The Big Pineapple Festival boasts a lineup worth travelling an hour out of town for. John Butler Trio, The Jezabels, Violent Soho and Dune Rats are just a few of the bands who will be making their way to Nambour for one of this country's juiciest music events. We suggest you pull out the swag and get prepping. If you had a seriously deprived childhood and have no idea what or where the Big Pineapple is, it's on the Nambour Connection Road. It's literally a 16 meter high yellow thing surrounded by 400 acres of farm. You can't miss it. This is the festival's third year, with the previous two selling out. To meet the growing demand, they've moved venues; while last year's festival was at the Big Pineapple, this year's festival will be across the road from it. So just find the yellow thing then rotate 180 degrees. And if the usual festival attire seems a bit too easy for you, The Pineapple Festival is running a competition to find the craziest outfit on the day. The winner will receive two nights accommodation at the Beach Club Resort Mooloolaba and two half-day whale watching passes.
For the past couple of years, Woolloongabba's South City Square has played host to a sprawling market setup every now and then — and it's back. Get ready to browse your way around a collection of stalls selling plenty of items from 10am–2pm on Sunday, October 23. That's when The Market Folk will once again take over the place, putting on a spring pop-up. We hope you like clothes, jewellery, ceramics, plants, pots, homewares and art, because you'll find it all here. Expect a big focus on design — so you won't be browsing and buying just any old wares. More than 45 local boutiques will be selling items, and it all tales place in a brick-lined, industrial-style space — which'll make you feel like you're wandering around a European-style market. As well as the shopping, live music and creative workshops are also on the bill. There'll be bites to eat as well, thanks to a range of food trucks.
When you've already filled Brisbane with towering bubbles, Antarctic icebergs and giant bird nests, what comes next? For Curiocity Brisbane, everything from cats and robots to seesaws and seven-metre-tall living artworks are on the agenda for 2023. This annual festival doesn't just celebrate art, but showcases its intersection with science and technology — it does fall into World Science Festival Brisbane's program, after all — and it has quite the array of pieces planned for its next event. 2023's Curiocity Brisbane will run for 12 days from Wednesday, March 22–Sunday, April 2, featuring a lineup of interactive works delivered by Queensland Museum Network and curated by Jay Younger — 14, in fact, from artists around the globe. To enjoy the full (and free) program, Brisbanites will need to hit up several inner-city destinations. South Bank Parklands will host seven installations, plus another at the Cultural Centre. The CBD will also welcome a piece, while four others will pop up at various schools. And, there's also a digital-only inclusion. Among the highlights, feline fanciers will be keen on Cat Royale by the UK-based Blast Theory, which'll be meowing in the Queen Street Mall. Livestreamed from the other side of the globe, it features three cats living out a life of leisure. So, yes, doing standard cat things. The catch? Their utopia is controlled by robots, with a dedicated artificial-intelligence system watching them eat, sleep and play — and learning what they like. Prefer seeing how robots interact with each other? A habitat for them is also part of the program, thanks to Hochschuh and Donovan's Cybernetic Intimacy. It focuses on 15 semi-autonomous droids and, like Cat Royale, peers on. This one also has its robots craft a real-time soundtrack, and ponders how species communicate with each other. Or, on South Bank's Little Stanley Street Lawn, Curiocity attendees can seesaw up and down thanks to Madeleine Flynn and Tim Humphrey's PIVOT. It features a field of what's being called "semi-intelligent seesaws", because the park equipment talks, sings and creates conversations with its riders, all by listening for texts and replying via word recognition. Other standouts include Simone Eisler's seven-metre-tall The Climate Wars, as inspired by the myths of the Trojan Horse and Noah's Ark; Amplify/Defy by Indigenous artist Jennifer Herd, which explores camouflage and speaks out against the silencing of First Nations' perspectives; and T.H.E.M., a collaboration between Interactive Media Collective and Griffith University that's about electronic and human kinetic energy. Plus, there's Martin Edge and The Culture Crusader's I SEE Martin Edge, which uses augmented-reality playscapes to focus on inclusive cultural experiences for young people who are neurodiverse. Curiocity Brisbane will pop up around the city between Wednesday, March 22–Sunday, April 2, 2023. For further information, head to the World Science Festival website.
If you've had one high tea, then you know what you're in for — right? That's not the case at W Brisbane's new Sunshine State High Tea. It comes with a distinctively local flavour, which the venue's Living Room Bar has done before; however, this one is all about Queensland. As great as scones and sandwiches are (and then more scones and more sandwiches), this thrice-weekly feast uses native ingredients to dish up bites inspired by the state it's being served in. That means strawberry gum, macadamia, rosella, wattleseed and more, all heroed in a spread that tells a Sunshine State story. Sweet options include the beach-themed salted caramel mousse with chocolate and macadamia sand jewel; the exotic sunset marshmallow tart, which nods to Brisbane's golden sunsets; and a native spice-infused earl grey mousse, a dessert that takes its cues from Queensland thunderstorms. On the savoury list: lobster brioche buns featuring seafood from Townsville, Yeppoon spanner crab on rye and Toowoomba free-range egg sandwiches. There's also a speciality cocktail called The Ray to My Heart that's made with Milton silver rum, Malibu, clarified coconut and pineapple — and meant to evoke tropical North Queensland's climate. Running every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am–3pm, the high tea costs $70, or $90 with a cocktail and $99 with champagne upon arrival.
"Your little cinematic universe is about to change forever." That's how Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds, Ghosted) describes being asked to enter the Marvel realm in the first trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine. After that, he calls himself "Marvel Jesus". How true the Merc with a Mouth's words will prove won't be known until July 2024, when the full film hits cinemas — but the trailer itself has already made history. Disney premiered the debut sneak peek at the 34th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the only one arriving this year, during the 2024 Super Bowl — so, on Monday, February 12 Down Under. Within 24 hours, it had become the most-watched movie trailer of all time, notching up a whopping 365-million views. The game itself also became the most-watched Super Bowl ever, attracting 123.7-million viewers in America alone to see the Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers to win back-to-back titles. (And, yes, to also see Taylor Swift watching along before she brings her Eras tour to Australia.) But on top of the folks who caught the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer during the game, another 240-million-plus people sought it out online. Announced in 2022, Deadpool & Wolverine gives the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe something that fans have been waiting for for years. Deadpool will officially become a part of the MCU. So will X-Men hero Wolverine. So, they're about to become the franchise's favourite big-screen odd couple. Reynolds has been playing Deadpool since 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine, so this isn't the first time that him and Hugh Jackman (Faraway Downs) are teaming up as their famous characters — but, again, it is the first time in the MCU. Before now, Jackman has already busted out the adamantium claws in nine movies, starting with 2000's X-Men and running through to 2017's Logan, which was poised as his swansong in the role. But when you've been playing a part for that long, in that many flicks, what's one more go-around? After a non-Wolverine gap spent starring in The Greatest Showman, The Front Runner, Bad Education, Reminiscence and The Son, Jackman is clearly ready to get hairy again. That Deadpool & Wolverine is part of the MCU, the comic-to-screen realm that's been going since the first Iron Man flick and will likely never ever end, isn't a minor detail. The two characters have always been Marvel characters, but because of rights issues behind the scenes, they've stayed in their own on-screen sagas. But when Disney (which owns Marvel) bought 20th Century Fox (which brought the X-Men and Deadpool movies to cinemas so far), those business issues disappeared. Deadpool & Wolverine arrives six years after 2018's Deadpool 2. It also marks a reunion in another way. Behind the lens: director Shawn Levy, reteaming with Reynolds after Free Guy and The Adam Project. Also starring: Emma Corrin (A Murder at the End of the World), Morena Baccarin (The Endgame), Rob Delaney (Argylle) and Matthew Macfadyen (Succession), as well as Leslie Uggams (American Fiction) and Karan Soni (Miracle Workers). Check out the first Deadpool & Wolverine trailer below — if you haven't already or you're keen to again: Deadpool & Wolverine will release in cinemas Down Under on July 25, 2024. Images: courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
Every Friday night between July 5 and August 23, one patch of Brisbane will boast flames, snow, warming food, toasty booze, ice-themed stage shows, fire performers, a snow globe photobooth, music, markets and more. That place: Rocklea's Brisbane Night Markets, as part of the weekly event's eight-week Fire & Ice Food Festival. Running from 4–10pm each Friday, this fest gets into the swing of winter — because even though it's never all that frosty in this sunny city of ours, it's always fun to pretend. Here, snow machines will make you think you're somewhere colder, while fire pits will heat you up. Plus, when you're not eating creme brulee crepes and Gaytime ice creams that've been wrapped in marshmallows and then torched (and served with Nutella), you can drink pumpkin spiced lattes, craft brews and mulled wine. The food lineup also includes low-and-slow cooked pork knuckles, Philly cheesesteaks with chilli marinade, wood-fired pizzas, flame-roasted meatball subs, and bacon s'mores with bacon strips, chocolate and toasted marshmallow, so arrive hungry. Entry costs $2.50, and ugging up is recommended — you'll be getting wintry in a huge warehouse.
The war on waste is here to stay, especially in the cafe scene; however, even the most environmentally conscious among us can stumble. Perhaps there's a stash of reusable cups sitting on your desk, because you never seem to have one with you when you're ordering a coffee. Maybe you haven't invested in a takeaway container yet. Or, you could prefer the convenience of a swap-and-go system, where there's always a clean cup waiting. Thanks to Green Caffeen, West End has welcomed its first reusable coffee cup sharing network — and, in even better news, it's free. Already up and running across much of the nation, the scheme has just hit the inner city spot this month. Around a dozen cafes are currently taking part, which gives you options next time you grab a cuppa. Here's how Green Caffeen works: you download the app to sign up, grab a cup at your local participating cafe and then drop it off next time you're getting a brew — while nabbing your next coffee in a new cup. Each container comes with a barcode, so they're simply scanned in and out. You can scan out two at a time, in case you do still forget to bring your cup with you. And if you've had one in your bag for 15 days, you'll receive an email reminder to take it back (although most folks can't go without a caffeine hit for that long). Brisbanites can take advantage of the program at Morning After, The Gunshop Cafe, The Three Monkeys, Lettuce Eat, Fit Box Wholefoods Cafe, West End Bakehouse and Posto, as well as Ash and Monties, Sol Bakery, Musgrave Park Swim Centre, Eros Cafe and Mu'ooz. A few other spots around town have also jumped onboard, including 13 different venues in and around St Lucia, the Valley Pool, Number 68 and Newstead Organics in Newstead, the Cat Cuddle Cafe in Lutwyche, King Kong Coffee in Eagle Farm and Mug Shots Espresso in Sandgate. Made in Australia, Green Caffeen's cups are made from BPA-free polypropylene — and they're currently available in 686 cafes around the country. For more information about Green Caffeen, head to the scheme's website.
Brisbanites, if you like cruising the river, you'll soon will be able to head to Breakfast Creek to hop on an eco-friendly picnic boat — all thanks to Denmark-born outfit GoBoat. But if you're keen to enjoy a meal, a few drinks and the general experience of floating on the river with your mates before then, you can, because the company has popped up in Kangaroo Point first. You can still look forward to GoBoat's official launch a bit further north of the CBD, or you can jump the gun and jump aboard in the city first. Yes, it's time to start getting excited about cruising along the river in a different way, with the vessels setting sail from Dockside Marina for a limited time. Aimed at making the whole boating caper more accessible for everyday folk, the Scandinavian-designed vessels are slow-moving, a breeze to operate and don't require a boating licence, making for some fun, fuss-free sailing sessions. In a win for the planet, they also run on silent, pollution-free, electric engines, and are crafted from a mix of reclaimed timber and recycled PET bottles. Each of the contemporary GoBoats clocks in at 18-feet long, and boasts a central picnic table with room for eight people (and for all the necessary snacks and booze). And despite what you might be thinking, they're even affordable enough to fit your budget — simply BYO food and drinks, find enough eager sailors to jump aboard and a GoBoat session will start at around $15 per person, per hour. That's $119 hourly for the first hour, but the longer you book, the cheaper it gets. And, in great news for your pooch, the company's vessels are pet-friendly — surely you've got a very good boy who deserves a river jaunt. Images: Lean Timms. Updated August 17.
From piecing together messages or wondrous discoveries hidden among the stars, to using the constellations as a guiding force for navigation, or simply sitting back and admiring the view, stargazing has proven to be an enduring hobby. To honour this, Vivid Sydney is taking to the skies with the return of its stunning annual drone shows, in partnership with the Australian Traffic Network. Across six nights from Sunday, May 28, you'll be able to look up and witness over 1000 drones lighting up the night sky to create the biggest drone show the Southern Hemisphere has seen to date. Written in the Stars will take audiences on a visual exploration of space, delving into the natural world of our solar system by featuring awe-inspiring landscapes from the Sun through to Jupiter — along with some unexpected stops and visitors. A rework of Gustav Holst's 'The Planets' by Peewee Ferris will soundtrack the shows, available via the Cinewav app (which you can download here), to heighten the experiential journey. And you'll be able to marvel at these sights for free. Catch the recurring light shows from 9.10pm from your vantage point of Circular Quay or The Rocks. This event will only light up Sydney Harbour for six nights throughout the duration of Vivid Sydney 2023. Written in the Stars is running from 9.10pm on Sunday, May 28 and Wednesday, May 31 then June 4th, 7th, 12th and 14th. For more information, visit the website.
From clowns to furry critters to dolls, 80s and 90s pop culture drew plenty of scares from childhood staples. Decades later, Hollywood is conjuring up plenty more by bringing it all back again. With the IT remake not only working a charm back in 2017, but releasing a star-studded sequel later this year, the folks behind it are reviving another old favourite: Child's Play. While the horror franchise released its last instalment, Cult of Chucky, as recently as 2017, the new Child's Play is starting all over again. Remaking the original 1989 movie, it'll re-introduce the world to the psychopathic flame-haired plaything with a lust for murder. This time, the toy will terrorise Aubrey Plaza, who plays a young mother to a son who comes into possession of the knife-wielding doll. Whether you've seen any of the seven other Chucky flicks or are too creeped out by the idea to watch, you can probably guess where the story goes — this time, however, the murderous plastic moppet has been updated for the 21st century. And if you're excited about the character's comeback, then you'll be just as excited to know that even more is in store, with a Child's Play TV series also in the works. Check out the unsettling first trailer for the new Child's Play movie below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFy8ZgLd574 Child's Play releases in Australian cinemas on June 20, 2019.
When Sunset Song opens, Chris Guthrie (Agyness Deyn) reclines in a field of wheat, her golden locks matching the crops around her. The young Scottish woman both stands out and blends in — and as her gentle narration tells of her heart beating in this land, it's clear that no other option is possible. Just as the ground around her will be plucked bare during the harvest and then grow another bounty, repeating the same cycle over and over again, so will her tale continue to wither and blossom. Chris is the daughter of a farmer, and as resilient as the rural patch of earth she can't tear herself away from. It's that concept of strength and endurance that sits at the heart of Terence Davies' latest feature, which the writer-director adapts from the 1932 Scottish novel of the same name. Time passes, as the filmmaker stresses in the changing colours of his nature-filled visuals, in circular shots that sweep around the property, and in elegant transitions between pivotal moments. And still, as both tragedy and happiness flavour Chris' days, she remains. Set in the early 1900s, the particulars of the plot test that notion, starting with Chris' cruel father (Peter Mullan). When he's not imposing his might upon Chris' brother (Jack Greenlees), he's forcing himself upon her mother (Daniela Nardini) and creating more mouths to feed as a result. After a series of tragedies, it's his shadow Chris tries to escape – not by giving up her home, but by bringing it back to prosperity. Then she starts to notice local lad Ewan (Kevin Guthrie). But just like everything around them in a time characterised by poverty and blighted by the Great War, their romance will change with the seasons. With the quiet, devastating The Deep Blue Sea the last listing on Davies' resume, the British filmmaker is no stranger to simmering stories that whisper their emotions. In fact, his 40-year career is full of them. Sunset Song doesn't shy away from its condemnation of the ways in which men shape Chris' existence, nor from celebrations of her determination to fight to make her own choices. Nevertheless, his approach remains as subtle and low-key as ever. Indeed, it's his masterly way of drawing strength from episodic events and understated sentiments that makes the sensitively crafted film seethe with such potency. The patient pace and painterly images mark the feature as one of Davies' best, but it's his perceptive casting choices that likewise prove pivotal. Better known as a model, Deyn brings a composed but never passive or impenetrable air to her protagonist that couldn't encapsulate the underlying narrative better. Guthrie's previous screen credits may be similarly sparse, but there's a sense of rawness simmering within his character's struggle to choose strength over weakness. Never dwarfed by Mullan's intensity, together their performances capture just the balance of harshness and beauty that this moving tale demands.
On any given weekend, you'll find a Brisbane bar, pub or other boozy establishment hosting a festival somewhere around town. We all know what those kinds of events are about — and while celebrating beer, wine, gin, whiskey or whichever alcoholic tipples take your fancy is all well and great, healthier alternatives also deserve their time to shine. Like having a few drinks, but prefer to do so with low- or no-alcohol beverages? Whether you're giving your liver a rest for a month, you're often the designated driver or you're staying away from booze for health, cultural or other reasons, the Healthy Hedonism Festival has your back. As the name suggests, this day-long fest is all about treating yo'self while still taking care of yourself. Taking over X Cargo from 8am on Sunday, February 2, the event will feature a heap of brands and companies in the wellness, mindful drinking and sober space — such as Lyre's Spirit Co, with its non-boozy spirits; Gold Coast-based Sobah, who sling alcohol-free craft beers; and mixer outfit Fever-Tree. Aperol will also be there, so expect spritzes, while Heineken's no-alcohol beer is also on the menu. Plus, the day will include fitness and wellness classes — think swimming, boxing and yoga. Also on the bill: DJs, food and guest speakers chatting about a range of topics. Tickets start at $59, which includes a gift bag, a cocktail on arrival, access to more than six classes, and sessions on healthy snacks and making cocktails.
Lust For Life Gallery are once again playing host to the annual exhibition which celebrates women in art, Viva La Femme. Twenty female artists will have their work on display, with mediums varying from mixed media to conventional painting to photography to drawing — each work full of life and showcasing a different vision of femininity and what it is to be a woman. There will be a performance by Lisa Fa'alafi, a Pacific performance artist who will be bringing humour, political satire, costume design and analysis of pacific heritage together to create a surely amazing piece of theatrical art. Artists on display include but aren’t limited to Rose Brixton, Kellie Jagoe, Cherie Barben, Rachel Hanwick, Kim Wheeler, Tiffany Atkin, Symone Male, Molly Shields, Candice Tomlinson, Vanessa Perske, Eleisha Boevink and Sundari Vanwolf. Bring a gold coin for donation and enjoy a night celebrating the achievements of women in art. All genders welcome!
If you've ever worn a little black dress, then you owe Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel a big thank you. Depending on your choice of suit, bag and perfume, you might owe her some gratitude there as well. The French designer's influence upon 20th-century fashion extends far and wide — and, even though she passed away in 1971, her imprint can be felt in the 21st century as well. So, when the NGV International sends some love her way at its next blockbuster exhibition, it'll have plenty to cover. Displaying at the St Kilda Road gallery from Sunday, December 5, 2021–Monday, April 25, 2022, Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto will arrive fresh from its current stint at Paris' Palais Galliera. Its stop in Melbourne is its first international jaunt, in fact. On show will be pieces from the French venue, as well as from the Patrimoine de Chanel, the fashion house's heritage department. More than 100 garments will grace the NGV's walls and halls, with the exhibition charting her career. You'll also be able to see what Chanel achieved with perfume, jewellery and accessory design, too. Some pieces will date back more than a century, given that the fashion icon opened her first boutique in Deauville in 1912, before making the leap to her own Parisian couture house in 1918. Expect to check out everything from black threads — obviously — to lace gowns, wool jersey and tailored tweed suits, and an array of beaded garments. As you peer at Chanel's designs, you'll see how womenswear developed, and both how and why she's left a mark that still lingers today. [caption id="attachment_819495" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Gabrielle Chanel (designer). Dress, spring–summer 1925, silk guipure lace, silk organza flower. Patrimoine de Chanel, Paris. Photo © Julien T. Hamon.[/caption] The NGV is also adding its own Chanel pieces to the exhibition, such as a white lace Evening dress that dates back to 1933, and a shirred red silk velvet and marabou-lined evening cape from around 1924–26. They'll form part of a showcase that's split into themed sections, with different parts devoted to her early work, the way her design language evolved in the 1920s and 1930s, the iconic scent that is Chanel No 5, and how the brand's pieces have favoured a look best described as "austere luxury". Also getting their own themed strands: suits, accessories and jewellery. To launch Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto, which will be ticketed — and will be the first-ever exhibition in Australia that'll solely focus on Chanel's contributions to fashion and culture — the NGV is bringing back its black-tie NGV Gala, which'll take place on Saturday, December 4. [caption id="attachment_819496" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Gabrielle Chanel, c. 1930s, photograph by André Kertész. Médiathèque de l'architecture et du patrimoine. Photo © Ministère de la Culture–Médiathèque del'architecture et du patrimoine, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais /André Kertész. Courtesy of the National Gallery of Victoria.[/caption] Announcing the exhibition, NGV Director Tony Ellwood AM said that "there is no bigger name in 20th-century fashion design than Gabrielle Chanel. Her originality, timelessness and elegance forged a radically modern vision of fashion and a singular style. Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto will be expansive, visually sumptuous and will reveal the achievements and enduring legacy of the extraordinary French fashion designer." If you decide to wear a little black dress while you're checking out all things Chanel this summer, you'll likely have plenty of company. Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto will display at the NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne from Sunday, December 5, 2021–Monday, April 25, 2022. For more information, or to buy tickets, head to the gallery's website. Top image: Anne Sainte-Marie in a Chanel suit, photograph by Henry Clarke, published in Vogue US, 1955, retouched by ARCP. ParisMusées. © Henry Clarke, ParisMusées /PalaisGalliera/ADAGP. Copyright Agency, 2021.
For half a century now, hit musical The Rocky Horror Show has been astounding. And, with the Richard O'Brien-created production lasting that long, perhaps time really is fleeting. Either way, whenever this sci-fi/horror musical hits the stage — and wherever — a glorious kind of madness takes its toll. From Saturday, September 2–Saturday, September 23, Queensland audiences can listen closely — and watch Jerry Springer: The Opera, In the Heights and & Juliet Olivier Award-winner David Bedella as Frank N Furter put his hands on his hips, then bring his knees in tight, too — when the famed musical plays The Star on its huge 50th-anniversary tour. The Rocky Horror Show's brand-new Aussie run kicked off at Theatre Royal Sydney in February, then made its way Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth. There's no word yet on a Brisbane season, so if you're keen to do 'The Time Warp' along with the production without leaving the Sunshine State, you'll need to make a date with the Gold Coast. On offer: the tale that theatre audiences have loved for five decades — and movie-goers as well, thanks to 1975's iconic big-screen release The Rocky Horror Picture Show. For the uninitiated, the story involves college-aged couple Brad Majors and Janet Weiss getting a flat tyre, then wandering over to an old castle to ask for help. That's where they discover an extra-terrestrial mad scientist from the galaxy of Transylvania, plus his staff and his Frankenstein-style experiments. Since first premiering in London in June 1973, The Rocky Horror Show has played in more than 30 countries — and over 30 million people have seen songs like 'Science Fiction/Double Feature', 'Dammit, Janet!', 'Sweet Transvestite', 'Over at the Frankenstein Place' and 'Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me'. If you haven't been before — and missed the live broadcast from Sydney back in March — this is your turn to join in. Images: Daniel Boud.
Summer is well under way and 2015's just rocked up to the party — what better way to celebrate than with an ice cold beverage. We've searched, navigated and tested the best of Brisbane's new bar scene and the report card is looking good (though beer goggles may have caused easier marking). From rooftop bars to beer gardens, live music venues to secret hideaways, we present the ten best new bars of summer 2015. BROOKLYN STANDARD The first thing we noticed stepping through the CBD laneway door simply marked 'BAR' was the blast of cold air conditioning. Perfection. Take the stairs down to Brooklyn Standard, your newest CBD summer hideout. With a killer live music lineup, American beers and free table pretzels, it seems sometimes the coolest summer bars can be found underground. Eagle Lane, Brisbane WOOLLY MAMMOTH ALEHOUSE Mammoth indeed! This whopper of a venue didn't just take over the Mustang Bar. Upstairs connects through to the old Woodland/Coniston Lane stage now known as Mane Stage. The equally large 'green room' behind it has become just that— the Garden Bar; a Hamptons-style tropical oasis with greenery, clashing patterns, white wood and Pimms on tap. Use the fake green to play bocce or engage in game of giant jenga. During the day, the space is bright and airy — the roof shutters open to let the best of Brisbane's sunshine in. 633 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley SOLEIL POOL BAR The area once known as Bacchus pool bar has recently underwent a makeover and relaunched as Soleil Pool Bar, a new summer spot in South Bank to be enjoyed by Brisbanites from sunrise to sunset. Tan on the pool deck or lounge around the main bar while DJs spin summer soundtracks of and a team of mixologists stir, shake and serve a brilliant array of cocktails. Soleil invites you to enjoy a poolside party vibe with a little bit of glamour as Brisbane settles in for a summer of fun in the sun. Rydges South Bank, corner of Grey and Glenelg Streets, South Bank GYPSIES WAGON We love a good bar in suburbs, and there is none hotter than Gypsies right now. Space-wise, the intimate diner consists of a dining room out front, and a bar, lounge and ample boardgames in the back. Take your pick from craft beers, bourbon-based cocktails, and of course, the signature Pisco Sour. Sometimes staff can make or break a venue, and Gypsies Wagon have nailed the perfect mix of friendly and knowledgeable, creating a welcoming space that's not at all intimidating. Let it be known, you may not make it out without a spot of Fireball Whisky. 3/281 Pickering Street, Brisbane BUFFALO BAR There's a new cowboy in town and he's serving up plenty of exactly what you hoped for — buffalo wings. Chow down on your choice of 12 flavours of wings with celery sticks and blue cheese sauce while sipping on the finest US craft beer, whisky and custom cocktails. New bars mean new surprises, and when we turned up there was a rockabilly three-piece nailing it in the corner. If you want your drinks al fresco, take it out back to the big beer garden. 169 Mary Street, Brisbane COMMUNAL BAR AND EATHOUSE Been to Brisbane Square lately? Yeah, you know that daggy space under the library? The shop spaces have been gutted and one side has just opened as Communal, with wood-fired pizza, burgers, share plates, cocktails jugs, craft beer and four white wines on tap (yes, on tap. It’s a thing now, catch up). The other side is now home to Meat & Eat, Chow Down and Cafe Brisbane. Time to gather your friends and #getcommunal. 266 George Street, Brisbane City NEXT HOTEL Take the elevator to level four. We've found your new favourite rooftop. Overlooking Queen Street Mall, this openair rooftop is the perfect place to catch the last rays set beyond South Bank. Get a snack, grab a cocktail, and pretend to talk on the phone as though you've flown in from somewhere far away and are here for important business over the weekend — yep, make yourself at home. And if you're game, take a dip in the lap pool. Go on, we dare you. 72 Queen Street, Brisbane YARD BIRD Because one food-serving, craft beer-peddling ale house is never enough, the fine folks at Yard Bird have added to its flock. Yard Bird Paddington also offers the same lunch and dinner meals patrons of the Fortitude Valley hang-out have come to know and love. We're talking chicken wings, pizzas, burgers and nachos, among other Tex-Mex nibbles, all made to be washed down with one of the eight beer and cider tipples on tap — or thirty or so others in the fridge. 208 Given Terrace, Paddington UP ON CONSTANCE Finally Brisbane. Finally we are starting to build a solid collection of rooftop bars. With an average of 263 days of sunshine per year, it seems silly that we hadn't thrown the tops off them all earlier. Up on Constance sits at the top of the new Tryp Hotel in Fortitude Valley, so start downstairs with a tasty feed at Chur Burger before heading on up for some topless drinking. 20 Constance Street, Fortitude Valley THE TRIFFID Just hearing about The Triffid makes us wants to pump our fists in the air. Former Powderfinger bassist John Collins has helped turn an old commercial aircraft hangar into a state-of-the-art music venue with a firm focus on bringing the best international, national and local acts to its stage. Talk about a win-win all round. You'll catch us having a sneaky bev and burger in the beer garden before the show. 7-9 Stratton Street, Newstead MILK FACTORY KITCHEN AND BAR It seems live music is having another heyday in Brisbane. The Milk Factory is doing it all — music, food, drinks — with a nautical twist. Let your inner pirate choose from one of the many rum-based cocktails and set sail for Japan, then Hawaii, then perhaps Korea with an ever-changing world-inspired menu. We wish we could say they only support pirate-rock bands, but that would be going overboard (sorry). 48 Montague Road, South Brisbane
What’s better than having an espresso bar in an old loading dock? Adding a gallery space out the back, obviously. That’s just what happened at Loading Dock Espresso – they’ve joined forces with the Sunny Coast’s Just Us Gallery and have created yet another space in Brisbane to look at lovely works of art – with the added perk of easily acquiring a perfectly brewed cuppa joe in case your caffeine levels drop to unmanageable lows. Just Us throws its doors open this Friday (actually, rolls up the rickety garage door), and it’s going to be a little something special. Exhibiting for the first time outside of his homeland of the U! S! A!, Scott Toepfer brings his Furthest Horizons exhibition to the Dock, coinciding with the Australian launch of his book, Chasing Horizons. With a penchant for capturing the idyllic American West, Toepfer works for the likes of Converse and Harley Davidson and has had work featured in Monster Children, amongst many others. It’s the American dream! The upcoming weather is perfect for a road trip to nowhere, and after viewing Furthest Horizons it’ll seem like you’re on Route 66 as opposed to the M3.
Since Samson & Delilah arrived in 2009, earned the Cannes Film Festival's prestigious Caméra d'Or for Best First Feature and proved an instant great of Australian cinema, every project from filmmaker Warwick Thornton has been a must-see. He got spooky with ghost-story anthology The Darkside, pondered the nation's relationship with the Southern Cross in documentary We Don't Need a Map and explored the country's race relations in blistering historical drama Sweet Country. Then, he co-directed the second season of the Mystery Road TV series, turned the camera on himself in meditative small-screen doco The Beach and was also behind vampires-in-the-outback show Firebite. Thornton is an Aussie icon. With his latest project, he has also joined forces with a fellow Aussie icon: Cate Blanchett. The Oscar-winning actor is following up her award-nominated role in Tár earlier in 2023 with Thornton's new film The New Boy — and playing a renegade nun in 1940s Australia, no less. As the just-dropped trailer shows, The New Boy heads to a remote monastery with a mission for Indigenous children, where Sister Eileen (Blanchett) is in charge. In a sneak peek filled with golden hues and bubbling with a thoughtful mood, her faith is tested when the titular child (newcomer Aswan Reid), a nine-year-old orphan, arrives and has his own experience with religion, which clashes with the mission's take on Christianity. Thornton writes and directs The New Boy, as he did with with Samson and Delilah and We Don't Need a Map. He also does triple duty as his own cinematographer, as he also has with the bulk of his filmography. And, on-screen, Deborah Mailman (Total Control) and Wayne Blair (Seriously Red) feature alongside Blanchett and Reid. Unsurprisingly given its helmer, star and the former's Cannes history, The New Boy premiered at the prestigious French film festival in May, and enjoys its first Aussie screening as the opening-night film at the Sydney Film Festival. After that, audiences Australia-wide will be able to check out the dream pairing of Thornton and Blanchett — and the movie debut of Reid — when The New Boy hits cinemas in general release on Thursday, July 6. Check out the trailer for The New Boy below: The New Boy opens in Australian cinemas on July 6.
IKEA and Ideabox, a U.S. architectural firm, have teamed up to create a line of fully furnished, prefabricated houses. The new homes, called Aktiv, are one-bedroom dwellings filled with space saving furniture and the usual Ikea fare, including Tundra maple flooring, Pax wardrobes and Abstrakt cabinets. Designed to be eco-friendly, the outside of the home will be made from a combination of fibre cement, corrugated metal and a standing seam metal roof. The Aktiv house is equipped with a dual-flush toilet and energy-star electronics to ensure it is more environmentally sound too. The house will incorporate the fun and design of Ideabox houses together with the functionality, design and personality of IKEA. The Aktiv is set to be priced from US$86,500. Prefab homes have already taken off overseas, and are set to provide Australians with an increasingly attractive construction option in the years to come. Check out ten incredible prefab home designs here. [via PSFK]
Picture this: a perfectly portioned entree of beautiful flavour combinations followed by a deliciously tasty main course and a light and sweet dessert that looks as good as it tastes. Got it? Now picture this: it's only $30. Yes, you read correctly. The Eatery (the in-house restaurant at Brisbane's newly constructed CBD hotel Four Points by Sheraton) is ticking all the boxes when it comes to weekday dining options. This hidden gem, situated on level two of the hotel on Mary Street, is seriously worth stepping off the main road for. Patrons are treated to a three-course Market Express Lunch for only $30 or two courses for $24.95, the usual all-you-can-eat breakfast buffets and, on Friday and Saturday nights, a fresh seafood buffet for only $55. The menu showcases wonderful fresh and seasonal Queensland produce but takes your tastebuds around the world, drawing inspiration from Asia, America and Italy. Think entrees of wild mushroom risotto with portobellos, mascarpone, preserved lemon and shaved pecorino or five-hour slow-roasted pork belly with cauliflower puree, sous vide mustard apple balls and a sticky Cumberland sauce. For mains, diners have the choice of dishes like the chef-made saffron fettuccine, Thai green curry, pan-fried prawns in Napoli sauce or spice rub chicken with house-made corn bread and mint and coriander relish. If you have enough room for dessert (it's highly recommended that you do), you'll have the choice of light and fruity — a vacherin of fresh fruit with meringue, ice cream and smoked apple jelly — or something a bit more decadent, tiramisu with a shot of espresso and chocolate soil. For the savoury fans, there is also the cheese plate of epic proportions that could easily be shared between three. The Eatery is a perfect venue for a city business lunch or grazing for a few hours catching up with friends. With three courses for only $30, you really can't put a foot wrong.
Western Sydney could use a love letter right now, and that tribute arrives in Here Out West. The product of eight up-and-coming screenwriters from the area, it celebrates a place that has spent much of the past year garnering attention for a reason no one wanted: thanks to the tighter rules applied to the region during Sydney's four-month stretch of stay-at-home conditions in 2021, it was home to New South Wales' strictest lockdown of the pandemic to-date. Thankfully, COVID-19 isn't this movie's focus. Instead, as told in nine languages — Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Kurdish, Tagalog, Turkish, Vietnamese, Spanish and English — and helmed by five female filmmakers, Here Out West dwells in everyday lives. It champions by seeing and recognising, and by trumpeting voices that have always been there but are infrequently given a microphone. Of course, as thoughtful and meaningful as Here Out West is — and as welcome a move it makes with sincere multicultural representation in Australia — it really shouldn't stand out as much as it does. There shouldn't have needed to be a concerted effort to champion western Sydney voices to make a film like this. It shouldn't grab attention as a rarity, either, and it shouldn't feel so timely because of the events of the last 12 months. Here Out West does all of these things because it's an outlier in Australia's homegrown filmic output, but it also clearly makes a case that's already apparent and inherent anyway: that presenting more than just the stereotypical image of Australia, and opting for a genuine picture of the country as it actually is instead, should always be the baseline and status quo. Opening shots of suburban houses and looping highways set the scene: viewers aren't journeying to an Aussie beach or the nation's parched outback expanse, aka two of the prevailing visions of this sunburnt, sea-girt continent on-screen. Rather, Here Out West unfurls its octet of intertwined vignettes in spaces far more ordinary — not to downplay the importance of surveying western Sydney, but to clearly note that these are its daily playgrounds. It's here that mothers have babies, neighbours look after the kids next door, grandmothers worry about their grandchildren, dads struggle to connect with their sons, and sport and food are among the ways that people come together. It's here that adults bicker among themselves over love, and with their parents about their futures. It's where lives begin and end, and where folks with dreams both big and modest also try to start anew. And yes, all of these scenarios are covered by the film's narrative. Initially, Here Out West spends time with Nancy (Geneviève Lemon, The Tourist), who takes care of her eight-year-old neighbour Amirah (debutant Mia-Lore Bayeh), but wasn't actually planning to help out today. She has a newborn granddaughter to meet — one that the authorities are planning to take away, so Nancy makes a drastic decision that'll ripple throughout the community across the movie's one-day timeframe. In the film's second segment, hospital carpark security guard Jorge (fellow first-timer Christian Ravello) is brought into the wider story, and also gets a snapshot chapter of his own. His instalment then intersects with friends Rashid (Rahel Romahn, Moon Rock for Monday), Dino (Thuso Lekwape, Book Week) and Robi (Arka Das, Babyteeth), who run through the streets arguing about Rashid's cousin. Next, their section links in with Ashmita (Leah Vandenberg, The Hunting) and her dying Bengali-speaking father back at the local hospital. Returning to specific spots comes with territory, because it comes with living anywhere; paths cross, people are drawn to the same busy and central locations, and some facilities — such as Here Out West's pivotal hospital — are always a hive of activity in any community. That truth continues to drive the film as it meets Kurdish refugees Keko (De Lovan Zandy) and Xoxe (Befrin Axtjärn Jackson), who are hoping to make a new beginning that still involves his penchant for music and her skills hand-weaving carpets, before jumping to Tuan (Khoi Trinh) and his brother Andy (Brandon Nguyen), who possess varying ideas about what it means to be Vietnamese Australian. Then comes a glimpse at nurse Roxanne's (Christine Milo, It's a Cult!) day as she works a double shift and misses her family in The Philippines. And, there's also Winnie (Gabrielle Chan, Hungry Ghosts) and Angel (Jing-Xuan Chan, Neighbours) as the mother and daughter close their Chinese restaurant for the last time. The common threads linking Here Out West's chapters are the ties that bind everyone: family, place and hope. But writers Nisrine Amine, Das (who acts as well as pens his section of the film), Bina Bhattacharya, Matias Bolla, Claire Cao, Dee Dogan, Vonne Patiag and Tien Tran find their own takes on the movie's common elements, sometimes by drawing from experience — and, unsurprisingly, the feature frequently feels personal. That sensation connects each of the picture's segments, too, with every section peering intimately at western Sydney residents, their lives and their emotions, and showing both the specific and the universal in the process. That isn't a revolutionary overall approach, and has long made so many stories strike a chord on pages, stages and screens, but the way that Here Out West uses such sparks of recognition is equally astute and moving. As directed by feature first-timers Fadia Abboud, Lucy Gaffy and Julie Kalceff, as well as the more seasoned Ana Kokkinos (Blessed) and Leah Purcell (The Drover's Wife The Legend of Molly Johnson), Here Out West also charts a route that most anthologies do — because not every part matches the last or next. Each of its eight vignettes bring engaging people to the screen, and function as perceptively drawn character studies, but there's more to some than others. That's as fitting as the movie's naturalistically shot look, however, because that too reflects the reality that Here Out West so determinedly channels. Some tales are slight, others are immense and plenty sit in-between, but in this powerful, authentic, diversity-celebrating ode to western Sydney, they're all worth telling and sharing.
In a year that's already seen The Zoo say goodbye (ahead of its space reopening as the new Crowbar), another go-to for Brisbane's music fans is also bidding farewell. A West End favourite for over a decade, record store Jet Black Cat Music is shutting up shop before 2024 is out. More than just a place to buy tunes, the Vulture Street venue has also hosted gigs and parties — and held its own music festival over at The Tivoli. Your last day to head by: Saturday, December 28, 2024, which gives you somewhere to splash your Christmas cash to send off this inner-city haunt. While its physical digs are closing, Jet Black Cat Music will live on, however, thankfully keeping its website up and running. The JBCM team announced the news on social media, noting that "we are shape-shifting, moving on from our bricks-and-mortar shop in West End, and taking on a few form as we continue to grow into our new life which is all about bringing great music and people together through touring and events". The statement continued: "Jet Black Cat Music on the corner of Thomas and Vulture streets in downtown West End has been the most wonderful and lengthy chapter of my life so far, WOW! The store has been a magical portal, we have hosted so many of my favourite artists such as Aldous Harding, Julia Jacklin, Angie McMahon, Dick Diver, Twerps, Courtney Barnett, Jen Cloher, Haley Heyndrickx, The Beth's, M Ward, Weyes Blood, Sharon Van Etten, Frankie Cosmos, Sampa The Great, Marlon Williams, Phantastic Ferniture, Toro Y Moi, Dry Cleaning, Charli xcx, Marina Allen, Christian Lee Hutson, Big Scary, Floodlights ... and opened up a pathway into promoting tours and presenting great shows in far and wide locations". View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jet Black Cat Music (@jetblackcatmusic) Before settling into its current home, Jet Black Cat Music began its life at Davies Park Markets. It plans not only to remain online, but to also be part of "pop-ups, markets, festivals, listening parties and things that haven't even been dreamt up yet", the crew also revealed. January 2025 would've marked 14 years of JBCM on Vulture Street — and just as long of lengthy lines around the corner on Record Store Day, as well as spotting the store's black tote bags around town. Find Jet Black Cat Music at 72 Vulture Street, West End — open 9am–4pm Thursday–Saturday — until Saturday, December 28, 2024. The store will live on online; head to the Jet Black Cat Music website for more details. Top image: Google Maps.
These days it seems like just about anywhere can be a cinema. Rooftop viewing is all the rage, drive-ins are popping up all over the place, and even local bars is getting in on the action. But that's only the beginning. Come April in Brisbane, film buffs will be getting locked up for their movie fix. No, going to the movies isn't being outlawed. Instead, cult film guru Kristian Fletcher has put together yet another must-attend event. This time, he's hosting a brand new movie night at Boggo Road Gaol. With a "when in Rome" attitude, Fletcher's regular program will serve up prison films in a prison setting – because flicks about roaming free in wide open spaces really wouldn't work, would they? First cab off the rank is The Great Escape on April 29, followed by 80's classic Brubaker and the Coen brothers' Miller's Crossing. And if you're wondering why we haven't mentioned The Shawshank Redemption yet, don't worry. Of course it will also grace Boggo Road's big screen. Each movie will start at 7:30pm, although anyone after more than just a film is encouraged to arrive an hour earlier. That way you can take an ex-prisoner tour, browse the markets, and peruse the jail art show. Our tip: BYO Rita Hayworth poster if you think you might want to tunnel out of there during the evening. Prison Movie Nights at Boggo Road Gaol kick off on April 29. Tickets will be $15 per film, or $35 for a film and tour combo. For more information keep your eyes on the Boggo Road Gaol website.
The Nice Guys mightn't have scored a sequel, but The Fall Guy does nicely instead. Getting a hearty workout: Ryan Gosling's charm, comedic talent that just earned an Oscar-nominated showcase in Barbie and action skills as last seen in The Gray Man. He's back in stunts, too, as Drive first gifted the world so mesmerisingly. A loose remake of the 80s television series of the same name, The Fall Guy is a take-it-and-run-with-it kind of film, then. Not only does it grasp hold of what Gosling does best and sprint, but the same applies for co-lead Emily Blunt (Pain Hustlers) — and, of course, for director David Leitch (Bullet Train), who first took the journey from stunt performer to filmmaker with John Wick, has kept filling his resume with action fare since (see: Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw and Bullet Train) and now virtually comes full circle in helming a flick where his protagonist does the same gig that he once did. Gosling's Colt Seavers is also taking it and running with it — in a profession where it's his job to help bring whatever impossible physical endeavour is required to the screen, as well as on the gig that gets him to Sydney. The Fall Guy starts 18 months prior to his trip Down Under, however, but still with him doubling for Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bullet Train), one of the world's biggest actors. Seavers has a career that he loves and steady work at it thanks to Ryder's fame. He's also happily romancing Jody Moreno (Blunt), a camera operator with dreams of doing more. Then a stunt goes wrong, leaving him badly injured, battered and bruised emotionally and psychologically, and inspiring him to quit the business. Only a call from Ryder-loving producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso) sparks his return to the industry — he makes a crust as a valet once he's fit and able in-between — and, even then, it's only really the fact that Moreno is helming Ryder's latest movie as her directorial debut that nudges him onto the plane. Upon his arrival in Australia, Seavers soon discovers that the situation isn't exactly what he's been told. Ryder is missing from the Metalstorm set, putting the future of the production at risk. Shady folks keep popping up whenever anyone — well, Seavers — goes looking for the absent star. And Moreno had zero advance idea that the man who ghosted her had been enlisted on the shoot, and is far from thrilled about it or the way that their relationship ended. Trying to win her back, getting emotional fortification from Taylor Swift tunes The Bear-style, attempting to track down Ryder, evading the unsavoury figures on this trail, bouncing around Sydney: sometimes while fending off sword-swinging foes, sometimes while wearing fluoro, sometimes while paired with an acting dog who'll chomp on command, that's all on Seavers' plate in Drew Pearce's (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw) zippy screenplay. There's an easy, breezy vibe to The Fall Guy, the kind that comes from knowing wholeheartedly that you're capitalising upon the strengths of your key players. Although Seavers dates back to the television iteration and there was a Jody on the small screen, too (Banks, not Moreno), the film's main pair were moulded around Gosling and Blunt — and it always shows. For him, it's a charisma-forward performance whether he's getting goofy, earnest or thrust into a fray. His Kenergy-fuelled comic timing is impeccable, as is his ability to sell Seavers' soul-searching stint after a career that requires him to be invincible reminds him that no one is. For her, joining a resume that also includes excellent action turns in Looper and Edge of Tomorrow, it's a portrayal built on pluck. When Gosling and Blunt are together, the film boasts as much crackling chemistry — often of the screwball type — as it does dynamic fights, explosions, shootouts and car chases (one of the latter famously on the Sydney Harbour Bridge). And there are fights, explosions, shootouts and car chases (and boat jumps, helicopter battles and vehicular cannon rolls). You don't make a movie about a stunt performer on a mystery-caper adventure while working on a mega-budget alien sci-fi war romance flick — a film that turns the Sydney Opera House into a backdrop while it's at it — without highlighting stunts, stunts and more stunts. You definitely don't hold back if this was once your life as well. The action doesn't disappoint, nor does the commitment to weaving how such action comes to fruition into The Fall Guy's action sequences, complete with underscoring the importance of practical effects in the broader feature and the picture within it. This is a winking-and-nodding movie to its primary genre, lovingly so, right down to references built into the film. With stunt coordinator Dan Tucker (Winston Duke, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), Seavers swaps references to other films (The Last of the Mohicans and Rocky III, for instance). One of his prized possessions: a Miami Vice jacket. The words of 'Unknown Stuntman', the theme to TV's The Fall Guy which gets a new cover here, are clearly a guiding light for Leitch on this movie: "I might fall from a tall building, I might roll a brand-new car, 'cause I'm the unknown stuntman that made Redford such a star" is one memorable line. Accordingly, though the very basis of filmmaking's stunt performer-actor setup is that the former are meant to convince the audience that it's the latter risking their lives, revelling in everything that The Fall Guy throws Gosling's way as Seavers means relishing the work of his doubles Ben Jenkin (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) and Justin Eaton (The Killer). The campaign for the stunts game to be given the credit it deserves — aka an Oscar category — couldn't earn a more persuasive push, then. Leitch's feature manages something that most flicks would kill for, because action deployed for the sake of it, then shot frantically and edited messily, gets repetitive; The Fall Guy is the lively, passionate and meticulously crafted antithesis of routine smashing and bashing. Back-and-forth rom-com bantering can similarly fall flat if the stars and the vibe aren't right. There's something about Sydney of late: in Anyone But You, Sydney Sweeney (Immaculate) and Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) made it work in the Harbour City, as Gosling and Blunt do in the same place in The Fall Guy. So, while The Nice Guys mightn't have received a follow-up, it's easy to see The Fall Guy becoming a big-screen franchise, and welcomely. At the very least for its magnetic leads, it should set a new repeat double act in motion. Gosling teamed up with Emma Stone (Poor Things) three times on Crazy, Stupid, Love, Gangster Squad and La La Land, and makes an equally delightful duo with his current co-star. Just as there should be no underestimating stunt feats in general or in this flick, as Leitch stresses again and again, there should be no downplaying the ride that Gosling and Blunt take their characters on in this fun film, either — from doing the hard work while others win the glory to finally getting their time to shine.
It's hard to miss Tibetan Kitchen. The bright yellow and blue building right on Petrie Terrace is the sort of place you've probably driven past a hundred times and never actually been inside. But you should. The restaurant specialises in authentic Tibetan cuisine, including momos — steamed and fried dumplings, filled with meat or veggies, coriander, ginger and garlic, served with house-made chutney. For the vegetarians, Tibetan Kitchen in Brisbane City has veg kofta with mashed potato, chickpeas, capsicum and coriander rolled into balls that are deep-fried, then cooked in a spicy sauce. We also love the veg shapka, which has potatoes, mixed vegetables and tomatoes cooked in a curry sauce loaded with ginger, garlic and coriander. Round out your meal with some starters — we suggest the aloo chop (curried potato patties with homemade chutney) or spinach dhal soup — and the staple rice, bread and khir for dessert, a Nepalese pudding topped with caramel. Image: Hennessy Trill
Goodbye Henry Cavill, hello Liam Hemsworth: when The Witcher returns for season four, that's the first big talking point. The change is old news, given that it was announced back in 2022, but seeing it in action isn't. And while Netflix hasn't yet revealed when it is bringing its hit fantasy series back, it has just dropped the first teaser for the new episodes — including the first look at Hemsworth (Land of Bad) as Geralt of Rivia. The icy long locks and the firm gaze are all accounted for in the brief debut glimpse at The Witcher season four, in what'll be the first season without Argylle's Cavill. Hemsworth takes over the part for not just season four but also season five, after the show was renewed for a fifth and final season in April 2024 before its fourth even airs. They're both currently being filmed back to back. So, get ready to toss a coin to your new witcher, and then one more time — but that'll be it. "As a Witcher fan I'm over the moon about the opportunity to play Geralt of Rivia," Hemsworth said when the casting change was initially announced. "Henry Cavill has been an incredible Geralt, and I'm honoured that he's handing me the reins and allowing me to take up the White Wolf's blades for the next chapter of his adventure. Henry, I've been a fan of yours for years and was inspired by what you brought to this beloved character. I may have some big boots to fill, but I'm truly excited to be stepping into The Witcher world," he continued. [caption id="attachment_748890" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Henry Cavill in The Witcher[/caption] If you haven't watched the first three seasons yet but the name sounds familiar from elsewhere, that's because The Witcher is based on the short stories and novels of writer Andrzej Sapkowski — and, as well as being turned into comics, it was adapted the video game series of the same name. A Polish film and TV show also reached screens in the early 2000s, although they were poorly received. Sapkowski's last three Witcher books, aka Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow and Lady of the Lake, will form the basis of the Netflix series' final two seasons. In the Netflix effort, Cavill and now Hemsworth play the witcher of the title. Geralt of Rivia prefers to work — aka slay beasts — alone in a realm called The Continent. But life has other plans for the lone wolf, forcing him to cross paths with powerful sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra, The Cypher) and young princess Ciri (Freya Allan, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes). Alongside Hemsworth, season four will also welcome Laurence Fishburne (John Wick: Chapter 4), Sharlto Copley (Boy Kills World), James Purefoy (The Veil) and Danny Woodburn (Bookie) to the cast. Check out the first teaser for The Witcher season four below: The Witcher's fourth season doesn't yet have a release date — we'll update you when one is announced. The show's first three seasons are currently available to stream via Netflix.
Fantastic shows and performances are one part of MELT. Vibrant, diverse art is another. Simply take a look at the Brisbane Powerhouse's walls, and you'll understand, with the venue decking out its foyers with a host of MELT creativity. No fewer than six works and exhibitions are on display until Sunday, July 7. As you'd expect, it's an inclusive and lively bunch. You'll spot the first, Tim Glorious' Tethered Together, as you approach the venue, because you can't miss this multi-coloured projection — and that's just the starting point. From there, the annual MELT Portrait Prize celebrates LGBTIQ+ heroes, Dr Heather Faulkner's A Matter of Time looks into the lesbian experience during Queensland's more conservative days, and Matthew Taylor Thomas' Stygian Stones examines intolerance by taking inspiration from Greek mythology. There's also Talking Can Make Things Better, which focuses on conversations to reduce self-harm and suicide, plus Sophie Reid-Singer's Brood, which uses video, satire and cats to comment on the way society treats people with disabilities.
OVERVIEW Are you an authority on pop culture, music, food, drink, events and city life? Are you adept at putting your thoughts on those things into words that people can’t help but read? Are you a total pro at all things digital? Concrete Playground is currently seeking a skilled, experienced journalist/editor to join its Sydney team as deputy editor, and if you answered in the affirmative to all of the above, you may just be the person we’re looking for. RESPONSIBILITIES Working closely with the editor-in-chief from our Redfern, Sydney office, you'll come up with story ideas, write articles and commission work from a team of freelancers. Fastidious subediting will be a pillar of your day, as will making images, text, video and links work together as a happy whole. Your primary responsibilities will include: Leading Concrete Playground's news and features content across Australia and New Zealand.Management and growth of Concrete Playground’s various social media channels.Assisting with the planning and execution of Concrete Playground’s editorial strategy.Creation of varied written and multimedia content.Management of freelance news contributors across five cities. REQUIREMENTS A university degreeAt least one year's experience in the online media environment.A demonstrated ability to write smart, funny, popular articles quickly, and to come up with even more ideas than you can write.Solid subediting skills and ability to work with a style guide.Experience with social media management and strategy.Knowledge of SEO and basic HTML.Experience working with a content management system (preferably Wordpress).A good eye for images and skills with image production (preferably Photoshop).Expertise on the topics of music and pop culture, though you might also be strong in: technology, design, sustainability, current affairs, fashion, lifestyle, travel, food & drink, film, the arts and local cultural life.Some photography or videography skills. HOW TO APPLY Please send your cover letter, CV and links to 3-4 relevant online writing samples to Concrete Playground’s editor-in-chief, Rima Sabina Aouf, at contribute@concreteplayground.com.au WHO WE ARE Concrete Playground is an online weather vane pointing readers to the cultural tornadoes that are just about to hit. Our writers, editors and contributors have a constant ear to the under and above (but never middle) ground of the creative worlds of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Auckland and Wellington. Ideally, applicants will be pretty familiar with us and what we're about.
Is there a better name for a reggae festival than Jammin, which instantly gets the sounds of Bob Marley stuck in your head? Probably not. And at 2024's Jammin, the event is living up to that moniker by featuring Julian Marley, one of the Jamaican icon's sons, on its lineup. His set list is known to feature his dad's songs — 'Jamming' among them. Marley will take to the stage in Brisbane when the festival plays the Riverstage for two days across Saturday, February 3–Sunday, February 4. He has plenty of big-name reggae company, starting with Sean Paul, UB40 featuring Ali Campbell and Shaggy — yes, Mr Boombastic himself. From there, the roster of talent includes Stefflon Don, Fiji, Oxlade, J Boog, Third World and Common Kings, as well as Maoli, Spawnbreezie, The Green, Pia Mia, Latasha Lee, Josh Wawa, Eli Mac and Sione Toki. Plus, Sons of Zion, Sammy J, Nesian Mystik, House of Shem, 1814 and Three Houses Down are hopping across the ditch from New Zealand's reggae scene. In Brisbane, Shaggy headlines the Saturday, while Sean Paul and UB40 featuring Al Campbell do the honours on Sunday. Top image: Bieniecki Piotr via Wikimedia Commons.
It's the winding brown snake that Brisbanites see every day. We drive over it, we speed along it in CityCats, and we stare at it from bars and restaurants. Fancy paddling your way through it, too? Even better — fancy hitting the water for $5? With New Farm Park now home to the New Farm Park River Hub, cruising the river recreationally has become a whole lot easier. That's one of the main ideas behind the new addition — aka encouraging folks to kayak, canoe and stand-up paddleboard their way along the waterway. And to celebrate that fact, Brisbane City Council is joining forces with Vertec Adventure to host 90-minute-long Kayak Eco Adventure tours that won't drain your wallet. Bookings are essential; however for $5 per person, you can get paddling in a two-seat kayak as part of a guided experience. All kayaking and safety equipment is provided. Sessions run at 8am and 9.30am on Sunday, December 8. If you're feeling hungry afterwards, Mary Mae's beneath Brisbane Powerhouse is doing hampers from $25 filled with fruit, cured meats, cheese and crackers. BCC is hosting other sessions up and down the river between now and April, too — keep an eye on the website for further details.
Fish Lane's Town Square is putting its patch of pavement to good use, with markets now popping up in the South Brisbane spot. While bars and eateries line the laneway, and festivals have taken it over as well, Fish Lane has only hosted its own stalls for two years now — and given you a reason to head by to browse and buy locally made art, ceramics and other goods. In 2022, that also includes the return of Fish Lane's Christmas markets. Running from 9am–1pm on Sunday, December 18, it'll span a heap of stalls filled with everything from fashion, plants, art and jewellery to natural skincare and accessories for your dog. In fact, the road between Hope and Grey streets will be closed down for the day to accommodate the market — and you can obviously bring your four-legged friend with you as you browse. Food-wise, Fish Lane's existing cafes and eateries will keep you feed and caffeinated while you shop.
Think Taps, the Brunswick Street bar that lets you pour your own beers, is just about the beverages? Think again. On Australia Day, they're also about combining a pint with a few friendly competitions. If ever there was an occasion for drinking games, it's this one. Given they're calling the event the Taps Olympics, you can safely expect more than a few rounds of shenanigans. Plus, there's something fitting about celebrating our great multicultural nation by embracing a sporting contest first started in Ancient Greece many, many centuries ago.
Sick of searching for that one last kebab joint on your weekend walks home? Say hello to our city's new food trucks, ten mobile restaurants which will deliver snacks to the streets of Sydney. The ten trucks will offer a diverse range of gourmet tastes for patrons, with everything from tacos to steamed dumplings. Furthermore, there will even be a take on modern Australian cuisine from Stuart McGill, former sous chef at the globally acclaimed restaurant Tetsuya's. Vegetarians will also be pleased with one truck, Veggie Patch, that will serve up veggie burgers and veggie chips, while the truck itself runs on vegetable oil and proudly displays a herb garden on its roof. City of Sydney's Late Night Economy Manager, Suzie Matthews, says that the trucks will serve food "at random places and at random times." There will also be the development of an online app, as well as social media pages to let people know when and where the trucks will be appearing. Food trucks applicants to took their ideas to the City of Sydney last year, where they underwent a Masterchef-esque testing process that included a one hour cook-off. They also presented their business plans and backgrounds, and ten successful applicants were eventually chosen. This is one government initiative that all Sydneysiders will welcome with open arms and open mouths. Stop salivating and check out the video below for a sneak preview, with the real trucks expected to arrive in the next few weeks. The ten new Sydney food trucks are: • Agape • Al Carbon • Bite Sized Delights • Burger Theory • Cantina Mobil • Eat Art Truck • Let's Do Yum Cha • Taco Truck • Tsuru • Veggie Patch https://youtube.com/watch?v=jwuhf9J6lHs
UPDATE, September 20, 2020: Boho Luxe Market has changed the date for its next Brisbane event — instead of taking place from Friday, September 25 to Sunday, September 27 , it'll now be held from Friday, November 27 to Sunday, November 29. The below information has been updated to reflect these changes. At Boho Luxe Market (their words, not ours), Byron Bay comes to Brisbane. Well, the beachy New South Wales spot's general vibe does at least. Forgoing the trappings of the city for bohemian fashion, jewellery, homewares and the like is on the market's agenda, and has been since it made the jump from Melbourne to Brisbane in 2019. Clearly we responded well to three days of dreamcatchers and flower crowns, because it's coming back again in 2020. If that sounds like your kind of thing, then block out Friday, November 27 to Sunday, November 29 in your diary for the market's rescheduled (from April) dates. The Boho Luxe Market will head to The Old Museum for a weekend of browsing and buying, food trucks, live music and more. Usually there's also be a dedicated vegan section, plus a kombi display and glamping providers tempting you into booking your next holiday — so fingers crossed they'll return. Entry costs $5, with kids under 12 allowed in for free. Drop by and pretend you're somewhere quiet and coastal on Friday from 5pm–9pm, Saturday from 9am–5pm, and Sunday from 9am–3pm. Boho Luxe Market will take over The Old Museum from Friday, November 27 to Sunday, November 29.
Stripping back the Big Macs, McDonalds is set to reveal its latest campaign in Paris — with no staged food styling in sight. Developed by TBWA Paris as a 'Pictogram' campaign, McDonalds' new billboards see paired down classics like chicken nuggets, fries and Big Macs (which all look undeniably stylin'). One of the world's most easily identifiable brands, McDonalds' minimalist campaign exposes how ingrained their products are in consumer consciousness. Creative director Jean-François Goize, copywriter Frank Marinus, and art director/illustrator Michael Mikiels are capitalising on your nomming muscle memory to fill in the gaps. TBWA London paved the way with this type of advertising campaign with their No Logo strategy for FCUK, with Lego picking up the logo-less brand identification technique for their 2012 ads. Imagination is the key. Business Insider pointed out that "most men, women, and children in the world know the Mickey D's staples like they know their own names." ABC found that kids were learning to identify logos before their alphabet. Check out the campaign below, alongside TBWA's Azealia Banks-fuelled ad, full of highly attractive, youthful 'street artists'. https://youtube.com/watch?v=OFu4cN7Df-8 Via Business Insider.
Once you've given Woolloongabba a stylish neighbourhood-style Italian trattoria, what comes next? If you're Vincent Lombino and Jared Thibault, you branch out with a new Chinese Peruvian restaurant and bar in the same precinct. Come Wednesday, July 27, Casa Chow will follow in Sasso Italiano's footsteps, joining the inner-east suburb's South City Square. The former Ovolo and QT Food and Beverage Directors are heroing Chino Latino cuisine, aka Chifa, in their latest 100-seat venture — a culinary style that matches Cantonese flavours with Peruvian staples. On the menu: dishes such as lomo saltado, a stir fry made with marinated wagyu, onions and aji amarillo chilli, and served over fries, as well as anticucho marinated skewers, plus a blend of dim sum and ceviche. The full food range hasn't yet been revealed, but Executive Chef Gabriele Di Landri will focus on Chifa dishes that are designed to share. Patrons will tuck in while listening to Latin tunes spun at the venue's DJ booth, and sitting within a pastel-hued space with blue and pink walls, flowing curtains, booth seating and an open-style bar. To wash Casa Chow's bites down with, Thibault and Bar Manager Shawn Brown are going big on pisco, the brandy made in Peru and Chile's winemaking regions. You'll also be able to sip Scorpion bowl cocktails, pick from a hefty rum list and enjoy the best vinos that South America has to offer. In collaboration with Aether Brewing, there'll also be a bespoke rice lager, which'll feature hints of Peruvian purple corn. "Casa Chow brings a sense of escapism, and we can't wait to open our doors to bring Peru's most inspirational cuisine, Chifa, to Australia. We've poured our hearts into this place and space, to bring an energetic new dining experience to town," said Lombino. Lombino and Thibault aren't done adding to South City Square yet, either, with more venues in the works — joining a precinct that's also set to score a cinema, beer hall, martini bar, and market filled with its own butcher, baker, deli and florist. Find Casa Chow at South City Square, 148 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba, from Wednesday, July 27 — open from 5–10.30pm Wednesday–Sunday.
A team of London-based designers have come up with a solution to the information overload suffered by most of us in this digital age. It's called Little Printer, created by BERG. Saving its users from wading through the endless content in the online information jungle, this itty bitty printer navigates the web on their behalf. It turns select content from its partners Arup, foursquare, Google, the Guardian, and Nike into miniature newspapers, delivered multiple times each day and ready to be popped into a wallet and read on the go. The little guy operates with a zero-configuration wireless connection to the web, and produces inkless thermal prints. The printer is also configured to your phone, to produce customised to-do lists that are just the right size for your back pocket. It will also print your friends' check-ins, plus cross word puzzles and word games - just make sure there's a pen in your other pocket. While there are obviously much more practical ways to catch up on your reading, this itty bitty printer has a face. A face! If nothing else, the BERG design is bound for success based purely on the cuteness factor. And as more and more publications go digital, there's something special about getting your news in physical form. Pre-orders for Little Printer open in 2012, and you can sign up for the mailing list here.
Think you've seen all the beaches Australia has to offer? Maybe you have, but never like this (unless you're an Aquabumps fan). Shot from doorless helicopters, American photographer Gray Malin has captured your weekend days on the beach, from above. Feast your eyes upon the white sand dotted with colourful towels and big umbrellas. Malin has combined the beauty of Australian people, Australian beaches, culture and even ocean pools to make creative and interesting shots of a relatively ordinary day. These photos represent the perfect Australian summer day at the beach. Bondi Beach Swimmers Bondi Beach Bronte Beach Pool Gordons Bay Maroubra Beach Surfers
Whether you like them filled with jam and cream, or prefer plain cake all the way, the lamington is a perfect dessert. It's a piece of sponge cake covered in chocolate sauce and desiccated coconut — what's not to love? And, as excellent as it is on its own, it also fares exceptionally well when it's combined with other foods. Everything from lamington gelato to lamington milkshakes have already proven this fact, as has lamington-flavoured vodka, too. The latest creative take on this Australian favourite? A lamington-cruffin hybrid — which turns one food mashup into a bigger food mashup like the baked goods version of Inception. Sorry, lamington purists, it definitely isn't cube-shaped. But it now exists thanks to Lune Croissanterie. The bakery fills its Frankenstein's monster of a lamington-croissant-muffin with raspberry jam and whipped cream, then dips it in chocolate ganache and desiccated coconut. Without the latter, it just wouldn't be a lamington. And if that description has got your tastebuds in a tizzy, you can nab one — or several — in South Brisbane until Monday, January 31. The lamington cruffins lead Lune's January specials menu, which also includes coffee hazelnut twice-baked croissants, cinnamon buns, white nectarine and honey danishes, tomato tarts and the 'cherry ripe twice-baked' — which gives a pain au chocolat a cherry ripe-inspired twist. You'll find all those limited-edition treats at South Brisbane, too, and they can be pre-ordered online. That said, if you head to either the QAG Cafe and GOMA Bistro, Lune's Japanese cheesecake and lychee jelly croissants — inspired by the Gallery of Modern Art and Queensland Art Gallery's 10th Asia Pacific Triennial — is also available until the end of January. Lune's lamington cruffins are available from 15 Manning Street, South Brisbane, until Monday, January 31 — with pre-orders taken online.
There's always something unique and cutting edge rearing its head at the Brisbane Judith Wright Centre, and this coming week is no exception. In fact, An End To Dreaming promises to be a warped fairytale so fantastically unnatural it will leave you in a spell long after the stage is cold. This pop cabaret fairytale is a unique showcase of Queensland talent. It has brought together Matilda Award nominee, Emma Dean and Green Room Award winner, Jake Diefenbach, fusing their musical flair into an eerie masterpiece. The uncanny duo sway, sing and step through ten Brothers Grimm inspired short stories, each complimented with their often ambiguous and haunty musical creations. Dean and Diefenbach's vocal and piano arrangments are sure to make the hairs on the back of your neck creep up! An End To Dreaming will journey through the dark and treacherous world of fiction bringing fairy tales to light. In other words, be prepared for at least a little of the warm and fuzzies. This cabaret will introduce you to a hurly-burly of whimsical tunes and twisted characters. This show is one night only so be quick and get your tickets fast!
Brisbane has already welcomed in 2025, but that's not the only new year that demands celebrating. Before January is out, Lunar New Year will hit, kicking off the Year of the Snake. Fancy marking the occasion with street food in South Brisbane's Fish Lane, a rooftop party in Sunnybank, watching the Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens light up, listening to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, dancing to K-pop, giggling to stand-up comedy or enjoying a DJ-spun soundtrack? At BrisAsia Festival, you can. For 13 years now, the River City has commemorated Lunar New Year with a citywide fest, and that isn't changing in 2025. This year's lineup includes 25 events around town, all designed to get you in celebration mode. The Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art forms part of 2025's program, if you need another excuse to head to Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art to check it out between now and April, but the bulk of the BrisAsia fun takes place across ten days from Friday, January 31–Sunday, February 9. After debuting in 2024, Asian street festival Lush is back again this year, with Southside Restaurant, Hello Please, Chu the Phat and Bird's Nest set to serve up bites to eat. That's just one of BrisAsia 2025's fests within the broader fest. While the Hội chợ Tết (TET Festival) is taking place in advance, on Friday, January 24, the Vietnamese festivities in Richlands are still included on the lineup. And, Southside by Night is back, once more combining street food with a car meet in Willawong. The Sunnybank Lunar New Year Rooftop Party is always a highlight, showcasing Sunnybank Plaza's eateries, busting out lion and dragon dance performances, and capping the night off with fireworks. Consider it the perfect way to help close out BrisAsia 2025, with the shindig happening on Saturday, February 8. New in 2025 is Lunar New Year in the Gardens at Mt Coot-tha, complete with sitar tunes, martial-arts displays, street food and K-pop. For more of the latter, the Thomas Dixon Centre is hosting a showcase. Other events for your calendar include BrisAsia Stands Up, enlisting Brisbane's Asian Australian comedians; a special presentation at Brisbane Planetarium; Longwang featuring Korean dishes across a Seoul-themed weekend; and Warehouse 25's BEAT STREET party in Milton. Or, albeit just after the fest's official dates — on Sunday, February 16 — you can catch the Singapore Symphony Orchestra at QPAC. Whichever part of the festival piques your interest, expect plenty of company, with more than 25,000 people attending BrisAsia in 2024. "It's such a privilege to curate one of the most innovative and diverse festivals in Australia with an exciting program of events combining elements of traditional and contemporary Asian culture," said BrisAsia Festival Executive Producer Anthony Garcia. "The festival is brought to life by more than 200 artists, producers and creatives whose work allows us to celebrate life and art in a way that brings together people from all walks of life, offering artists opportunities to experiment, collaborate and evolve their practice whilst giving audiences the chance to experience world-class entertainment." BrisAsia 2025 runs from Friday, January 31–Sunday, February 9. For further details, head to the Brisbane City Council website.
Local brothers Dan and Andy have opened a one-stop shop in Hawthorne for all of your grocery needs (and more). Stocked full of market fresh produce daily, the Hawthorne Garage also offers customers a range of high quality foods. Fresh bread, top meats, deli goods and unique fine foods are available, as well as a range of gluten-free and organic foods to satisfy all customers needs. This includes the need for a fresh coffee or a beautiful bunch of flowers. Working out of the old garage building on Hawthorne Road the brothers have honoured the history of the place by keeping classic aspects of the garage such as the service list at the front of the building. The rest has been impeccably restored creating an impressive space that is focused on providing top quality foods and customer service. Dan and Andy's Hawthorne Garage285 Hawthorne Rd (Cnr Orchard St), Hawthorne (Map)www.hawthornegarage.com.au6am-8pm daily
Been working so hard loving films from four decades back? When it comes to watching and rewatching blasts from the past, there are worse flicks to punch your card with. So, maybe you know all the words to and dance moves from Footloose, and will always see Kevin Bacon as the teenager who brought fancy footwork back to a small American town. Perhaps you have hungry eyes for Dirty Dancing, Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. You might be a brain, an athlete, a basket case or a princess, The Breakfast Club-style, too. Whichever fits, Dirty Fame Flash Candles Club sees you and understands your love of VHS-era favourites such Fame, Flashdance and Sixteen Candles as well. Taking to the Brisbane Powerhouse stage during the 2023 Brisbane Comedy Festival, but actually kicking off earlier on Thursday, April 20 — with shows Thursday–Saturday until Saturday, April 29 — this cabaret comedy musical is made by 80s movie fans for 80s movie fans. Expect dance numbers, some mighty familiar songs and to have the time of your life revelling in film references, all as Helen Cassidy, Lizzie Moore, Neridah Waters and Melissa Western crimp their hair kick off their Sunday shoes. Story-wise, the show follows four southeast Queensland women hitting middle age, dealing with everything that throws their way and coming together to find solace in adoring those 80s flicks.
If there's anything freakier than trying to make your way across the Toowong Roundabout in peak hour, it's the heritage-listed necropolis next door. Ladies and gents, guys and ghouls — it's ghost tour time. Toowong Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Queensland and the burial place of 120,000 people. Give yourself a fright and learn some history at the same time as you tour the massive graveyard. On the Toowong Cemetery Ghost Tour you'll hear 13 tales of real haunted graves – think dead governors, murderers and black widows. Image: Commander Keane via Wikimedia Commons.
No one should spend their lunch break eating at their desk, but breaking that habit isn't always easy. From Monday, March 7–Friday, April 8, the Howard Smith Wharves precinct is giving you plenty of motivation to step away from the computer. Head to the riverside precinct from Monday–Friday for a middle-of-the-day meal, and your lunch will start at $20 — and that includes a drink as well. Eight HSW venues are getting in on the deal, so you can pick between Stanley, Yoko, Greca, Mr Percival's, Felons Brewing Co, Felons Barrel Hall, Fiume and Ciao Papi. Or, you can work your way through them all (and stare at their slightly different views of the water) across the five-week period. You'll just need to keep an eye on each eatery's opening hours — and, while you can just rock up, bookings are recommended. As for what you'll be eating during the month-long Let's Lunch festivities, each place has its own special. Soy-poached Brisbane Valley quail and a glass of red, wine or Felons beer are on the menu at Stanley; Yoko is serving up chicken ramen with a choice of drinks; and Greca is doing lamb souvlaki with house spritzes, beers of bubbles for instance. There are three different dishes on offer at each of Mr Percival's, Felons and Felons Barrel Hall, too, giving you even more options. Most meals will cost you just $20, while some kick in at $25 and Stanley's deal will set you back $45.
Let's be honest, Apple has taken over the world. They've changed the way we listen to music, the way we use computers, the way a phone operates. Sure there is always talk about how it's not the best technology and that other things work better, faster and more reliably but there's nothing that can match the simple cool of the famous white headphones. But how does any of that explain the design for the new Apple HQ in California? Resembling an alien mothership, the completely circular building is built on an old Hewlett Packard site. Mimicking the glass aesthetic of Apple Stores worldwide, there is not a single straight piece of glass in the entire building. The plans include 6,000 trees in the landscaped central courtyard, as well as a natural-gas power generation facility so that they don't have to rely on the fickle Californian grid. The futuristic feat of engineering is yet to pass the local council's approval, so this mothership may never take off. See the video below for Steve Jobs' personal appeal to the council. https://youtube.com/watch?v=gtuz5OmOh_M [Via Geekologie]
No, not a bird. Not a plane, but quite close to it. Aero-Train is a new prototype that would eliminate the problem of friction between a train and its tracks by flying extremely close to the ground. A paper given at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation discussed the high-speed, high-efficiency possibilities of the use of levitation in train transport, and sparked the development of the Aero Train concept. This video demonstrates the first version of Aero Train in action. The vehicle would be complex to control, requiring a highly skilled driver or even computer. But so efficient is the design that wind turbines or solar panels could power it. https://youtube.com/watch?v=EaN7Kxk1_e8 [Via Fast Company]
There's no shortage of venues around Brisbane that aim to make their patrons feel like they're somewhere beyond the River City, whether spiriting your tastebuds to France via bites to eat, to Japan at an izakaya or to Bora Bora thanks to themed mini golf. The next with that mission: Enigma. There's no mystery around its influences, with the new Fortitude Valley nightclub taking inspiration from Ibiza, Miami and Las Vegas — all in a spot on Brunswick Street that boasts a $9.3-million fitout. Opening on Friday, August 2, 2024, then operating on Friday and Saturday nights onwards, Enigma wants to wow Brisbanites before they even step foot through the door — and as soon as they do as well. Befitting the Vegas nods, it features an LED walkway that will get the entrance glowing, then clubgoers once you get inside. Visuals also accompany the beats inside, in a space that adds to the Hallmark Hospitality Group's stable of sites around southeast Queensland. Maggie May, Lefty's Music Hall, The Lord Alfred and Hey Chica! are among the company's fellow venues in Brisbane. Retro's and Finn McCool's have locations both here and on the Gold Coast. And the latter is also home to The Cavill Hotel, Sandbar, Lost Kingdom and Asylum — while Hallmark is also behind The Spotted Cow in Toowoomba. "It targets those seeking an escape, blending music, performances and technology to craft a dynamic, unforgettable night," said the organisation's Cade Hopman of Enigma. "We have seen Fortitude Valley go from strength to strength in recent years. There is a strong appetite for those clubbing experiences locals travel far and wide to take part in. The time is right and we are going all out to elevate the Brisbane club scene." Enigma's resident tune-spinners include Tasha Lee, Curdin, SF Fudge, Sophie Bridges, Nestor Vargas and Apolloco, setting the mood whether you're hitting the dance floor or hanging out in the seven booths surrounding the DJ in the VIP area. As for the drinks options, classics such as margaritas, Long Island iced teas, Aperol spritzes and espresso martinis sit alongside the club's signature sip. Opt for The Enigma and you'll be drinking vodka, white rum, gin, blue curacao and raspberry, plus Red Bull. Find Engima at 299 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, from Friday, August 2, 2024 — open from 9pm–4am Friday–Saturday. Head to the venue's website for more details.
For those who haven't been there, there's much that's simply unimaginable about war, including fighting on the front lines and being left behind. It's the latter that Merge Dance Theatre explores in their latest work. Through the medium of dance, they'll bring to life the untold tales of women waiting for their loved ones to return. It's a different kind of ANZAC story, staged by a different kind of dance group, with Merge endeavouring to bridge the gap between dance schools and professional companies. And, at a time when everyone's enjoying a break from work, it's a reminder of the sacrifices behind our way of living.
For those who haven't managed to taste hail despite Brisbane's freak weather transitioning can come and skate on the ice rather than have it pelted towards you from the sky. Safer and far more family-friendly, Brisbane locals are all welcome to experience one of the country's largest outdoor ice skating rinks and plenty of frosty pleasures at the 2011 Brisbane Winter Festival. I'm not exaggerating about the ice rink. This baby measures a very decent size of 900m². Perfect to bring your family, friends, even your dog! There will be dishes from over 20 winter-prone countries to sample, and plenty of ice skating action to watch. From amateur to pro shows and some Ice Blitz Championships. Come and watch some winter talents tear up the ice. You'll have plenty of time to hone on your skills and shine your shoe blades as the Winter Fest will be around for a good three weeks. Feeling too cool for any of the outdoor activities? Don't stress. Warm up to some traditional Glühwein (authentic mulled wine) or enjoy some steaming chai in the Lipton Chai Latte Lodge. So come celebrate the official arrival of winter in Brisbane. It'll melt your heart.
