alone, depicting a frenzied Dorothy, strapped to a gurney and receiving electroshock therapy in a crumbling mental asylum, somehow failed to charm the hearts and minds of families in quite the same way as its predecessor — a task not helped by later scenes featuring masked murderous gangs with wheels for hands or a queen who froze people and wore their heads. You know, a children's movie. Finally in 2003, the Tony- and Grammy-winning musical Wicked opened on Broadway and has since become the 12th longest-running show in its history. Of all the reinterpretations, it's Wicked that fits most comfortably with the original, and so its story (the explanation of why the wicked witch became wicked) was the logical choice for Raimi's prequel, along with the 'how and why' of the Wizard becoming their great but mysterious leader. That man, Oscar Diggs (or 'Oz'), is played by James Franco, and his story begins as a lying, cheating carnival con man in Kansas. In a delightful homage to the 1939 version, Raimi also begins his film in black and white, and just like the original, that device makes Oscar's subsequent arrival into the fantastically colourful world of Oz all the more spectacular. Once there, he meets three beguiling but feuding witches named Theodora (Mila Kunis), Glinda (Michelle Williams), and Evanora (Rachel Weisz). Each claims the other is the 'wicked one' and begs him to save the land and its people by killing their rival. Oz the Great and Powerful isn't a film whose enjoyment is predicated upon knowledge of the original; however, its frequent tips of the hat definitely add an extra layer of enjoyment to the experience. And just like the original, Oz's journey along the yellow brick road leads to several chance encounters with some wonderfully creative, tender and amusing companions, including a small china doll and a wisecracking flying monkey (voiced by Zach Braff). Being Disney, it's obviously very much a children's movie, but one whose respectful treatment of the original still offers adults a chance to enhance, rather than replace, one cherished Wizard of Oz story with another.
Festival season is well and truly upon us, with the Woodford Folk Festival the latest event to announce its program. If you fancy seeing out 2018 and welcoming in 2019 while catching a heap of bands, wandering between arts performances and getting a little muddy across a grassy patch of southeast Queensland, the fest has you covered for its whopping 33rd year. Taking place at Woodfordia about 90 minutes north of Brisbane, this year's fest will be held for six days between December 27, 2018 and January 1, 2019 — with Electric Fields, Kimbra, Alex the Astronaut, The Cat Empire, Screamfeeder, Remi and Jen Cloher among its high-profile talent. In total, more than 200 acts will grace a lineup that features everything from music, art, circus and cabaret to yoga, dance and comedy, all in venues that range from a 25,000-seat amphitheatre to chilled-out hangout spots. Other highlights include spoken word, comedy and performances by everyone from Dr Karl to Vernon Ah Kee to Tripod's Steven Gates with Paul McDermott; arts, dance and meditation workshops; and a heap of circus and cabaret shows — plus, if you're bringing littlies, the event's Children's Festival within the broader fest is also returning. Or, you can enjoy a three-course bush food feast, catch The Spirit of Churaki about the Aboriginal man heralded as the Gold Coast's first surf lifesaver and see podcast Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids live. While the annual Queensland festival has weathered an uncertain future in recent years, it remains a staple of the state's end-of-year calendar — and visit will also boast 195 stalls around the grounds, turning the site into a mini-village for its duration. That includes everything from bars, cafes and restaurants, to an on-site doctor's surgery and two general stores. As always, camping is available at one of the fest's nine campgrounds, or you can nab a ticket just for the day. Either way, expect to have company, as around 130,000 people attend each year. The 2018–19 Woodford Folk Festival runs from December 27, 2018 and January 1, 2019 at Woodfordia on the Sunshine Coast. To view the program and buy tickets, head to woodfordfolkfestival.com Images: Woodford Folk Festival via Flickr.
Aah, aerobics — if any form of exercise instantly conjures images of the '80s, it's this blend of bending, stretching and waving your arms and legs about. And if you grew up during the spandex-wearing decade in Australia, two things probably spring to mind: Aerobics Oz Style and Jane Fonda. Because everything retro is cool again, Work-Shop is combining the two for their Aerobics Fonda Style classes. You'll get your heart pumping and limbs flailing, and yes, you can even wear a leotard and legwarmers if you really want to. While the energetic moves are the main attraction, the pumping '80s soundtrack is worth turning up for alone. It's not a real aerobic workout if you're not getting sweaty to Madonna, Michael Jackson, Rick Astley and Prince, is it? Just don't take it too seriously — we all saw how that turned out for Key & Peele.
In a brief, early sequence, Dead Men Tell No Tales appears to achieve something quite remarkable. Immersing Captain Jack (Johnny Depp) in a bank heist, it feels like the filmmakers have cottoned onto something that helmers of previous Pirates sequels never managed to grasp: a little bit of Sparrow goes an awfully long way. Yes, even here, the rum-swilling pirate remains as ridiculous as ever. But as his crew drags a safe through the streets while he tries to evade capture, you at least get the feeling that his latest adventure will be about more than just him. Sadly, it doesn't last. The truth is, time has not been kind to Depp since the first Pirates of the Caribbean hit back in 2003 and earned him an Oscar nomination. Or, to be more accurate, Depp has not been kind to Depp. Audiences have been accosted by his Sparrow shenanigans not only in Dead Man's Chest, At World's End and On Stranger Tides, but in almost everything else he's made in between. From Alice in Wonderland to The Lone Ranger to the nigh unwatchable Mortdecai, Depp's penchant for outlandish overacting has kept him firmly in the same mode. If it was beginning to grate a decade ago, it's positively painful now. Point is, make sure to enjoy this movie's early moments while they last. While the fifth film in the franchise ostensibly endeavours to switch its gaze to the next generation, the fact remains that an overabundance of Sparrow threatens to sink the whole ship. The wobbling seafarer finds himself in demand, with young upstart Henry Turner (Brenton Thwaites) and mysterious astronomer Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario) both requiring his help in their hunt for Poseidon's trident. Meanwhile, ghostly pirate hunter Salazar (Javier Bardem) is also on Sparrow's trail, hungry for revenge. Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) pops up, as do a few family ties, although the plot isn't really the main focus of this dip back into choppy waters. Just as amusement park attractions are more about thrills and theme than narrative, so too is Dead Men Tell No Tales. Taking the helm after impressing with the ocean-faring Kon-Tiki, directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg soon lose control of their vessel, serving up bland nautical action alongside their predictably unbearable protagonist. Given that this franchise has been surfing a downwards trajectory from the outset, we shouldn't really be surprised by the failure of this latest outing. An initial burst of energy, a couple of new faces and Bardem reliably playing the villain are all promising signs, but they're not enough to turn sea trash into treasure. Hold onto your hats though, me hearties, as it seems the franchise won't be walking the plank just yet. Like plenty of other big-budget sequels of late, Dead Men Tell No Tales appears as though it's just treading water for another installment. Next time, maybe follow Sparrow's lead and load up on rum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dhAxBe3uqk
As proved by Twix, socks and Will Smith, things are infinitely better when they come in two – disregard The Shining. That’s why the collaboration of Brisbane artists Marcel Daniels and Daniel Herberg in The Changing Standards of Dialogue is sure to trigger sequential head nods, pondering glazes and a tirade of questions. The exhibit is one of poignancy – it raises questions regarding the slippages and contradictions between various elements of representation, perception, value systems and identity, all revolving around a central theme of ‘otherness’. Through multi-artistic platforms, such as sculpture, object and image-based works, they’ll be exploring human value and perceptions in a no means standardized manner. The Changing Standards of Dialogue is a culmination of these two artists, their confusingly similar names, dissimilar styles and experiences as the 2013 Artists in Residence at Metro Arts – if you knew their talent, you’d understand the fortune of this artistic marriage and the creative offspring it's produced.
If you've ever felt guilty about staying at home on a Saturday night to play video games, learn Beyoncé dance moves off YouTube or watch six straight hours of Netflix — don't. The Sydney Opera House has just announced that they'll be hosting an epic overnight 24-hour festival dedicated to binging on pop culture in a totally acceptable social setting. Think Buffy marathons, Street Fighter, Shia LeBeouf — and cats. Bingefest is a brand new festival for the Opera House (their first newbie in five years) and will pull together this year's pop culture phenomenons to discuss, celebrate and — most importantly — enjoy them for what they are when it comes to the Opera House for 24 hours (or so) this December 17 and 18. The biggest announcement is that actor and artist Shia LeBeouf — along with collaborators Nastja Säde Rönkkön and Luke Turner — will be coming along to the fest. Best known for their live performance art like Take Me Anywhere, where they posted their coordinates and waited for the first people to find them and pick them up, the trio will be creating a work especially for Bingefest. No word on what it is yet though. The program — which will run from about 3pm on Saturday until 6am on Monday morning — includes a whole range of things we consume on the Internet, from TV and video games to podcasts and viral videos. Running overnight on the Saturday will be a Buffy marathon, in which lovers of the kickass femme vampire can relive the best episodes all over again (and all night), as well as a 24-hour Street Fighter session. Those familiar with the cult '80s video game will be able to drop in at any point in the night for a go. Other highlights include a talk from The AV Club, where four of their editorial staff will take you through all the TV you should have watched by now. Community's Dan Harmon and Luke McGregor and Celia Pacquola (from the soon-to-air ABC show Rosehaven) will write a TV-show from scratch in front of an audience, Serial producer Julie Snyder will discuss binge-worthy journalism and Amrita Hepi will hold two Rihanna and Beyoncé dance clases in the Opera House's ballet rehearsal room (perfect post-Buffy binge). Redfern Convenience Store will even be holding a pop-up snack store. Also, in what could be the most captivating performance the forecourt has seen this year, the Internet Cat Festival will make its Sydney debut on the Saturday night. It will be held in partnership with the RSPCA and will be goddamn adorable. Bingefest founder and curator Danielle Harvey says the festival is an opportunity for people to consume pop culture together as a community. As something that's largely consumed personally at home, the live participation of festival makes it a whole different experience. Danielle is a co-curator of other Opera House events like All About Women and the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, but unlike the other festivals that incorporate elements of pop culture, Bingefest will be 100 percent dedicated to featuring it in a more celebratory way. Bingefest will take place at the Sydney Opera House from the afternoon of Saturday, December 17 until the morning of Monday, December 19. FOr more info and to buy tickets, visit bingefest.sydneyoperahouse.com.
Taking over the city during September, Brisbane Festival does many things. It gives everyone an excuse to devour entertaining cultural delights — and it serves up a new hangout. Actually, make that hangouts. Yes, Brisbane Festival's central hub offers multiple spaces in one. Revamping South Bank's Cultural Forecourt, Treasury Brisbane Arcadia boasts everything from pop-up food stalls to the spiegeltent to everything in between. Indeed, as well as offering a place to go when you need a wine, craft beer or food between shows, there's two places you'll want to check out. Stop by Divine for a dose of drag entertainment over a frosé, plus late-night DJs — or head to The Box for outdoor dancing and pop-up parties. Other events in Arcadia's vicinity include the House of Mirrors, Seance and a nightly light show, plus the feast of performances at The Courier-Mail Spiegeltent. That's where you'll catch many of the fest's headliners, including LIFE - THE SHOW, Tkay Maidza, Jen Cloher and the California Crooners Club.
It's a yearly pattern: Halloween passes by, orange decorations are replaced with a sea of red and green, and suddenly we've all been hurtled into the throes of Christmas. To add its own taste of festive cheer, Krispy Kreme has announced that it's lighting up four of its stores with Christmas displays — and, to make the occasion even more jolly and merry, it's also giving away 4000 free doughnuts. The giveaway is running on Friday, November 29, which is when Krispy Kreme stores in Penrith in Sydney, Bulleen in Melbourne, Redbank Plains in Brisbane and Myaree in Perth will be hitting the switch on their seasonal lights. The chain calls these displays 'Krispymas', and they'll be lit up for nearly a month, shining bright until Friday, December 27. To snag yourself a signature glazed freebie (Original Glazed doughnuts are being given out), head to one of the aforementioned stores on Friday, November 29. In Brisbane and Perth, the activities start from 6.30pm, a choir will sing at 7pm, the lights turn on at 7.30pm and the free doughnuts will also be given out at 7.30pm. In Sydney and Melbourne, the fun will kick off at 7pm, carols will begin at 7.30pm, and the displays and free doughnuts will commence at 8.30pm. While 4000 doughnuts will be available nationally, that's 1000 at each of the four outlets. So, if you want to kick off your Friday night with a free sweet and doughy treat, you'll want to get in relatively early. They're on offer until close or until stocks last, whichever comes first, and there's only one available per person. Krispy Kreme's free doughnut giveaway is happening at the chain's stores in Penrith in Sydney, Bulleen in Melbourne, Redbank Plains in Brisbane and Myaree in Perth on Friday, November 29. For further information, head to the Krispy Kreme website.
First The Basics, now Tex Perkins — this legend of the Australian music scene best known for his work with The Cruel Sea is making a bid for state parliament. Though The Basics have strong feelings about education and welfare as well as local music restrictions, Perkins has one specific goal in mind. He wants to save the Palais Theatre. Since August this year, major doubts have been cast over the future of this iconic beachside venue. Despite consistently pulling big name acts including the great Bob Dylan, the Palais has been facing irreconcilable infrastructure problems. Once these impending renovations costs were estimated to be between $25-40 million, the Port Philip Council began lobbying the state government for funding. In the past month the Council has pledged $7.5 million for repairs if the state front the remainder. And, frankly, it doesn't look great. To remedy this and potentially save the regal old St Kilda venue, Perkins plans to run as an independent candidate for the seat of Albert Park. "The neglect of such an iconic performance venue, along with all the buck-passing from both sides of politics — it's just not good enough," Perkins said in a statement. "The Palais is a state-owned heritage building and there are policies for how you maintain these buildings." Though the problem of the decaying Palais hasn't made the same headlines or drawn the same amount of protest as the potential demolishment of the Palace Theatre in the CBD, support is growing quickly. I Love My Palais is gaining traction on social media, and even Mick Jagger came out in support of the campaign this week. While playing at Rod Laver Arena, Jagger urged his audience to "give generously". "I'd just like to tell you, we played at the Palais Theatre about 50 years ago," he said. This is good news for both Perkins and the Palais. Government is unlikely to affect change without significant community outrage. "The depth of voter disillusionment presents a frightening possibility," Perkins told The Age. "I might win." Via ABC and The Age. The Victorian state election will take place on November 29.
The countdown to summer is well and truly on. After the year that's been, we're not going to be taking for granted the fine weather and fun events that make it our favourite season of all. To help you make the most of those special summer occasions, we've teamed up with Glenmorangie to serve up six simple drink recipes. These refreshing serves are a breeze to make and all utilise the brand-new X by Glenmorangie. This single malt scotch was specially designed for mixing and is perfect for all your summery tipples, offering tasting notes of pear, vanilla, honeysuckle, orange sherbet and chocolate fudge. FOR AN EASY BREEZY BRUNCH When you're still waking up, the last thing you want to be doing is stirring and shaking up super-complicated cocktails. Keep things simple and on theme with this citrusy tipple. Ingredients 50ml X by Glenmorangie 25ml grapefruit juice 25ml orange juice 10ml agave syrup Method Fill a highball glass with crushed glass. Add X by Glenmorangie, grapefruit juice, orange juice and agave syrup. Stir and garnish with half a grapefruit wheel. FOR YOUR BACKYARD BARBECUE Backyard barbecues are for lively conversation, grilled meats and veggies and perhaps a few games (cricket, anyone?). But they're certainly not for fancy, multi-step cocktail mixing. Keep things flowing with this three-ingredient mix. Ingredients 50ml X by Glenmorangie 50ml ginger beer limes Method Fill a highball glass with crushed glass. Add X by Glenmorangie and ginger beer. Stir, squeeze three lime wedges over the drink, then use them to garnish. FOR A SPOT OF AFTERNOON TEA Marmalade? In a mixed drink? Just trust us on this. The old-school preserve provides the perfect balance of citrus and sweet. Serve it alongside an array of sweet and savoury snacks — think finger sandwiches and cupcakes — for a pleasant afternoon tea in the sunshine. Ingredients 50ml X by Glenmorangie 20ml lime juice 3 tsp marmalade Method Pour X by Glenmorangie, lime juice and marmalade into a highball glass. Add ice, stir again and garnish with an orange twist. FOR YOUR NEXT DATE NIGHT If you're trying to impress that special someone, make a big batch of this floral, fragrant mix for your next big night together — be it a cosy evening in front of the TV or a romantic sunset picnic. Ingredients 50ml X by Glenmorangie 20ml lemon juice 20ml elderflower cordial Sparkling water Method Fill a highball glass with crushed glass. Add X by Glenmorangie, lemon juice and elderflower cordial. Stir and top with sparkling water to taste. Garnish with a lemon twist. FOR A KARAOKE PARTY There's nothing like some bubbles to get the party going. Sip this crisp, refreshing serve before belting out your best impression of Whitney or Mariah. Ingredients 50ml X by Glenmorangie 20ml lime juice 50ml sparkling apple juice Method Fill a highball glass with crushed glass. Add X by Glenmorangie, lime juice and sparkling apple juice. Stir and garnish with an apple slice. FOR A POST-DINNER PARTY TIPPLE If you want to make sure your next dinner party ends on a high note, this sweet, vibrant tipple will do the trick. Ingredients 50ml X by Glenmorangie 25ml lemon juice 12.5ml blackcurrant cordial 10ml agave syrup Method Fill a highball glass with crushed glass. Add X by Glenmorangie, lemon juice and agave syrup. Stir then top with blackcurrant cordial. Garnish with lemon wheel and a blackberry. Be prepared for all your upcoming summer events by purchasing a bottle of X by Glenmorangie at Boozebud.
It was the sweet treat chain that rose faster than yeasty baked goods, then sunk like your stomach when you've eaten too much sugar. After closing down its 30 stores earlier this year during the collapse of then-owner Damien Griffith's hospitality empire, Doughnut Time is now set to return — imminently — under new owners and managers. Talk of a comeback has been happening for months, it was first announced in August 2018, but now it's actually happening, with four new Queensland stores opening before Christmas. Two stores have opened their mint green doors — in Brisbane City Myer Centre and on Grey Street in South Bank — along two on the Gold Coast And that's just for starters. Melbourne is expected to get three new stores, in Fitzroy and Hawthorn and on Degraves Street, and Sydney is expected to nab a new store or two in early 2019. With the chain now overseen by Queensland entrepreneur Peter Andros, Doughnut Time is eager to put the brand's past behind it — a situation that not only saw its previous stores shuttered without warning, but left many of its staff unpaid. "We think what happened to past employees is unacceptable," the company wrote on Facebook. Fans and sugar fiends should prepare their tastebuds for a dose of the old and the new when the fresh batch of stores start cooking up a storm. Hit flavours like the Cate Blanchett (a milk chocolate doughnut covered in Tim Tam pieces) have been teased on social media, as have new vegan, gluten free, high protein, low sugar and keto options. The stores launched with free doughnut giveaways. An interesting way to launch a company that has a past tainted by liquidation and unpaid wages, but let's hope, in this case, history doesn't repeat itself. Find Doughnut Time at the Brisbane City Myer Centre, 91 Queen Street, Brisbane City, and 186 Grey Street, South Bank. The Melbourne store are set to open soon — we'll let you know when they do. Updated: January 8, 2019.
Every Friday night, you'll find Bibo Wine Bar's Head Sommelier Louella Mathews drinking wine with her regulars. COVID-19 hasn't gotten in the way of this tradition, either, with Mathews now recreating the experience for fans of the Double Bay bar via Zoom — with the help of some Bibo-like virtual backgrounds, of course. To help keep staff employed while the wine bar is closed to dine-in customers, Mathews and the Bibo team have launched Bibo at Home. Like many Sydney restaurants and bars, Bibo is currently offering takeaway and delivery meals — including an eight-course chef's menu for a very reasonable $50 — as well as wine and cocktails to go. But, Mathews has taken the at-home wine bar experience a step further and is now offering personalised wine boxes paired with one-on-one Zoom consultations. Called Sommelier's Choice, the personalised wine boxes with bonus human interaction were launched by Mathews in response to her "withdrawal from connecting with customers on the restaurant floor". Once you've connected with Mathews via Bibo, she'll set up a Zoom meeting (or phone call, or interview — "whatever they feel comfortable with") and "we'll have a chat about the weather, the current pandemic crisis and then, of course, to what wine they would enjoy". "The process is very natural and as if you were ordering wine in a restaurant", says Mathews. "I don't have one set of criteria, but a few basic questions include what they generally like to drink and how adventurous they would like to be." Once you've had a chat, Mathews will put together a box of six wines with tasting notes and food pairing suggestions, which you can either pick up from the wine bar or have delivered if you live within five kilometres from Double Bay. All of this will set you back $200 — about $33 a bottle. Much cheaper than you'd be paying if you were to drink six bottles at the wine bar itself. And you get access to one of Australia's brightest wine minds, too. Mathews, before working at Bibo, managed the wine list and 4000-bottle cellar at Sydney's Rockpool Bar & Grill, and is currently studying for the Court of Master Sommeliers Advanced (that's just one level under Master Sommelier, which is the focus of Netflix's Somm). What you'll get in your box, depends on your tastes, of course, but Mathews says it'll be like "taking a trip around the world, but without the fuss of border patrol". In the current COVID-19 crisis, travelling via your tastebuds doesn't sound like a terrible idea. It's been a month since bars, restaurants and cafes were forced to close their doors to dine-in customers as part of the government's non-essential indoor venue closure, and, while it looks like some restrictions could be relaxed in another month, one expert says hospitality venues are unlikely to be open again until September. Jobkeeper allows businesses to pay eligible employees a fortnightly wage, but does not cover some casual employees and those on a temporary worker visa. This has led to businesses looking for new ways to stay connected with customers and make money, such as delivery booze services, virtual happy hours and cooking classes. For customers looking for other ways to help their locals, Mathews suggests, as well as the obvious buying a meal or wine, to leave them a five-star review on the likes of Google, Facebook and Tripadvisor and to 'share, like and comment' on their posts on social media. "Small business can't afford — especially now — PR or marketing companies," she says. "So little things really do help and only take a second of your time." When it's all over though, get ready for a massive party at Bibo "to celebrate that we survived this mess". To order food, wine or cocktails from Bibo Wine Bar, head to the website. To find out more about the Sommelier's Choice box and set up a Zoom meeting, email louella@bibowinebar.com.au.
Brisbanites, your autumn plans just got bigger, because the Queensland Government is easing a heap of pandemic restrictions. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced today, Tuesday, February 22, that caps on the number of folks you can have over to your house will lift, density limits will be scrapped in a number of public places, and masks will no longer be required in a heap of indoor settings from 6pm on Friday, March 4. The rules will relax more than two months after restrictions were tightened around Christmas in response to the Omicron wave. But now, thanks to decreasing community transmission and hospital admission numbers, Queenslanders can get ready to do more things in more places with more people again. BREAKING: Masks will no longer be required workplaces, schools and shops from 6pm on Friday 4 March. Hospitality staff and patrons won't be required to wear them at cafés, pubs or restaurants. pic.twitter.com/gdWrSA8BTc — Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) February 21, 2022 If you're most excited about having friends and family over, you'll be able to have as many people at your house as you like. And yes, the new rule kicks in just as a weekend starts. For those eager to spend more time out and about, density limits will be ditched in food courts, hairdressers, gyms, private venues and universities — and at weddings and funerals. Regarding masks, they'll no longer be required in workplaces, schools and shops. Hospitality staff and patrons won't be required to wear them at cafés, pubs or restaurants, either. That said, you will still have to mask up on public transport, in airports and on planes, as well as in hospitals, disability care, prisons and aged care. Queensland's COVID-19 case numbers for today, Tuesday, February 22, hadn't been announced at the time of writing, but the state recorded 4114 new cases yesterday, Monday, February 21. Queensland's density, gathering and mask rules will ease at 6pm on Friday, March 4. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. Top image: Kiff and Culture.
If you're starting to feel like a new season hasn't truly started until Finders Keepers has come to town, you're not alone. The ever-expanding art and design market has been bringing us face-to-face with some of the country's most quirky and creative designers for over a decade now — and it's set to do it all over again when it returns to Brisbane this November. The autumn/winter event saw the festival extend its trading hours, a move which will be repeated this time round, giving you maximum opportunity to explore the extensive program of vendors, food and entertainment. Of course, the focus remains on helping you discover and connect with the next wave of independent and emerging artisans, so expect to find plenty to take home with you from the event's more than 200 stalls. As usual, there'll also be live music and other entertainment scattered across the weekend to keep the good vibes going. And you're covered when the inevitable shopping-induced hunger strikes, a heap of food trucks will be dishing up bites to eat. Tickets are $5, available at the door and valid for the entire weekend. Finders Keepers Spring/Summer Brisbane will run from November 9–11 at 12pm–9pm on Friday, and 9am–5pm on Saturday and Sunday. Image: Mark Lobo.
Finders Keepers is a frequent visitor to Brisbane, usually unleashing its market spread upon the River City twice a year. But with Brisbane Art Design back for 2023, it's making another trip to celebrate. It is all about showcasing art and design, after all, which is exactly what it'll do at a one-day pop-up. As has been its custom for 15 years now, Finders Keepers will once again bring shoppers face-to-face with some of the country's most quirky and creative designers — this time from 8am–3pm on Saturday, May 20 at Craft'd Grounds in Albion. [caption id="attachment_857128" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Samee Lapham[/caption] The focus remains, as ever, on helping you discover and connect with the next wave of independent and emerging artisans. Expect to find more than 20 stalls slinging wares from talented local makers Entry is free and, when the inevitable shopping-induced hunger strikes, you'll be in the right spot to grab a bite onsite — and a coffee — to help fuel your shopping. [caption id="attachment_879387" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Full Stop Social Media[/caption]
If, like Twin Peaks' Agent Dale Cooper, you believe there's few things better than a great slice of pie, then you've probably already acquainted yourself with Brisbane's Pie Hole. Sweet, savoury — it does them all, including everything from sweet cherry, banoffee and matcha custard pies through to Guinness-braised lamb, kimchi-braised chicken and red wine-braised brisket varieties. And, it'll soon be serving them up at a brand new location. Brisbanites who love cakes will be just as familiar with Lady Bouchon, and their baked goods will be on the menu as well. Head to Brass Tacks when it opens — sometime before 2021 is out — and you'll find Pie Hole's Isaac Hull and Lady Bouchon's Catherine Marot joining forces on their new culinary endeavour. The two chefs are teaming up on a bakery and deli that'll sit within Albion's new Craft'd Grounds precinct. Due to launch this summer — before Christmas, for all your festive sweet treat needs — it joins a venue that'll also be home to coffee roastery Seven Miles, brewery Brewtide, street food, a craft bottle shop, a wine and cocktail bar, and more. And, it'll be combining everything that Pie Hole and Lady Bouchon do best with cheese and charcuterie, salads and sandwiches, and croissants and other provisions. Yes, Lady Bouchon's lemonade and elderflower cake will be on the menu. "Our name 'Brass Tacks' was drawn from an American saying, meaning 'the essentials' — the very ethos of what we do," says Marot. "Brass Tacks is everything you need for experiencing some of the best regional epicurean produce and treats — whether you're indulging at Craft'd Grounds, enjoying every day at home, or celebrating special occasions with loved ones." The pair will be focusing on local goods, and making all of their own wares onsite. "We wanted to do things differently — curating a selection of local, regional and Australian-only products, alongside our in-house made baked goods," explains Hull. As well as sharing a love of pastries and baked sweets, Marot and Hull share a history dating back 14 years. The friends travelled through France, then both came home to score jobs at Jocelyn's Provisions. From there, work overseas beckoned, before again returning to Brisbane to set up their own businesses. Find Brass Tacks at Craft'd Grounds, Collingwood Street, Albion, at a yet-to-be-revealed date sometime late in 2021. We'll update you when exact opening details are announced.
For someone so pivotal to the story of Jesus, it's surprising how few films have told the tale of Mary Magdalene. The biblical figure has been played by Barbara Hershey, Debra Messing, Monica Bellucci and even PJ Harvey over the years, but she's usually a mere supporting character. More than that, she's frequently painted as a sinner at the very least, and often as a prostitute. Neither proves the case in Mary Magdalene, a contemplative, humanist drama that casts Mary (Rooney Mara) as a woman of determination, devout faith and devotion. In fact, the film proposes that she was Jesus' 13th apostle. An early line gives a clear indication of the movie's focus: "I can't marry," Mary tells her father; "I'm not made for that life." What follows is an account of someone defying convention, sticking to her own path, and finding strength and solace when Jesus of Nazareth (Joaquin Phoenix) comes to town. With her dad and brothers preferring to exorcise her convictions away rather than respect her choices, it doesn't take long for Mary to warm to Jesus' caring and charismatic presence. But his existing offsiders are far from welcoming, with Peter (Chiwetel Ejiofor) especially wary. In fact, it's Judas (Tahar Rahim) who's actually more accepting. As such, Mary Magdalene depicts a strong woman breaking free from the shackles of her patriarchal fishing village, and from the expectation that matrimony and motherhood are all she should hope for. The film watches on as she finds a supportive and inspirational companion in Jesus, and as she bears witness to not only his deeds and perspective, but to his worries as well. Still, for all of its ambition — for all of its attempts to recast Mary as a feminist hero while the usual Jesus tale plays out — the movie can't quite decide if it's championing the titular character, or getting lost in her affection for the preacher and religious leader. Of course, you can't tell her story without him, but the balance isn't always right. More often than not, it appears as though Mary Magdalene wants the audience to understand Mary's connection to Jesus more than it seeks to understand Mary herself. Thank whichever deity you please for Mara, then. As she demonstrated so emphatically in Carol, she's one of the best actresses of her generation when it comes to conveying a whole world of emotion without saying a word. Her eyes flicker as Mary reacts to Jesus, her posture shifts, and viewers can grasp not only what the character sees in him but how that makes her feel. Phoenix is also impressive, his mumbling take on Christ in keeping with the film's down-to-earth air. This isn't a movie that looks to the heavens to find spiritual meaning, but to people, their actions and the impact their deeds can have. It's a fitting approach, particularly with Australian filmmaker Garth Davis (Lion) in the director's chair. While a religious tale seems quite the departure from his acclaimed debut, both prove intimate dramas about lost souls searching for fulfilment. Both also share stirring scores and scenic imagery — courtesy of the late, great composer Johann Johannsson (Arrival) and Icelandic cellist Hildur Guðnadóttir, and cinematographer Greig Fraser (Lion), respectively — but movie magic doesn't strike twice. Instead, Mary Magdalene is an intermittently convincing film about belief, rather than a film to believe in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH6A_YDafBw
What's better than one Will Smith? Two Will Smiths, apparently. That's how Gemini Man seems to feel, with the new sci-fi thriller starring the former Fresh Prince as an assassin with a very familiar-looking foe: a younger version of himself. It has been three years since his last big-screen flicks, aka the immensely underwhelming Suicide Squad and Collateral Beauty — so if you're a Smith fan that's been missing the actor's presence in cinemas of late, then consider Gemini Man a two-for-one catch-up deal. If you're particularly fond of the actor's Bad Boys, Men in Black and Independence Day-era heyday, then get ready for a CGI blast from the past. And if, for whatever reason, you've always wondered what today's 50-year-old Smith would look like if he was facing off against his own 20-something clone, then prepare to find out. Directed by Ang Lee, Gemini Man follows Smith's hitman Henry Brogan as he learns that his worst enemy really is himself — and also co-stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen and Benedict Wong. The film hits theatres in October, after Smith goes blue in Disney's Guy Ritchie-helmed live-action Aladdin remake. See double with the first trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGTp7YVUaxQ&feature=youtu.be Gemini Man opens in Australian cinemas on October 10.
When Maggie May opened its doors in Newstead back in 2022, it gave the riverside suburb a 70s-inspired supper club that isn't just about evening meals and cocktails. Every day of the week, the Longland Street spot serves up lunch as well as dinner and drinks — and on weekends it does breakfast, too. We hope you like boozy brunch, as everyone does, because that's now on the menu as well. Each Saturday and Sunday, with the venue opening at 7am, Maggie's is going bottomless with its booze over food. On the menu: wild mushrooms on toast with creamed leeks and gruyere, gin-cured salmon with a poached egg and hollandaise, crispy pork belly, and charred asparagus on green olive and semi-dried tomato tapenade toast. That's the food selection, which spans two courses each. Then comes all those beverages, with diners enjoying two options. For $69 per person, you'll sip non-stop bubbles and select tap beers — or, for $99, the brew range widens and there's also cocktails to sip. Whether you're gathering the gang or making a date with your other half, bookings for Maggie's Bottomless Brunch are recommended.
If Mad Men taught us anything — and it taught us many things, let's face it, including how catching old soft drink commercials can be — it's that advertising agencies sure do like to target middle-aged men. Tasmanian visual artist Grace Herbert wants to challenge that idea through her latest exhibition, Show Room. Her approach is simple: she tries to place herself in that role, and then unleashes the results. Herbert's showcase spans a mix of forms and materials, including sixties minimalist sculptures to the modern Australian display centre. And if you're wondering why she's exploring the concept after exhibiting her work as part of both Next Wave festival and Dark MOFO, let's just say that the rhetoric behind targeting products to male consumers could also be said to underscore the art world. Show Room displays at Metro Arts from November 16 until December 3 as a FAKE Estate presentation.
It has been almost 50 years since Philip K. Dick pondered whether androids dream of electric sheep, and 35 years since Blade Runner brought that question to the cinema. In celebration of the long-awaited big screen sequel, Blade Runner 2049, Melbourne's Cinema Nova is throwing another query into the mix: do replicants have a hankering for themed cocktails? Eagle-eyed fans of the first film will have spotted that, yes, bioengineered beings can have a beverage. And we all know that the trackers tasked with retiring them can too. Accordingly, downing a few drinks like Harrison Ford's Rick Deckard seems like a fitting way to mark his return. When Bar 2049 pops up for a month from September 28 — a week before the new movie releases on October 5 — here's hoping there's some of his booze of choice (that is, whiskey), in Cinema Nova's two new tipples: the Nexus 9 and The Offworld. Bar 2049 won't just boast drinks to match the occasion, but will transform the existing Nova Bar & Kitchen into an immersive, eye-catching Blade Runner-like space that takes its cues from both Ridley Scott's original flick and Denis Villeneuve's forthcoming, Ryan Gosling-starring follow-up. Custom wall murals from street artist Chris Hancock of Blender Creative and video installations from filmmaker Ben Helweg will create a striking, futuristic look, while an audio soundscape will blend Vangelis' iconic score with synth pop. Other touches searing themselves into your memory include neon lighting and lasers, LCD screens, floor decals, mannequins and silver unicorns. If that doesn't cause an emotional reaction that proves you're not a robot, then a 'Tastes From The Future' food menu should. The latest example of Cinema Nova's Blade Runner love — with the theatre screening the classic movie several times over the years — Bar 2049 is open from 10am daily, licensed from midday, and serves up dinner from 5pm weeknights and midday on weekends. Find Bar 2049 at Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon Street, Carlton from September 28 to October 27. For more information, keep an eye on the cinema's website and Facebook page. Images: ©2017 Alcon Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved via Sony Pictures Releasing International.
Rumour has it that Obama likes his beats, so as part of the G20 celebrations, The City Sounds is bringing a bunch of music to our city's streets. Running for seven days between November 10-16, Brisbane’s G20 Soundtrack will see 100 musicians showcased in more than 200 live performances all over the CBD. The program features a range of musicians, who will be playing in Queen Street Mall, Reddacliff Place, King George Square, Post Office Square and The Riverside Precinct. Don’t be surprised if you catch some sound around parks, monuments and city green patches as well — everything from funk, blues and rock will be taking over every little nook and street corner. Of course, with G20 traffic and transport restrictions it's not as though you'll actually be able to get into the city to check out these great performers, but we think the talent on show might just be worth the hike into town. Check out the full line up here.
