Welcome to the grid on the Gold Coast. When the Big City Lights* festival makes its 2024 comeback, one of its 39-plus artworks at more than 40 locations will take its cues from TRON. At the Southport TAFE Building, thanks to Mick Ludvik at Event Lasers, beams will turn the skyline into electric pathways — and you'll feel like you're plunging into the 80s-born sci-fi franchise before third film TRON: Ares hits cinemas in 2025. Sydney has Vivid. Melbourne boasts RISING. In Adelaide, it's all about Illuminate. Tasmania has Dark Mofo, even when it is taking a year off. We're talking about winter festivals that are all about dazzling sights, often twinkling lights, plus culture, music and design, of course, with the Gold Coast adding to the list in 2022 with Big City Lights*, too. The southeast Queensland event announced in late 2023 that it'd return in 2024, and now it has unveiled its program. [caption id="attachment_928347" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Art Work Agency, Claudio Kirac[/caption] Other artists involved across not only the lights and installations, but on the live music and performance bill, include Joan Ross, Justene Williams, Judy Watson and Vernon Ah Kee, as well as Erik Griswold, Yuriyal Bridgeman, Lawrence English and Julian Day. Their contributions vary; Ross' Always the Last One at the Party will be projected across the surface of Australia Fair Tower, exploring the impact of colonialism in Australia with plenty of fluorescent yellow hues, for instance. Williams is giving Hutong Gardens Light and Breath, a video of skating dancers and psychedelic colours, as inspired by Johannes Itten's colour wheel. Griswold's The Tides Advance on Australia Fair will also be a must-see as it rolls through Southport's streets, taking waves well beyond the ocean. The piece ponders a time when the sea reaches Australia Fair and the lanes around it, with the work featuring music that's in synch wit the IRL waves at Southport Spit. Or, thanks to experiential design consultancy PropMill, Undercover Worlds will add an extra layer to the landscape on Nerang Street. When Big City Lights* debuted two years back, it ran as a four-day pilot program. Now, after attracting more than 15,000 attendees and proving a success, it will span Friday, June 21–Sunday, July 7, 2024, running Friday–Sunday each week. The location is still Southport, clearly, and the focus remains experience stunning art via a self-guided program that gets you walking around the Goldie. You'll just have longer to enjoy it. Big City Lights* is also still free — making the price right to head along, including to scoot down the highway from Brisbane. As the above standouts make plain, attendees will get immersed in audio-visual experiences, such as projections popping up in unexpected locations, towering large-scale digital works and 3D mapping. You'll also see the Southport CBD's facades and laneways in a whole new light quite literally. "The Big City Lights* festival reimagines Southport CBD as one big outdoor gallery. The artworks curated will delight and hopefully, catalyse conversations connected to place, urban development and contemporary culture," said Big City Lights* Artistic Director Rosie Dennis. "With strong representation by some of Queensland's most significant visual artists including Vernon Ah Kee, Judy Watson and Yuriyal Bridgeman, alongside nationally significant artists Joan Ross, Justene Williams and Eugenia Raskopoulous, this free festival, which plays at the intersection of art, architecture and urban design, is an incredible new cultural offering for the GC." Big City Lights* will run from Friday, June 21–Sunday, July 7, 2024 in Southport on the Gold Coast. For more information, head to the festival's website. Images: Claudio Kirac, Art Work Agency.
The Shins have announced two tour dates in Sydney and Melbourne for July 2012. The Portland-based band will be performing at Splendour In the Grass, plus they’ll be headlining a gig at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney on July 25. Currently touring the US to celebrate the release of their fourth album Port of Morrow, The Shins will be supported by special guests Husky when they play at the Hordern, as well as at Festival Hall in Melbourne on July 23. Tickets go on sale here at 11am on Monday, April 30.
It's a series about the squabbling children of a global media baron who, after their father's health takes an unexpected turn, start trying to position themselves as next in line to the empire. It's obviously set among the one percent, in lives of luxury and privilege that most folks will never know, too. But the idea that depiction doesn't equal endorsement is as rich in Succession as its always-bickering characters. Created by Peep Show's Jesse Armstrong — someone who knows more than a thing or two about black comedy — this Emmy, Golden Globe, BAFTA, Critics' Choice, Writers Guild and Directors Guild Award-winner is savagely witty, darkly biting and often laugh-out-loud funny about its chosen milieu. Succession also has one of the best casts currently on TV, and its stars keep picking up accolades and nominations that demonstrate just that. Brian Cox is as formidable as ever as family patriarch Logan Roy, but he's matched at every moment by Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin and Australian actor Sarah Snook as three of the four Roy children.
Nothing about 2020 has been normal, and that includes heading to a sporting event. In fact, with COVID-19 lockdowns and mass-gathering bans put in place in mid-March, fans haven't been able to attend either AFL or NRL games in-person in Brisbane all season — but that's changing this weekend. Today, Wednesday, June 17, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that the state's stadiums will once again welcome in public spectators, with up to 2000 allowed at each venue. The news comes after the respective football codes developed COVID-Safe plans allowing fans to watch matches at the grounds while still maintaining social-distancing requirements. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1273039721334104064 If you follow AFL, it's particularly great timing, with the Brisbane Lions playing their next three games at home at The Gabba. A heap of matches are also happening at Metricon Stadium at Carrara across those three weekends as part of a hub arrangement — with not only the Gold Coast Suns based out of the venue, as they always are, but the West Coast Eagles, Fremantle Dockers, Port Adelaide Power and Adelaide Crows all temporarily based on the Goldie for the next few weeks. In the NRL, at least one game is scheduled to take place at Suncorp Stadium each week between now and July 11. They'll feature either the Brisbane Broncos or the Gold Coast Titans — or, on June 27, both. Just who'll be let into the grounds and how tickets will be made available seems to vary per code and perhaps even per team; however the Brisbane Lions have already announced that 1250 seats will be given to members selected at random, 400 will go to corporate partners and sponsors, 100 will be allocated internally, 100 will go to Queensland Cricketer's Club members, 50 will be distributed by the week's opposition team and 100 will be put up for general sale. And, with Premier Palaszczuk's social media announcement specifically referencing sporting codes, no word has been given as yet regarding whether Queensland stadiums will also be able to host 2000 patrons for other events — such as cultural performances and concerts. To find out more about Queensland's easing COVID-19 restrictions, and the status of the coronavirus in the state, visit Queensland's online COVID-19 hub. 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. Top image: Brisbane Cricket Ground by Rae Allen for WikiCommons.
If you make your way to Crystal Cascades, it's worth checking out its little sister swimming spot located close by, too. Tucked away in the dense rainforest next door to the cascades, you'll soon realise what's so magical about Fairy Falls. Take the track to the left of the carpark at Crystal Cascades to make your way to the mystical falls a 15-minute walk away. The narrow waterfall shoots into a clear blue swimming hole and the log wedged in the centre of its stream makes it easy to imagine fairies frolicking in this picture-perfect rainforest pool. Just make sure you follow the path along the creek when you're trying to find this veiled treasure — the alternative track at the fork won't lead you to the magical place you're seeking.
In 2015, Brisbane celebrated the arrival of a new film festival. In 2016, the boutique, curated fest doubled in size. Marking its third year in 2017, Queensland Film Festival is back and once again bigger than ever, serving up an 11-day cinema showcase complete with 62 features and shorts, including 46 Australian premieres. Taking place from July 13 to 23, QFF 2017 boasts straight-from-Cannes hits, local flicks, tributes to Australian hits and a festival-first collaboration with Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, in what's shaping up to be a feast of filmic fun. Indeed, the event kicks off with Hong Sang-soo's Claire's Camera, which doesn't only hit Brisbane fresh from the biggest film fest in the world, but is set there as well, starring this year's Oscar nominee Isabelle Huppert. Bookending the fest is Gillian Armstrong's 1982 comedy-musical Starstruck, with the iconic Aussie director in attendance. In between, the lineup of films — which will largely screen at QFF's long-term home of New Farm Cinemas — will deliver the kind of eclectic array of international cinema that you won't see elsewhere in Brisbane. That includes the Kristen Stewart-starring Certain Women, which hasn't hit the city's screens despite a release down south, as well as Robert Pattinson at his very best in crime thriller Good Time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVyGCxHZ_Ko Hong Sang-soo pops up again with Berlinale best actress winner On the Beach Alone at Night, Amat Escalante's The Untamed will gift attendees a slice of erotic alien social realism (yes, that's a thing), and, after showing his murder mystery mini-series P'tit Quinquin in 2015, Bruno Dumont's musical Jeannette: The Childhood of Joan of Arc comes to QFF from Cannes Director's Fortnight. If you've spotted a musical trend, you're right — and a retrospective screening of Chantal Akerman's Golden Eighties, plus '80s-infused mermaid camp cabaret The Lure, are also among this year's QFF highlights. Other standouts include enlivening fireworks documentary Brimstone & Glory, Raoul Peck's must-see race relations doco I Am Not Your Negro, and queer romance The Ornithologist, as well as Japanese auteur Sion Sono up to his over-the-top tricks with Antiporno, cult-focused sci-fi/horror The Endless, provocative terrorist thriller Nocturama, and Grace, Who Waits Alone, the debut feature from Brisbane's own Georgia Temple. In addition to a shorts session at the Institute of Modern Art, and an editing panel and screening at QUT, the festival will also serve up a four-film focus on Czech filmmaker Juraj Herz at GOMA. Cinephiles, prepare for a busy July. Queensland Film Festival runs from July 13 to 23 at New Farm Cinemas, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Institute of Modern Art and Queensland University of Technology's Creative Industries precinct, with a pre-festival screening taking place at the Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre on June 24. To view the full program or buy tickets, head to the festival website.
First, it was a popular 80s comedy starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Then, it became a five-season television sitcom led by Parton's real-life younger sister. In 2009, 9 to 5 made the leap to the stage too, because you just can't stop a good story about female empowerment in the workplace. Revived in the West End back in 2019, it's still a huge hit — and now, the stage production will head to Brisbane in March next year. Just by reading the show's title, we know that you already have Parton's catchy song of the same name stuck in your head. Pour yourself a cup of ambition, because that tune isn't going away anytime soon. Indeed, you'd best get ready to exclaim "what a way to make a living" more than once when 9 to 5 The Musical hits QPAC's Lyric Theatre from May 22, 2022. Ahead of its time when it first reached cinemas, this tale of three women who take on their sexist, egotistical and all-round despicable male boss is obviously still highly relevant today. Before #TimesUp and #MeToo, workmates Doralee, Violet and Judy decided to turn the tables by kidnapping their supervisor and reforming their office. Expect the same story in 9 to 5 The Musical, as penned by the original film's screenwriter Patricia Resnick — just with more songs. The Australian version will star Caroline O'Connor (a veteran of the movie version of Moulin Rouge!), as well as Eddie Perfect as the workplace's controlling boss. With Parton herself writing the score — and earning Tony and Grammy nominations for her efforts — expect plenty of feel-good music as well. Although she doesn't appear on stage, the famous country star is still involved with the show, and with bringing it to Australia. Images: Pamela Raith Photography.
Seven and a half years ago Twitter did not exist. If you put a hashtag before anything you wrote it most certainly would not trend; in fact, it would probably result in less people caring about what you thought. Fast forward to 2013 and social media depends on the little symbol — Twitter, Instagram and Facebook collate your literary masterpieces into easy-to-source conversation. Well, Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon have had enough. The hilarious duo took to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to perform a skit where they converse in hashtags. It sounds like two children playing an incredibly stupid and annoying game. Then you remember that this is an exaggeration of how we actually talk these days and realise you should probably spend less time on social media. Particularly enjoyable and satirical is how quickly and coherently Fallon goes from talking about Barney the Dinosaur (#purpleisthenewblack) to Everybody Loves Raymond (#deborah). The final straw, though, is when they hashtag each new line and sound from Missy Elliott's 'Work It', which prompts an intervention from Roots drummer Questlove. Whilst this is #superfunny, after watching it, I challenge you to try and avoid using a hashtag for the next 24 hours #youcandoit #savemekeifersutherland #heistheactorin24. via Gizmodo.
Monster movies have their place. Slasher films, and every horror flick about fiendish foes, too. But features about real-life atrocities — events such as the Port Arthur massacre, where 35 people were murdered and 23 others wounded — should never share the same notions of evil. Director Justin Kurzel and screenwriter Shaun Grant understand this, and demonstrate a canniness so astute that it's unnerving. They make movies that take this notion as a given, unpacking dark chapters of Australia's history guided with it as their guiding principle. That's clear in Nitram, their new film about the events preceding that tragic incident in Tasmania in 1996, just as it was in their 2011 debut Snowtown. Both movies dive into loathsome true crimes. Both films are difficult, distressing, disquieting and disturbing, understandably. Both features are also brilliant for many reasons, the fact that they're about people rather than monsters high among them. It's terrifying to contemplate something so gut-wrenchingly abominable as the bodies-in-barrels murders, which Snowtown depicts, and to face the fact that people rather than evil were behind them. Nitram courts and provokes the same response as it focuses on something equally as ghastly, and similarly refuses to see the perpetrator in shades of black and white. In their third collaboration — with 2019's bold and blazing True History of the Kelly Gang in the middle — Kurzel and Grant don't excuse their protagonist. They don't try to justify the unjustifiable, explain it, exploit it, or provide neat answers to a near-unfathomable crime. Rather, they're exactingly careful in depicting the lone gunman responsible for Australia's worst single-shooter mass killing, right down to refusing to name him. (The movie's title comes from his moniker backwards, and it's all he's ever called on-screen.) Nitram does depict its eponymous figure's mental health issues and medication, and his status as an outcast, but not as reasons for what's to come. It shows his complicated relationships, mentions his struggles as a boy and sees how he's teased as an adult, yet never deems these motives. All such things can be part of someone's life, or not, and that person can commit heinous deeds, or not — and Nitram doesn't ever even dream of seeing that as a straightforward cause-and-effect equation. In his fifth stint behind the lens — 2015's blistering Macbeth and 2016's abysmal Assassin's Creed are also on his resume — Kurzel does adopt a hazy aesthetic, though. The film isn't dreamy, instead resembling anxious memories worn and frayed from too much time looping in someone's mind. Its imagery is boxed in within a constricted frame, heightening that sensation; however, cinematographer Germain McMicking (Acute Misfortune) shoots Nitram (Caleb Landry Jones, The Outpost) as if he's roving around the space to test the boundaries. The character does just that narrative-wise. He earns his wearied mother's (Judy Davis, Mystery Road) constant exasperation, and almost everyone else's dismay. His father (Anthony LaPaglia, Below) expresses more warmth, but is just as affected. After knocking on her door attempting to start a lawn-mowing business, eccentric lottery heiress Helen (Essie Davis, Babyteeth) shows Nitram kindness and showers him with gifts, but even with her he's still pushing limits. When she sees him shooting at an old car with an air rifle in her sprawling backyard, she forbids it. It's her sternest moment. She also asks him not to lunge at the steering wheel as she's driving and, as turbulent as ever, Nitram keeps doing it. Crucially, Nitram anchors its namesake's notions of right and wrong in a childhood interview with the real-life gunman, with the archival footage opening the film. In hospital after frolicking with fireworks, the boy who'll grow up to blight Australian history forever is asked if he has learned from the experience. "Yes" is his answer, "but I'm still playing with 'em," he continues. Nitram isn't ever so overt as to echo those words throughout the movie, and it also doesn't need to. The idea ripples through every scene anyway, whether its central figure is later trifling with firecrackers at a school as an adult, lapping up Helen's affection amid her beloved brood of dogs and the constant sound of Gilbert and Sullivan show tunes, or slapping his dad out of an emotional low. Another scene — a powerhouse due to the inimitable Judy Davis, and a searing monologue delivered with festering pain — cements the idea that Nitram is cognisant of how his actions affect others, but that truth also resounds in Jones' Cannes Film Festival Best Actor-winning performance. He plays the part like Nitram knows he's testing boundaries, and knows the effect he frequently has on others. While even later still, the character tells his mother that when he watches himself on camcorder footage, he's not certain who he sees, there's never any doubt he's cognisant of how the world perceives him. Jones' work here is fragile but weighty, volatile but lived-in, boisterous but anguished, and petulant but intimidating. It's all these things at once and, even with other menacing roles in his on-screen past, it's phenomenal. Davis, LaPaglia and Davis make as much of an impression, one stiffened by time, one stripped bare through denial, one lonely and generous, and Kurzel shows that his winning way with actors is just as masterful here as in almost everything (Assassin's Creed aside) on his filmography. His love of sound and fury remains intact here as well, and it certainly signifies plenty. Every second of Nitram is designed to keep unpacking not only the lead-up to the Port Arthur tragedy — an event that's purposefully never shown itself, but inherently tints the film with foreboding, tension, horror and unease — but also the views of masculinity that've become as baked into Australia as the ochre-hued soil. Every moment is meticulously crafted to unsettle, to challenge, and to confront the reality that something this abhorrent happened at the hands of this man. Nitram doesn't trade in answers, but it does come with a message. Its gun scenes haunt, including when amassing weapons proves effortless if you have the cash and inclination. These sequences also help explain why Kurzel and Grant have taken on a clearly nerve-wracking endeavour, as the movie's post-script underscores. Australia's response to April 1996, in enacting tough gun legislation and buybacks, helped console a grieving country, but those laws have since been watered down. Now, more firearms exist across the nation than did then. That too is blood-curdling and traumatic, and making sure it resonates is another of this tremendous film's achievements.
The Ekka has rolled around for another year to fill our city with fun, frivolity and fairy floss. All of the things we love about The Royal Queensland Show are back for 10 days - the ferris wheel, delicious strawberry sundaes, nightly fireworks, hoards of cute baby animals, Bertie Beetle show bags and wood chopping competitions. Can't you just smell the Dagwood Dogs already? Highlights of this year's show include a performance by Australian rockers Eskimo Joe and the immensely talented Ten Tenors. The usual attractions have returned including Sideshow Alley's stomach-churning thrill rides, fashion parades and Animal Boulevard. The sights, sounds and smells of the carnival come to town only once a year so be sure to soak up the atmosphere at the RNA Showgrounds and spoil yourself to a delightful day.
You've survived Monday and Tuesday, but if you don't shake things up on hump day you're risking some serious Groundhog Day vibes. Seeing as it's a Wednesday lunch, we aren't suggesting you go too hard — you've gotta save a little stamina for the weekend and keep it together for the rest of the day — but there's nothing wrong with having a few mid-week, Heineken 3s to break up your week. So round up some coworkers and go for a cheap eat, or sip on a beer with your face in your phone for an hour — that's cool, too. However you choose to play, we've partnered with Heineken to find the best spots in Brissie where you can score a delicious hump day feed and celebrate making it through 50 percent of the working week.
It's impossible to watch a movie directed by Wong Kar-Wai and mistake it for the work of another filmmaker. As he has kept proving over his 33-year career to-date, his work is just that distinctive. And while the opposite is true, too — no one will ever confuse a movie helmed by someone else for one of Wong's efforts — his influence on cinema and his peers is evident in every neon-hued tale of yearning, every mesmerising and aching love story that says as much through its imagery as it does with dialogue, and plenty of martial arts fare as well. Wong makes films to luxuriate in — to truly feast your eyes upon — and, unsurprisingly, the Gallery of Modern Art wants to celebrate that fact, and his work. Accordingly, it's teaming up with the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and Sydney Film Festival to present touring program Love & Neon: The Cinema of Wong Kar-Wai. It showcases 11 of the filmmaker's titles, surveying his entire career, and will screen in Brisbane from Friday, April 30–Sunday, May 16. In the Mood for Love is on the bill, of course, but it isn't the only movie worth checking out on the silver screen. You can also see his debut feature As Tears Go By; Chungking Express, which is inspired by a Haruki Murakami short story; and the touching Happy Together — plus the rebellious Days of Being Wild, the gorgeous 2046, and Wong's first English-language film My Blueberry Nights. Or, there's also his two martial arts epics: Ashes of Time: Redux and The Grandmaster. You'll be watching restored versions of most of the above, too, including glorious 4K restorations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfbLJh7-hQY
Back in August, Webjet gave Australian travellers a mighty great reason to book a holiday in the Northern Territory: super-discounted flights to Uluru and Alice Springs starting at $15. Fancy hitting up Darwin instead, or using it as a base to explore the rest of the Red Centre? Now the booking site is doing a flight sale on fares to the NT's capital city, with prices from $19 one-way. For less than a lobster, you can indeed fly from Adelaide to Darwin — and fares obviously vary depending on your departure city. They're still cheap from much of the east coast, though, including starting at $20 from Brisbane, $35 from Sydney and $56 from Melbourne. [caption id="attachment_868754" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism NT, Helen Orr[/caption] The whole sale includes $150 off one-way trips, which is where those budget-friendly prices come from. From some cities, the end cost isn't quite as cheap, however — costing $122 from Hobart, $159 from Perth and $169 from Darwin. Still, if you're the kind of person who picks their getaway spots based on travel bargains, then this might be the sign you were looking for. You've got until 11.59pm AEST on Thursday, September 15 to book, or until sold out. Booking ASAP is recommended, because some fares might be snapped up earlier. [caption id="attachment_868753" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism NT, Backyard Bandits[/caption] The sale covers trips to Darwin for travel between September 2022 — yes, this month — through to March 2023. Fancy a spring jaunt to the middle of the country? Making summer plans to help cope with the last of the winter chill? Know that you'll be craving an early-autumn break next year? They're all options. One key caveat: the discounted prices are available for inbound flights only, so you won't receive the same discount to come home. Webjet's Darwin sale runs until 11.59pm AEST on Thursday, September 15, or earlier if sold out. First top image: Tiwi Island Retreat, Tourism NT.
Like many events, Vivid Live had its 2020 edition axed due to the pandemic. But you'll find a pretty sweet consolation prize among the Sydney Opera House's digital program — a stream of Amon Tobin's audiovisual spectacular ISAM, hitting screens this Friday, August 14. The Brazilian-born producer's immersive show wowed audiences the first time around for Vivid Live 2012 and now it's headed to a device near you, available on demand from this week. Revisit the ever-innovative artist's stand-out performance, featuring a multi-sensory fusion of technology and electronic art. Performing within a 25-foot, three-tonne cubic installation he built himself, Tobin moves in and out of focus behind a constantly shifting multidimensional screen. The artist's high-voltage soundtrack of sonic explosions and rippling waves is backed by striking visuals playing out a mesmerising story of colour and light draped across the whole scene. The streamed performance is just one show featured in the Sydney Opera House's digital season, From Our House to Yours. To check out the rest of the performances, keep an eye on the SOH website. [caption id="attachment_773326" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hamilton Lund[/caption] Top image: Prudence Upton
If you're looking for more things to do while you're stuck at home that's not online puzzles and another cooking lesson, you're in luck. The Australian Ballet is one of the latest cultural institutions around Australia and the world to launch an online platform. The company's 2020 digital season features high-quality footage of full-length performances for you to watch at home — and it's free. Each performance is available to watch for a two-week run. The program kicked off with David McAllister's The Sleeping Beauty, set to Tchaikovsky's famed score, then Cinderella, followed by Romeo & Juliet. On offer from now until Thursday, August 6, you can watch Spartacus, inspired by the 1951 novel by Howard Fast. In all, you can expect dazzling footwork and an overall vivid spectacle on your screens until August 3. To watch, head here. On the digital platform, you'll also find behind-the-curtain content, talks and panel discussions, and a video about the company's collaboration with Nursewatch: a series of ballet workshops for seniors. For those wanting to put on their dancing shoes, there are mini-dance lessons where you can learn how to plié, jump and do a graceful port de bras, plus free at-home sample sessions for beginner, intermediate and pro dancers. The At Home With Studio classes are about 30–40 minutes long and all designed to be done in your home with a makeshift ballet barre (a kitchen bench or table should do the job). Top image: Spartacus and Sleeping Beauty Updated August 3, 2020.
So, I guess it's been a while since Myspace taught us HTML and horrible dancing babies set the standard for viral videos. Today, Facebook turns ten years old, and with this milestone they bring us one of the most sophisticated (and downright pretty) social media apps to date. With a clean, image-based design and multipurpose usability, the recently launched Facebook Paper may well be the future of the gargantuan Zuckerberg empire. The differences between the current Facebook app and Facebook Paper (not to be confused with the existing beautiful notebook app Paper) are enormous. There's no trademark blue colouring, the feed is horizontal and self-refreshing, and through a dynamic design you have access to not only your friends' updates and photos, but separate sections of your choosing. These include subjects like news and current events, the latest in art and design, and a section of trending online comedy tactfully titled 'LOL'. Though this is a welcome change for many lovers of news and design out there, the app is by no means mandatory — a clever move to avoid people kicking up a fuss like the great Timeline debacle of 2011. However, that's not all Facebook is giving us for their birthday. In a showing of enforced sentimentality, they've created a personalised video (A Look Back) for each user. Featuring your oldest photos and most popular status updates, the video plays for just over a minute with a strange and uplifting musical track that makes you feel like you're the female lead of a romantic comedy finding her feet in the Big Apple. For many, this feels a little amiss as no one feels all that nostalgic about their drunk teenage photos or sarcastic status updates about Girls quite yet. All in all, like the platform itself, Facebook's birthday is a mixed bag. They've given us a little to cringe about from the past, and a lot to look forward to in the future. Facebook Paper is available for iOS devices in the Apple App Store. It is currently only available in the US but, as always, there are ways to get in early.
The ‘Delta of Venus’ Life Drawing Club is back after its smashing debut that had keen artists turned away at the door. First it was the 1920s themed evening of bohemian Paris, a model dolled in a sultry gown, heels, lingerie, then posed in classic nude. This round brings 1950s beach pin ups and the best of Australian surf ‘n sand culture. Think beach brollies, high waisted skirt-bikinis and sun-kissed cheeks. Bring your easel and drawing tools of choice, but first be sure to pre-book your ticket to save disappointment. All artisans welcome, from seasoned pros to stick figure aficionados. There will be the good old butcher’s paper and charcoal available for those who are struck by inspiration. You can participate, or for a little extra you can get the themed cocktail to sip while you scribble. This event is held on the second Thursday of every month, so you’ll have the chance to flaunt your talents on a regular basis.
We're always looking for an excuse to indulge and an international celebration for everyone's favourite sweet seems as good a reason as any. This Saturday, July 7 is World Chocolate Day, and, as you would expect, Australia's oldest family-owned bean-to-bar chocolate maker, Haigh's Chocolates, is ready to celebrate the good stuff. Haigh's Chocolates certainly knows a thing or two about delicious artisan choc, seeing how it's been crafting chocolate from raw cocoa beans since 1915. The Adelaidean chocolate purveyors now offer more than 250 different specialist varieties produced at its SA-based factory. This Saturday, Haigh's will be offering free delivery on online purchases for purchases over $25. And, if you visit a Haigh's store, staff will be handing out free chocolate frogs. And to treat you, our lovely readers, even further, Haigh's has given us $200 for one of you to spend at any Haigh's Chocolates store or online. Enter below, and you could turn World Chocolate Day into World Chocolate Month with your winnings. Once you've entered, make sure you also save this Haigh's chocolate fondant recipe to try with your winning haul. INGREDIENTS: 150 grams Haigh's 70 percent dark chocolate pastilles, roughly chopped 150 grams unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing, cut into cubes 200 grams light brown sugar 4 large eggs 1 large egg yolk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup (75 grams) plain flour, sifted Cocoa powder, to dust DIRECTIONS: Pre-heat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Grease the inside of six dariole moulds or ramekins. Place butter and chocolate together in a medium mixing bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring occasionally until melted and smooth. Add sugar, stirring to combine and remove from heat. In a separate bowl, combine eggs, yolk and vanilla together, stirring until combined. Add to the chocolate mixture, stirring until well combined. Sift the flour over the chocolate mixture, stirring until well combined. Divide mixture between prepared dariole moulds, making sure each mould is no more than 2/3 full. Place dariole moulds in preheated oven and cook for 15 minutes or until tops are set and coming away from the moulds. Remove from oven and allow to stand for one minute. To serve, use a small spatula to very gently ease the fondant away from the edge of the mould. Carefully invert each mould onto small serving plates and dust with cocoa powder. Serve with a dollop of jersey cream and fresh raspberries. Note: filled dariole moulds can be chilled ahead and baked just before serving. [competition]675143[/competition]
If ever an event summarised just how we feel on pretty much any given day, it's John Mills Himself's So Much Gin, So Little Time... In fact, during July's Good Food Month, the Charlotte Street bar is almost daring you to prove otherwise. For the affordable price of $40, you'll taste six of the country's best craft gins, and learn the stories behind each — as well as some facts about the fast-growing Aussie industry in general. You'll also receive a gin cocktail too, should you need any more convincing.
The festive season is upon us, again, which means that Christmas shopping is about to become everyone's favourite pastime. Thankfully, trawling the mall isn't your only option when it comes to finding a gift, either for your loved ones or yourself — or grabbing ingredients for a delicious meal. Returning for another year from 4–10pm on Saturday, November 23, 2024, the Carseldine Markets is hosting a twilight event brimming with the spirit of the season. Get your list ready, because all the art, craft and fresh produce stalls you know and love will be on site, just waiting to help you out of a festive fix — there'll be more than 200 of them, in fact. Prepare to tuck into festive treats, too (because you'll need to eat while you browse) and sips from the Stone and Wood pop-up bar, as well as ample entertainment. Yes, it's a Christmas wonderland, with the decorations and carols to prove it. Warning: if you're more of a Grinch than one of Santa's elves, you'd best prepare yourself for an overdose of holiday cheer. Entry costs $3, and there's free parking onsite.
There's something for everyone to get around when it comes to Halloween, whether it's eating nauseating amounts of lollies, flexing your arts and crafts skills and fashioning yourself a costume, or pulling that five-piece (mask included) Batman get-up out of storage and donning it to feel like the superhero you really are. Trick or treating never really caught on here, but we'll be damned if we won't use the occasion as an excuse for a spooky time. And, thankfully, there are plenty of eerie events and horror-themed nights happening around town for you to dive into. Here's a list of some of the best things going on in and around Brisbane for Halloween this year, ranging from the not-so scary (a night market and a spooky-themed game of mini golf) to the truly unsettling (a 36-room horror experience in a disused old warehouse and an eerie shipping container experience).
It's happening again: for the third time in a mere 12 months, the Brisbane Lions are into a grand final. The AFL club's women's team made the last dance in their 2022 season, then the men's did the same in their 2023 season — and now the women's squad is back on the big stage, qualifying for their season decider again this year. The success of Brisbane's AFLW team over the women's competition's eight-season run to date is phenomenal. When captain Bre Koenen and her fellow footballers run out at Ikon Park in Melbourne on Sunday, December 3, they'll be into their fifth grand final since the AFLW started in 2017. That's a record, and has seen the Lions' women's squad contest the first two grand finals, then win a premiership in 2021, and now make back-to-back deciders in 2022 and 2023. Last year, they didn't emerge victorious — but here's hoping that'll change this year. [caption id="attachment_847545" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Chris Hyde/Getty Images via AFL Photos[/caption] Keen to watch along in a crowd right here in Brisbane? South Bank is bringing back a sporting favourite from across the last 12 months, because the River City loves coming out in force to see pivotal games — be it the 2022 Men's World Cup, multiple times during the Women's World Cup, for the Lions' men's team and now for the Lions' women's squad. Yes, it's hosting a live viewing site. Expect to see plenty of maroon, blue and gold again. Watch Koenen, Ally Anderson, Cathy Svarc, Sophie Conway, Nat Grider, Belle Dawes, Courtney Hodder and more take on North Melbourne from 1.30pm AEST at South Bank's Rainforest Green, with the big-screen coverage running from 12–4pm. [caption id="attachment_928655" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josh Ryan via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] As well as the game, there'll be face painting for kids, a photo wall, merchandise stalls — slinging Lions gear, of course — and giveaways. If you're an AFL fan, there's no better way to spend the first Sunday in December. South Bank's Brisbane Lions AFLW Grand Final live viewing site at Rainforest Green will run from 12–4pm on Sunday, December 3 — head to the Lions website for more information. Top image: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos.
Heading to Given Terrace staple Darling & Co is firmly about hangs in the venue's breezy space, but we all know that a weekend party isn't complete without a little (or a lot of) bubbly. Happy to oblige, the Paddington spot does bottomless brunches complete with bubbles — and they're now hosting them every Saturday and Sunday. The restaurant isn't simply offering the standard two hours of bottomless booze, however. Instead, those tipples come via a fountain. In fact, your R!ot Fizz and rosé spritzes will come from its taps throughout the two hours, all while you enjoy an extensive spread. Find a comfy spot while tucking into a Spanish frittata made with capsicum, spring onion, potato and a side of chorizo — plus onion bhajis with mushroom, garlic chives, minted yoghurt and fresh herbs. You'll also get your pick of focaccia, including prosciutto and rocket, pumpkin and caramelised onion, and sun-dried tomato and olive. Although your $69 ticket gets you all of the above food and all the drinks for the fountain you like for two hours, the weekly event runs from 12–4pm. So, you've got some options in terms of time slots, with sittings at 12pm and 2pm.
Can your canine companion cut a rug, instead of just lazing about on one? Is your four-legged bestie as good at boogying as it is at barking and being cute? If you don't know the answer, now might be the time to find out, because a Woof Doof silent disco is on its way. First, take a second to marvel at the concept. We're guessing that headphones will be reserved for humans, not puppers — but hitting the dance floor with your doggo isn't something that you get to do everyday. If you'd like to take a few seconds to wonder just how it's all going to turn out, that's fine, too. Again, making shapes while surrounded by mutts isn't on the regular agenda for most folks. There are a few caveats, of course, with your dog needing to stay on a leash the whole time. But, while Rover is being a very good pooch, DJs Kates Brother, Cheq, Dulcett and Lurke will be spinning tunes. Also, you'll be able to browse through vendor stalls selling dog-related products. If you're as keen as Fido when dinner comes around, the silent disco will take place at Ivy Blu Rooftop on Caxton Street from 12–4pm on Saturday, April 30. Tickets cost $20 for early birds and $25 otherwise, with all proceeds going to Guide Dogs Australia.
Get ready for the adrenaline-fuelled action of watching sailing's greatest athletes race on Sydney Harbour in Australia Sail Grand Prix this summer. To be right in the heart of the action, head to Waterfront Premium - Shark Island for the best land-based view of the race in the middle of Sydney Harbour. Tickets start at $230 for adults and includes return ferry transfers from SailGP Village at Barangaroo, a gourmet picnic hamper, premium open bar, big screens for action replays and live commentary. If you'd prefer to watch the race from the water, hop on one of the official spectator boats courtesy of Captain Cook Cruises. On-Water Access tickets allow you to bring your own food and purchase beverages from the bar while you soak up include an incredible view of the race and live commentary. If you want to elevate your day on the harbour, choose the premium package that includes a buffet and an open bar. Finally, if you've got your own boat, you can register to the free 'Bring Your Own Boat' program to receive live updates from race management from your preferred spot on the water with friends. Don't forget, you can also check out the SailGP Village in Barangaroo which will host events for all sailing fans across the two days of racing. Ready for a thrilling day on the beautiful Sydney Harbour? Head to the Australia Sail Grand Prix, Sydney from Friday, December 17–Saturday, December 18. For more information and to book, visit the website.
You like burgers. We like burgers. And we're never going to get tired of telling you where Brisbanites can eat more burgers more often. 5 Boroughs joined the list in March 2015, however they're not content with simply slinging meat and bread combos from their Stones Corner store. Say hello to 5 Boroughs Ascot. Come March 5, the American-style eatery will be trading on both sides of the river, bringing their New York-influenced street food to a whole new part of the city. Burgers of the classic, cheese, bacon-filled and vegan variety might be their main attraction, but there's plenty more on offer. Baby back ribs in Bulldog Bourbon sauce, ginger pepper caramel chicken wings or a Reuben on rye, anyone? You'll find all that in Ascot, plus a few new additions. All things Brooklyn might reign at their initial digs, but their new hangout will be channeling the spirit of Manhattan. That means a new line of slow-cooked BBQ meats will also join the menu, much to the delight of our stomachs. It also means a boutique Boroughs experience in a roomier space, complete with a beer garden and a bigger drinks list. So, whether you're a northsider who doesn't want to trek across town, or a burger lover willing to go wherever your tastebuds take you, mark your diaries for the beginning of March. We recommend heading along on opening day to take advantage of 5 Boroughs' two-for-one deal — which is supposed to encourage you to bring a friend, but could just give you a second serving of greasy goodness. We won't judge you. Find 5 Boroughs Ascot at 120 Racecourse Road, Ascot from March 5. For more information, visit their website or Facebook page. Want more burgs? Check out our feature on Brisbane's best burger joints.
Stay tuned. More info is on its way.
Spring Hill Reservoir is one of those Brisbane spaces that everyone really should've been to — but when you live in a city, rather than play tourist in one, it's easy to miss some of the regular must-see sights. Consider Opera in the Reservoir just the excuse you need to venture six metres below Albert Park, then. On the agenda: a night of arias and duets deep underneath Wickham Terrace. The concept is all there in the name, and this is one of those events that owes an enormous debt to its location. Whether you're a seasoned opera lover or a first-timer, there's really nothing like watching a show in a heritage-listed subterranean space that's more than a century old — and in the middle of the city at that. Underground Opera's latest season of Opera in the Reservoir shows runs from Friday, November 11–Sunday, November 20. This time, the focus is on heroes and villains. Head along on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday matinee sessions, to to listen to a greatest hits tour of opera classics — all while spending time in the historical depths of Brissie. Images: Underground Opera.
With social-distancing rules firmly in place, autumn babies have copped a raw deal this year. With venues are closed and group hangs are off-limits, the classic birthday party has been scrapped until further notice. But there's nothing like some forced isolation to stir up a bit of creativity and inspire fun new ways to celebrate another turn around the sun — even at a government-approved distance. While the best birthday present would be a one-way ticket back to normal life — of course — we've found a few pandemic-friendly alternatives that should help cheer up the b-day boy or gal. From drag bingo nights to virtual drinking sessions with all the trimmings, here are the best ways to celebrate a mate's birthday, isolation-style. THE HOME-DELIVERED BIRTHDAY CAKE [caption id="attachment_768155" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Attica's Celebration Cake[/caption] A birthday just ain't a birthday without a belly full of cake and luckily, that's one thing that's still on the menu, even in isolation. Spread some love by getting a decadent dessert delivered straight to your mate's door. In Melbourne, even one of Australia's top restaurants is turning its talents to the cake game, promising to infuse any birthday do with fine-dining flair. Attica's Ben Shewry is whipping up a limited-edition, double-decker vanilla Celebration Cake, filled with white chocolate ganache and topped with a whipped yoghurt cream. There are just a handful being baked fresh each day — order via the website for delivery to a range of Melbourne suburbs. When the mood calls for something a little bit flash, try Sydney's Koi Dessert Bar. The renowned sweets spot by MasterChef dessert king Reynold Poernomo is hand delivering a whole menu of crafty celebration cakes, from a green tea and rose number to the signature Nomtella — a fusion of espresso mousse, salted caramel and rich brownie. And famed cake shop Passiontree Velvet has a lineup of special occasion cakes and mini cakes that simply ooze birthday cheer. Offering weekday delivery options for Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sydney, it's serving festive creations ranging from a classic red velvet sponge to the Italian-inspired Tiramisu Bliss. THE VIRTUAL ART CLASS [caption id="attachment_767056" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cork & Canvas[/caption] Feeling inspired? Why not gather the crew for a creativity jam session, in the form of a boozy virtual painting class? Plenty of Aussie studios have taken their drinks-matched art classes online, creating a primo birthday situation for any creative souls out there. The long-running Cork & Canvas is one venue that's made the shift, now offering a calendar full of guided online painting classes. You can join in one of the upcoming live streams for $20 per person, or pay $25 to enjoy a session on-demand. They can even set you up with all your canvases, paints and brushes, with handy home-delivered Creativity Kits starting from $65. Meanwhile, Cork & Chroma is live-streaming its Zoom painting sessions almost daily, which you can enjoy from the comfort of home for just $20. The class details list which materials you'll need, though the studio's also got a range of art supply kits it can send to your door. Just pick a date, grab tickets as a group and stock up on wine, and you're all set for a birthday art party. THE AT-HOME BIRTHDAY DRINKS [caption id="attachment_694104" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Cocktail Porter[/caption] Going out for 'birthday drinks' is off the cards for now, but that needn't mean going thirsty. Plenty of local bars and drinks slingers are now happily delivering celebratory libations straight to your door. In Melbourne, renowned dive bar Heartbreaker has reinvented itself as an online bottle shop and booze delivery service, running drinks along with food from on-site pizza kitchen Connie's. You'll find a range of combination party packs, as well as chilled, ready-to-quaff bottled cocktails from sibling The Everleigh. Online drinks service Cocktail Porter is proving to be an isolation saviour, turning home bars across the country from drab to fab with its DIY cocktail kits. Each one comes stocked with all the ingredients you need to create multiple serves of a classic concoction, from the negroni to a cloudy apple spritz. And Sydney's Prince of York is taking care of all the hard work, with its new Party @ Home packs. A selection of meal kits, one-litre cocktail batches and exclusive DJ mixes from Moonshine Music, sent straight to your house. Place an order, round up the friends via video chat and you've got yourself a virtual group sipping session. THE PLANT BABY DELIVERY [caption id="attachment_746647" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Jungle Collective[/caption] Nothing brightens up a birthday quite like a present that's lush, green and living — especially if it's housed in a pretty pot and dropped at your front door. And if you are looking to gift a new plant baby to a mate in isolation, there's a stack of Aussie companies that'll have you spoilt for choice. The crew behind those much-loved roaming pop-up plant sales, Jungle Collective now has a nifty online space to sling its gorgeous greenery. The team's launched a series of virtual plant sales, available to various cities on select dates across the next few months. You'll find a sprawling selection of plants to browse and buy online, with delivery usually available within 25 kilometres of your local CBD. Brisbane plant-lovers will find a huge edit of green gifts over at Pot Me Pretty's online store, ranging from cute terrariums, to indoor plants housed in charming ceramic pots. There's even a choice of add-ons, if you fancy a luxury candle or bottle of prosecco to round out your present. The company's doing weekday drop-offs to suburbs right across the city, with next-day delivery from $12.95. THE VIRTUAL DRAG BINGO NIGHT [caption id="attachment_768186" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Flickr/Sara[/caption] If anyone knows how to inject some colour and spirit into that lockdown celebration, it's the drag queens of Australia. And luckily for your birthday crew, a bunch of them are now hosting online appearances, streaming live and loud to your respective living rooms. Gather your mates virtually and dial up the mood with a drag bingo night, courtesy of Melbourne bar Pride of Our Footscray. The venue's new Self Bingolation series streams online from 7.30pm Wednesdays, hosted by the power duo of Aurora and Archie Arsenic. Tickets are $9, which gets you a front row seat to a hilarious night of comedy, drag and prizes. Or, you can make a date with one of the new regular online drag bingo sessions helmed by Sydney starlet Prada Clutch. Sign up to play for $10 and they'll email you a printable bingo card, along with access to the video chat. Then, all you need to do is crack open a bottle of wine and don something fabulous — there's weekly prizes for the best dressed players. THE AT-HOME DANCE PARTY [caption id="attachment_760387" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Hot Dub Time Machine by Pat Stevenson[/caption] The clubs might be closed, but your living room dance floor is open and ready for business. Tee up a Zoom or House Party session with the gang, to enjoy an at-home, virtual dance party guided by some of your favourite DJs and venues. The legendary party masters behind Poof Doof have headed online to unleash a series of live-streamed Saturday night sets, guaranteed to get you moving. Time-travelling dance party Hot Dub Time Machine is also serving up some hard-hitting Saturday feels, taking audience requests for its weekly Facebook Live DJ sessions. Melbourne club OneSixOne is answering your cravings with a huge four-hour, DJ-fuelled live stream every Friday and Saturday night. And if you're after a bit of midweek d-floor action, No Lights No Lyrca's Aussie collectives are now heading up regular Zoom dance parties, in place of their usual IRL sessions. Turn up the speakers and bust out some carefree moves, every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. THE ONLINE KARAOKE PARTY There's no room for birthday blues when you're belting out some bangers with your besties. Even if that sing-along session's happening over the internet, instead of in person. Video chat platforms like Zoom and House Party have become social go-tos in this strange age of isolation, but they also happen to be perfect for hosting rousing virtual karaoke parties. Set a date, invite the crew and start working on your best lung-busting material. Themes and dress-ups are definitely encouraged, and if you're stuck for ideas, you'll find plenty of online karaoke catalogues to browse and inspire. Keen for something more large-scale? Some genius recently created a 24-hour online karaoke party dubbed Karaoke Camp, where you can belt out tunes with up to 100 random people simultaneously.
Before mini-golf bars started popping up around Brisbane — Fortitude Valley, the Wintergarden, Chermside, Mt Gravatt and South Bank all have them, just to name a few spots — the Victoria Park Putt Putt Course provided a trusty place to get tap, tap, tapping. Don't go thinking that it doesn't like to theme its courses, just like its fellow golfing havens. Head by as Halloween approaches, in fact, and you'll see just how much it loves making over its turf. One of Brisbane's most-recent traditions is also one of its most fun: themed mini golf at different times of year at Victoria Park. At Christmas, the site gives itself a festive revamp. At Easter, a candy-themed wonderland has popped up in the past. And, the Halloween spirit kicks in leading up to the spookiest date of the year — including in 2024. From Friday, September 13–Sunday, November 3, the venue's greens will be getting a horror-themed makeover again — and, no, missing a hole in one won't be the most terrifying thing about your stint on the course. As it did in 2022 and 2023, the mini-golf spot is busting out something that's haunted one of Stephen King's best-known horror novels, the movies based on them, and just life in general: clowns being creepy, chilling and downright terrifying. Fancy seeing how you cope with eerie decorations while you're tap, tap, tapping? Wondering if that unsettling vibe will put you off your short game? When you're doing the monster mash on the green this year, you'll also be trying to avoid frightening zombies, ghouls and more. Witches, spiders, toxic waste barrels, tombstones, pumpkins: they're among the petrifying things that'll be improving or scaring your short game again, too. So is a spot called Broken Bones Boulevard. If a haunted house was to meet up with a mini golf course, this is what it'd look like. Bookings are essential, with the course open from 6am–10pm Sunday–Thursday and 6am–11pm Friday–Saturday. Fancy a few holes before work? Want to add some fun to your lunch break? Need something to look forward to come quitting time? They're all options. Just remember that it's a family-friendly affair, so you'll likely have plenty of company — and tickets cost $23 per adult. Also, for liquid courage, there'll be boozy slushies available to purchase. Spooky Putt Putt takes over the Victoria Park Putt Putt Course at 309 Herston Road, Herston from Friday, September 13–Sunday, November 3, 2024, open 6am–10pm Sunday–Thursday (and public holidays) and 6am–11pm Friday–Saturday — with tickets costing $23 for adults. For more information, head to the venue's website. Images: Stephanie Adams Photography.
Imagine a place where cheese reigns supreme, other than in your own kitchen. Imagine more than 100 different varieties on offer for the tasting. Imagine being able to sample whatever you liked from this dairy feast, too. And, picture just buying one ticket to devour all the cheddar, brie, camembert, raclette and whichever other cheeses take your fancy. Is this the real life? It isn't just a cheesy fantasy at Australian dairy festival Mould, which started making cheese-loving dreams come true in 2017. In 2024, it's not only returning — it's back for its biggest festivals yet, including adding a fifth city to its stops. As well as hitting up Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, the event is heading to Adelaide as well. If you're a cheese fiend, then you'll know that there's only one suitable way to tuck into the beloved dairy product: all the time, or at least as much as possible. As presented by Revel — who are also the organisers of Pinot Palooza — that's an idea that Mould not only understands but encourages, celebrating the mild, hard and soft bites made by Australia's best cheese wizards. When it does so again this year, it'll serve up its cheese slices and bites from May–August. Running for either two or three days in each city, Mould will kick off in Brisbane in May as it has in past years, then travel to Melbourne in early June, plus Sydney at the end of July. As for Adelaide and Perth, they're both getting a Mould x Pinot Palooza combo — because cheese and wine are a fine pairing — with the fest arriving in South Australia in June and Western Australia in August. There won't just be a few cheeses on the menu at each stop. More than 100 artisan cheeses from around the country will be ready and waiting, spanning dairy from around 27 producers. In past years, that lineup has included Bruny Island Cheese Co, Grandvewe, Milawa Cheese, Yarra Valley Dairy and Stone & Crow, as well as Section 28, Red Cow Organics, Nimbin Valley Cheese, Dreaming Goat, Long Paddock Cheese and Second Mouse Cheese. Alongside unlimited tastings of Australia's best cheeses — snacking on samples is included in your ticket, but you'll then pay extra to purchase slices and slabs to take home with you — the fest features cooking demonstrations, masterclasses and talks. Courtesy of 2024's The Grate Cheese Commission, a range of cheeses created solely for the fest will also tempt your tastebuds. This year's events will include more of the foodstuffs that pair extremely well with cheese, too, such as olives, crackers and conserves. It wouldn't be a cheese festival without beverages to wash it all down with, so expect a bar serving Aussie wines, whisky, vodka, gin, beer, cider, cocktails and sake, all of which match nicely to a bit of cheese. Archie Rose and Hartshorn will be among the tipples featured. Unsurprisingly, Mould is mighty popular. In 2023, attendees tucked into a one million samples across three cities, and also took home over 8.5-tonnes of Aussie dairy products. So, if this the kind of event that your cheese dreams are made of, you'll want to nab an early-bird ticket ASAP. Mould — A Cheese Festival 2024 Dates: Friday, May 24–Sunday, May 26 — Mould Brisbane, John Reid Pavilion, Brisbane Showgrounds Friday, June 7–Saturday, June 8 — Mould x Pinot Palooza Adelaide, Queens Theatre, Adelaide Friday, June 28–Saturday, June 29 — Mould Melbourne, Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Friday, July 26–Sunday, July 28 — Mould Sydney, Carriageworks, Eveleigh Friday, August 9–Sunday, August 11 — Mould x Pinot Palooza Perth, Centenary Pavilion, Claremont Showgrounds Mould — A Cheese Festival tours Australia from May 2024. For more information or to buy tickets, head to the event's website.
As we learn to live our lives of social distancing and self-isolation (for the near future, at least), it's easy to feel overcome with boredom. Even worse is our tendency to go looking for the latest news update, fuelling our fears in the midst of a global pandemic. But there are better ways of entertaining ourselves than being trapped in a today's news cycle. Right now, podcasts are your friends. Whether you listen to one in bed after waking up, on the balcony while you get a breath of fresh air, or in the kitchen while you cook that fun new recipe, podcasts can help you escape from today's hectic environment — without being glued to a screen all day. Whether you're a podcast veteran or a skeptic, this list has something for you. Being stuck at home can feel a little less restrictive when you can dive into brilliantly written fictional narratives, are consumed by true crime and mystery, or even learn a new language. Here are a five podcasts that will have you hooked in no time. DISGRACELAND True crime, excess and rock 'n' roll. Host Jake Brennan insists, when it comes to rock stars, we like them as bad as can be. This podcast tells stories of murder, drugs and sex, protagonised by your favourite music legends — and how they got away with it all. Disgraceland unveils the darkest side of old-school stardom, with a laidback, no nonsense narrative style. Dive into the Rolling Stones' wild lifestyles, Frank Sinatra's mobster adventures and Whitney Houston's hidden descent into drugs. If you manage to go through all 69 episodes, check out 27 Club. A new project by the same creators, this podcast takes a closer look at the unsettling truths behind rock 'n' roll, this time focusing on the members of the 27 club. The first season tells the story of iconic guitarist Jimi Hendrix, who died of an overdose at age 27. What? 69 30-minute episodes. THE WAY I HEARD IT Mike Rowe's soothing voice takes you on a guessing frenzy in every single episode, as he narrates a story about a famous historical figure, without telling you who he's talking about until the very end. He'll be talking about a prominent academic and you'll be picturing a rockstar. He'll tell you the story of a prize cow and you will be convinced he's talking about a femme fatale. With unexpected twists and so many random interesting facts, you can expect to chuckle when an episode's protagonist you've been so invested in is revealed to be someone totally unexpected. What? More than 150 20-minute episodes. ROOM 20 This LA Times investigative reporting podcast will keep you on the edge of your seat. Journalist Joanne Faryon tells the story of her search for a man's identity. A man only known as Sixty-Six Garage who has spent more than 15 years on life support in a San Diego nursing home. As a teenager, he suffered from severe brain damage after he was thrown out of a truck in a car accident. An undocumented Mexican immigrant in the United States, his identity remained unknown, and there were no paper trails to help track down his family — until Faryon launched her own investigation. What? Six 30-minute episodes. MOTHERHACKER A divorced PTA mom gets scammed out of her savings. She has no choice, but to join the team of scammers who took everything from her. Surprisingly, she's amazing at it. Told as an old-time radio drama, Motherhacker is a fictional podcast that explores the lengths someone might go to in order to stay afloat in a dire situation. Think Black Mirror meets suburban mom. Motherhacker's perfect mix of suspenseful and quirky will leave you wanting more every time you finish an episode. With only nine episodes lasting around ten minutes each, this podcast could easily become a one sit-down binge. Open a bottle of red, enjoy a few snacks and make a night of it. What? Nine ten-minute episodes. COFFEE BREAK LANGUAGES Are you a more practical listener? If so, why not take advantage of your free time to learn Italian, or fine tune that rusty Spanish you haven't worked on since uni? Coffee Break offers podcasts in seven languages, with content ranging from beginner level, where you can learn phrases and grammar, to more advanced, where you can expand your vocabulary. These podcasts use stories situated in your language's country of origin to teach you how to speak it, engaging you beyond a typical grammar-based language program. It's said that listening to native speakers hold conversations is one of the most effective methods of learning it. By doing so, you can also keep your brain busy through self-isolation and social-distancing times and gain a valuable new skill that will definitely come in handy in the future. What? Podcasts in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin and Swedish. Need more? Check out our favourite true crime podcasts.
It was meant to be the sci-fi hit of 2020. It ended up being one of 2021's standouts instead. It picked up a heap of 2022 Oscars and has a sequel about to drop. Spice saga Dune is also now back on the big screen in Australia and New Zealand, giving audiences another chance to see it in the best way possible. Directed by Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049), the 2021 film followed in David Lynch's footsteps, making a new adaptation of Frank Herbert's 1965 novel — and managing what Alejandro Jodorowsky sadly couldn't (see: excellent documentary Jodorowsky's Dune) in the process. It also gave the world a stunning new science-fiction cinema classic, which started its return season in cinemas on Thursday, February 8, 2024 Down Under in preparation for part two arriving at the end of the month. The initial Villeneuve-helmed Dune flick scored ten Oscar nominations and six wins for beginning the space-opera series' story. In the 2021 film, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet, Wonka) headed to Arrakis because his dad Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac, Moon Knight) had just been given stewardship of the planet and its abundance of 'the spice' — aka the most valuable substance in the universe — and then got caught up in a bitter feud with malicious forces over the substance. It also saw Paul meet the population of people known as the Fremen, including Chani (Zendaya, Euphoria), plus Javier Bardem's (Lyle, Lyle Crocodile) Stilgar, which is who he and his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson, Silo) are with in Dune: Part Two. The second film has also taken the long way to cinemas, after originally being slated to release in November 2023, then postponed during Hollywood's strikes. It will now keep the tale going from Thursday, February 29. This time, war has arrived on the franchise's spice-laden planet, and Paul and the Fremen are ready to fight. The former doesn't just want to face off against the folks who destroyed his family, but for the sandy celestial body, with Chani at his side. Expansive desert landscape, golden and orange hues, sandworms, Villeneuve's reliable eye for a spectacle and Hans Zimmer's (The Son) sonic best: they're all part of the first movie. So are Josh Brolin (Outer Range), Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Beau Is Afraid) and Charlotte Rampling (Benedetta) among the cast. Some cinemas are also doing Dune double features on Wednesday, February 28, the evening before the second part officially releases, if you want the full Chalamet-led Dune experience so far in one sitting. Check out trailers for Dune and Dune: Part Two below: Dune returned to cinemas Down Under on Thursday, February 8, 2o24. Read our review. Dune: Part Two will release in cinemas Down Under on Thursday, February 29, 2024.
If you've got to the point in life where your local Thai place is saved in your favourites, they know your order and you don't even bother changing out of your daggy trackies to go pick it up, congrats. You, lounge dweller, are living your best life. But there is an alternate life you could be living, involving less humdrum routine and more exploring; it's the life of stepping out and trying new things. Say "it's not you, it's me" to your usual Wednesday pad see ew and start making a list of what the city has to offer that's new and exciting. We'll even give you a headstart — we've pulled together a list of restaurants that opened in the last few months around Brisbane to try on your next night out. From many a waterside eatery to Greek eats and Latin American bites, there's a little something for everyone. Happy eating, friends.
It has been 22 years since the Valley Fiesta first turned Fortitude Valley's live music scene into a weekend-long street party — and, returning for its annual spin across August 29 to September 2, it's bigger and better than ever. From live music to boozy shindigs to learning to dance in the middle of the Brunswick Street mall, the event's 2018 lineup is packed with things to do. Outdoor gigs, a light-filled art showcase and a special focus on active activities designed to get punters moving beyond making shapes and tapping their toes are all on the bill as well. Indeed, the area around Brunswick, Wickham and Ann streets is the place to be across five massive days, but if you're a little overwhelmed for choice, we're here to help. Add these ten top happenings to your Fiesta itinerary, and prepare for a busy stint of Valley revelry.
If your weekend morning plans always involve tucking into the best meal of the day — brunch, obviously — then congrats, you're human. Fancy adding unlimited mimosas and bloody marys to the mix? Of course you do. That's what Pourboy is serving up every weekend, on both Saturdays and Sundays, with the venue's Boozy Brunch running for two-hour sittings between 10am–2pm. It's the drinks that won't stop at the South Brisbane eatery — well, at least within your allocated time slot. Food-wise, you can choose one thing from the brunch menu, from a daily-changing lineup that could include the likes of sardines on toast, banana pancakes, a harissa chicken burger and a spin on eggs benedict that also features carrot. Seeing your morning slide into the afternoon with a drink in hand will set you back an affordable $60 per person. Unsurprisingly, bookings via email or phone are highly recommended, so gather the gang and plan ahead.
Art doesn’t need to be sad, sooky, made at the hands of a tortured artists, or ride reminiscent feelings of depression and gloom to be art. It just needs to provoke feeling. And to be honest, the fresher and more fun the feeling the better! Nancy Stilianos', Anthotopia, couldn’t be more fresh and fun – making for some top notch art and even topper notched feelings. Using raw cotton, dyed with vegetable juices and food colouring, her handmade gentle giants of sculpture are a site of beauty. Cloud-like, these organic pieces steal the room, like a gentle breeze of relief, calm surprise and wonder – that’s real art for you. Stilianos makes her cotton clouds from locally grown and sources materials, encapsulating the belief that beauty is so easy to find in the natural resources around us. Her art is a stance against the mass produced and convenient – there’s something special about a piece that’s grown from loving hands in an act of self-determination. Experience this rather unique, art-provoked feeling at Metro Arts from October 16 to November 2. You can even catch Nancy Stilianos in the flesh on October 23 as she explains her investment in Anthotopia.
Back in 2014, before he slipped into Black Panther's suit, Chadwick Boseman stepped into James Brown's shoes. Playing the iconic musician in Get On Up, Boseman lit up the screen — and while he'll forever be known for his time in Wakanda, the biopic ranks among his greatest performances. Although Boseman's career was tragically cut short due to his death to cancer in August this year, the actor has one more film set to reach screens — and it too sees him playing music. To be specific, he's playing the blues as an ambitious trumpeter called Levee in the new movie adaptation of August Wilson's play Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. On the stage since 1982, and now in this new Netflix movie version, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom focuses on an afternoon recording session in 1920s Chicago. Ma Rainey, the "Mother of the Blues" (played by Viola Davis), is the star of the session, but she's running late as she fights with her manager over control of her music. As the band waits, Levee and fellow musicians Cutler (Colman Domingo, If Beale Street Could Talk), Toledo (Glynn Turman, Fargo) and Slow Drag (Michael Potts, True Detective) bide their time swapping stories in the rehearsal room. As helmed by Tony-winning playwright and theatre director George C. Wolfe (for Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk), Ma Rainey's Black Bottom hits streaming on December 18 — and, while this time of year brings awards speculation about almost every weighty drama with a high-profile cast, Boseman and Davis in particular have been the subject of plenty of predictions. As well as marking Boseman's final film, it's his second this year — and his second Netflix feature, too — following his potent supporting role in Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods. Check out the trailer for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ord7gP151vk Ma Rainey's Black Bottom will be available to stream via Netflix from December 18. Top image: David Lee, Netflix.
Some see the arrival of children in their lives as the time they transition into maturity. This is not the article for those people. Climbing trees, indoor snowboarding, horseback riding, giggling every time Uranus is mentioned — these are some of our favourite things to do (and the kids don't mind either). With that in mind, there's no reason why the next family fun day shouldn't be to someplace that delights your entire multigenerational crew — mums, dads and sprogs included. We've teamed up with Holden Equinox, the SUV for parents with nothing to prove, to help you find those excursions in Brisbane. From treetop swings to cafe petting zoos, these are the destinations where you'll come together to make memories, make Instagram Stories, make a fool of yourself (in a good way) — and all while making your kids' day. INDOOR SKI LESSONS AT URBAN XTREME ADVENTURE PARK Urban Xtreme is the new kid on the block, having opened in November 2017. With snowboarding programs for adults and little shredders, they have the whole family covered. Kids from four years old can learn to hit the (artificial) slopes with all of their gear included in the admission price. The best part about it? This is a perfect (and cost-effective) trial run if you are planning a trip to the real slopes this winter — minus the little runny noses from the ice winds. 4/370 Nudgee Road, Hendra THE PLANETARIUM AT MT COOT-THA This is for everyone still holding onto their dreams of going to space camp. The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium on Mt Coot-tha runs informative, interactive shows suitable for both adults and their offspring. Learn the solar system through the eyes of aliens or enjoy the atmosphere (in all senses of the word) during one of the night sky tours. Opened in 1978, the Planetarium is much like parents themselves: an oldie but a goodie. Mount Coot-tha Road, Toowong TREETOP CHALLENGE MT TAMBOURINE Adventure? Check. Largest guided zipline in Australia? Check. Fun day for both adults and kidlets? Check. Now all you need to pack is an extra pair of underwear for yourself, since you'll be travelling along seven huge ziplines, 60 metres high, at 70 kilometres per hour. Don't say we didn't warn you! The nearest TreeTop Challenge is located at the gorgeous Mt Tambourine, just an hour's drive south from Brisbane. Your tykes need to be at least seven years old for the adventure course and meet the minimum weight requirement if they want to try ziplining. Cedar Creek Falls Road and Tamborine Mountain Road, Gold Coast SLICKERS HORSEBACK RIDING Only 40 minutes from the CBD, Slickers Horse Riding is much more than your average pony ride at the fun fair. Start off with a basic lesson then join the experienced crew in one of the 3,500-acre property's trail rides. Want to soak in the serenity? Opt for a farm stay or camp-out riding excursion. You'll build up your bush cred in no time. 116 Dunlop Lane, Kurwongbah PLASTER FUN HOUSE BELMONT Remember spending your Sundays immersed in an epic craft project for school that was due the next day? Well, Plaster Fun House is kind of like that, but with no deadlines — just pure unadulterated craft goodness, and the magic three little words that bring tears of joy to every parent: no cleaning up. Simply select your plaster from their extensive range, enjoy free use of the paints provided, and when you've finished your masterpiece, they will spray it with sealing gloss to preserve your art for you to take home and Instagram away. 5/1396 Creek Road, Carina SAND DUNE TOBOGGAN STRADBROKE ISLAND If you're up for a jam- (and sand-) packed day trip, take the 30-minute barge over to Stradbroke Island for sandboarding, Queensland style. You and the ankle-biters can start off with the smaller slopes while you perfect your technique, then move onto the more advanced sand dunes. Take your 4WD for a drive on the beach before cooling off with a gelato at Point Lookout's Oceanic Gelati before making the trip back home to the mainland. 34 Dickson Way, North Stradbroke Island ICEWORLD ACACIA RIDGE You missed out as a kid, now's your chance to don your glitter leotard, slick your hair back into a bun, strap on some blades and live out your figure-skating fantasies. Quite the Brissie institution, Iceworld Acacia Ridge hosts a "cheap skate" night every Tuesday. Eleven bucks will get you a sesh on the ice complete with skate hire. Keep this place front of mind for any hot day when the air-con's on the fritz, too. 1179 Beaudesert Road, Acacia Ridge Drive your family on adventures in and outside of town in the Holden Equinox, the SUV for parents with nothing to prove. Find out more on the Holden website.
First published 175 years ago, Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre just keeps haunting readers — and audiences and creatives. As well as sparking plenty of nights spent thumbing through the novel's pages, the gothic classic has inspired many an inventive stage and screen adaptation. They include all the obvious, faithful interpretations, plus 1940s horror films and even the book behind one of Alfred Hitchcock's psychological thrillers. At QPAC from Wednesday, June 8–Saturday, July 9, the latest version of Jane Eyre is playing out in the Cremorne Theatre under the guidance of Shake & Stir. If you liked the theatre company's take on Dracula, then you'll want to see it take on another beloved story in its own way — complete with original music not only written by The Superjesus' Sarah McLeod, but performed live on stage during the play. Starring Shake & Stir's co-artistic director Nelle Lee as Jane, the production delves into a moody coming-of-age tale as the orphaned titular character tries to fight against the social constraints of the time and find her way in the world. Securing a job at Thornfield Hall, she's drawn to its resident, Edward Rochester — a bond that causes plenty of secrets to spill out into the open.
Hailing women shouldn’t really be cause for a special celebration but at the same time, any excuse for a party is good, right? Art exhibitions and female work fit together like a vodka and soda or avocado and toast. Perfection that is too hard to explain in words. Luckily, the Brisbane art scene has worked out a solution for that. Starting May third the Lust For Life Tattoo and Art Gallery in Fortitude Valley will be showcasing a selection of brilliant female artists with Viva La Femme – A Celebration of Women. In the gallery’s first group show since the end of last year, Viva La Femme will be a great opportunity for viewers to both catch up on the happenings of the art industry and get a female’s perspective on all the current activities of the world. The show includes nineteen artists, handpicked by the exhibition curators and will highlight the works of Sarah Hickey, Braidy Hughes (pictured), Symone Male, Anna Day, Caitlin Sheedy, Febe Zylstra, Skye Baker, Belinda Sinclair, Amy Tanner, Beatrice Oconnell, Joanne Brooker, Clarissa Bones, Kellie Jagoe, Gill Pyke, Michelle Aguis, Martine Cotton, Vikki Roy, Bri Lee and Nikki Morgan Smith. The line up may be a mouthful, but it sure is a tasty one.
Feeling a lust for life, literature fans of Brisbane? If you're not already, you might be when this year's Brisbane Writers Festival rolls around. No stranger to visiting the River City for this book-loving fest, Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh headlines BWF's 2023 lineup. He has a new release, The Long Knives, to talk about; however, given that this year marks a whopping three decades since his Scotland-set debut novel hit shelves, the book that then sparked a Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi)-starring cult-hit movie is also getting its own anniversary session. BWF has plenty more in its catalogue, too, when it unleashes its annual celebration of words and the tales they help tell from Wednesday, May 10–Sunday, May 14 at various venues around Brisbane — and at 150-plus live literary events. The first festival under new Artistic Director Jackie Ryan, this feast for bookworms and literature lovers also spans Booker Prize-winner Shehan Karunatilaka, who emerged victorious in 2022 for The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. Plus, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow's Gabrielle Zevin will be on hand to explore the New York Times bestseller. [caption id="attachment_895237" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bianca Holderness[/caption] Among local names, Stan Grant, Grace Tame, Tim Winton and Kate Morton all feature. Grant has new tome The Queen Is Dead to chat about, Tame will dive into her memoir The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner, Winton's TV series Love Letter to Ningaloo is in the spotlight and The Shifting Fog's Morton will explore her latest, Homecoming. Other highlights from the full lineup span First Nations authors such as Lionel Fogarty, Brooke Blurton, Alexis Wright and Lystra Rose — and a big focus on South Korean authors including Bora Chung, Park Sang Young, Krys Lee and Kim Min Jeong. [caption id="attachment_893385" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Grace Tame by Kishka Jensen[/caption] In a deeply Brisbane inclusion, Regurgitator's Ben Ely also has a 30th anniversary to reflect upon — because that's how long it has been since the Brissie band got together, which he'll dive into with writers Tony Wellington and Andrew Stafford. Elsewhere on the bill, the Blockbuster Crime panel will see Welsh team up with crime-fiction names Tracey Lien, Candice Fox and Garry Disher; Boy Swallows Universe's Trent Dalton will turn his attention to romances; Nat's What I Reckon has a session about being a YouTube hit; and the Literary Death Match, aka a writers' battle royale, returns. [caption id="attachment_895239" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Josef Ruckli[/caption] Sessions on democracy, YA, refugee and migrant stories, whodunnits, zines, making the leap from the page to screen, rom-coms, heroes and villains, poetry, Australian gothic, sporting books — they're all on the roster as well, in what's set to be a dazzling five days for word nerds no matter what kind of text you like to devour. [caption id="attachment_895240" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Morgan Roberts[/caption] The 2023 Brisbane Writers Festival runs from Wednesday, May 10–Sunday, May 14. To check out the full program and purchase tickets, check out the festival's website. Images: Bianca Holderness, Josef Ruckli and Morgan Roberts.
El Camino Cantina is known for its colourful interiors, cheap Tuesday tacos and giant margaritas, including at its venue at South Bank. Those oversized drinks are a huge drawcard, and they're on offer every day — but every now and then, the lively Tex Mex chain throws a huge Ritapalooza festival. Brisbanites, it's that time again. From Monday, October 24–Sunday, November 27, El Camino's South Bank outpost is celebrating those easy-to-down slushie margs with a five-week-long festival dedicated to the frozen cocktail. Head by from to sip 24 limited-edition flavours — there'll be varieties like Skittle, Hubba Bubba and marshmallow available. Also on the menu: classics like mango, strawberry and passionfruit — and other more creative varieties like Wizz Fizz, Jelly Belly, Lifesaver, fairy floss, salted caramel, popcorn, grape Nerd and fairy bread as well. Even better: you can nab them as part of four-flavour and metre-long 12-flavour tasting paddles. El Camino's ten-cent Wing Wednesday tradition will be on offer throughout Ritapalooza as well, plus $2 tacos on Tuesdays. Really love your 'ritas? Opt for the Palooza party package for $99 per person, which covers a three-course menu — including a range of limited-edition fajita flavours — and a two-hour beverage package.
After wreaking havoc in north Queensland earlier this week, ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie is making its presence known down south. The wet and wild weather system is doing a hefty job of shutting down Brisbane, generating heavy rainfall throughout the city, and sparking widespread road and business closures. With the weather set to intensify, complete with thunderstorms, flash flooding, between 200mm and 500mm of rain, wind gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour and power outages, many organisations have taken a proactive step to shut their doors. When the Queensland Government delivered every kids' dream by cancelling school for the day throughout the region — covering an area from Agnes Water in central Queensland to the New South Wales border — it was clear that this wasn't an ordinary shower. The Queensland University of Technology, Griffith University and the University of Queensland will follow in their footsteps from noon. ABC Brisbane is reporting that Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart recommends shops and businesses should do the same. So far, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Queensland Art Gallery, the Queensland Museum, the State Library of Queensland and the Schonell Theatre are among the organisations taking that advice, while new technology festival Myriad will do the same, and James St Up Late has been completely cancelled. Brisbane Airport remains open at the time of writing, but keeping an eye on individual airlines is recommended. For those looking to travel around town rather than out of it, public transport will be free throughout southeast Queensland from 10am to get everyone home and off of the roads. Importantly, while Gelato Messina's Coolangatta store is closed, South Brisbane's new store is remaining open for now — it just opened yesterday, so we can't blame them for wanting to hold out. As reports of flooding around the city increase, the list of places closing their doors for the day is only expected to grow, and unsurprisingly, Brisbanites are encouraged to remain indoors. Keep an eye on the Bureau of Meteorology website for the latest weather updates — and stay safe and dry, folks.
Perhaps you have great memories of rides, sideshows and taking home a goldfish. Maybe even just mentioning Bertie Beetles and strawberry sundaes gets you thinking about all those Wednesdays, year after year, spent away from school and at the Ekka. Whichever fits, every Brisbanite has had their Ekka moment — and we're all glad that the show is back in 2022. Still, that doesn't mean that we all head along each year. Can't make it this time? Don't have a day to spare? Avoiding crowds? Every Brisbanite has been through that, too, and thankfully a number of events around town are spreading the Ekka love if you're not actually hitting up the Ekka. Here are our five picks — and yes, strawberries feature heavily. Of course they do.
With every new year comes new ambitions, goals and hopes for the next 12 months. Despite not quite ticking off everything from last year's resolutions list, there's something about a new year that restores your faith in your own ability to achieve your dreams this time around. And, if the world has shown us anything these past few years, it's to lean into fun while you can. While trying new things can be somewhat daunting, we hear that getting out of your comfort zone is where the magic happens. Whether you've been promising yourself to sign up to an acting class for years or you feel like trying a different sport, there are loads of ways you can get involved in a new activity this year. We've teamed up with Just Play to give you some inspiration for your extracurricular activities in 2022. PLAY A TEAM SPORT After so much time in solitude and indoors over the past few years, there's never been a better time to get involved in a team sport. Although this may sound very intimidating to some — especially if your high school dabbled in dodge ball — being part of a team sport can be a completely supportive and enjoyable experience. If you're ready to play but haven't got enough mates who are as keen you, Just Play is here to help find you a team. Simply sign up to one of the sports on offer — basketball, netball, futsal, soccer, touch footy, cricket, volleyball and more — as an individual or with a mate and you'll be added to a team in your area. How good. Once you've registered, Just Play will then send you a playing top and you'll be off and away with your new teammates. LEARN A NEW CREATIVE SKILL There's something super satisfying about getting your hands dirty to learn a new skill or to make something. And Work-Shop offer plenty of courses that will leave you feeling creatively fulfilled. You can try your hand at workshops across various art forms including ceramics, jewellery making, pot painting or simply sip on some wine as you paint a watercolour masterpiece. It even offers Kintsugi classes — the art of repairing broken pottery. By the end of each workshop, you'll leave with a beautiful piece of art and a story to tell your mates at dinner. Plus, classes fall on a range of different days and timeslots, making it easy to fit in around your busy weekly schedule. VOLUNTEER FOR A CAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT Volunteering is a top-tier way to get involved in your community and potentially discover new areas of interest. In Sydney, Story Factory has ongoing volunteer opportunities, both online and in person, focusing around greater western Sydney schools. If helping under-resourced communities through creative writing sounds like something for you, this will be right up your alley. There are heaps of other places you can volunteer, too. Consider yourself an animal lover? You could volunteer at an animal shelter. Love to read? Libraries could use your help. Or, if you like life on the more dramatic side, your local theatre is likely to love your creative input. Go Volunteer can help you get started with opportunities and organisations listed or Volunteer Match can help you find something that aligns with your interests. HIT YOUR MARK IN AN ACTING CLASS Ever think you could be the next Cate Blanchett or Eric Bana but just haven't been discovered yet? Well, it might be time to enrol in a NIDA Open course to help you discover your true acting ability or to simply have a bit of fun centre stage. There are intensive part-time courses and shorter weekend and evening classes available in stage acting, screen acting, stand up comedy, design, writing and more. Some courses require an audition to enter but many are available to anyone ready to take on a creative challenge. The best bit? NIDA Open offers regular classes in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. ELEVATE YOUR CULINARY SKILLS You can never stop learning when it comes to cooking. Some of us simply want to master the art of slicing things up a little more intricately. Others might want to figure out which spices should go with what dishes while some might want to perfect a pad thai recipe. Whatever skill you want to refine, a cooking class could be your answer. You can find a range of classes on Red Balloon to suit a range of palate preferences. Want to finally learn how to make some proper Italian pasta? How about delicious Japanese or Middle Eastern food? Either way, Red Balloon has you covered. You can even take a cocktail masterclass and impress all your mates next time they come over for drinks. ENROL IN A LANGUAGE COURSE Learning a new language is one of those things that perpetually seem to be on the 'I should get around to finally doing that' list. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to answer 'Parlez-vous Francais?' with more than 'Oui'? Well, this could be the year. There are plenty of courses to help. The Vocational Language Learning Centre offers courses in Arabic, French, Italian, Greek, German, Japanese, Indonesian, Russian and Spanish at centres in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. EXPLORE YOUR CITY ON SKATES Time to limber up those legs and get on some skates to see your city in a whole new way. Rollerskating is an excellent way to keep active and try something new and still maintaining an element of social distance (ideal in 2022). There are plenty of routes for you to roll around in our major cities. Hit up the St Kilda Beach Promenade in Melbourne, let loose on the long and scenic Brisbane River run or lap it up at Centennial Park in Sydney. In terms of purchasing the gear, Impala Roller Skates online store has plenty of good stuff. Or, there's Bayside Blades in Melbourne, Extreme Skates in Brisbane and Skater HQ in Sydney. Ready to try something new in your city this year? For more information on Just Play, visit the website.
Meyne Wyatt has been nominated for a Sydney Theatre Award, a Logie and an AACTA, and featured in everything from The Sapphires and Strangerland to Redfern Now, Neighbours and Black Comedy. Now, he's making a splash on the Brisbane stage as part of City of Gold's world premiere season. A collaboration between Queensland Theatre and Griffin Theatre Company, the new production sees Wyatt play an aspiring Aboriginal actor who finally gets his big break — only for the job, in a high-profile television advertisement, to cause considerable repercussions. Partially inspired by his own experiences, Wyatt also wrote City of Gold, which takes a no-holds-barred approach to pondering race, culture and Aussie identity in today's society. Specifically — and in an unashamedly frank, raw and sometimes provocative manner — the play explores the Indigenous experience in modern-day Australia. Joining Wyatt on-stage is a stacked cast, including Anthony Standish (An Octoroon), Jeremy Ambrum (Mabo, Cleverman, Secret Daughter) and Shari Sebbens (The Sapphires, Top End Wedding). City of Gold's debut season runs until Saturday, July 20 at QT's Bille Brown Theatre. Image: Tim Jones Photography.
