This Saturday, June 6, rallies will be held across Australia in protest of Black and Indigenous deaths at the hands of police, both locally and in the US. Held in solidarity with the protests currently happening in the States — in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis — and in support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, the Brisbane rally is also a call to action on the systemic mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by police. Since 1991's royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody, another 432 Indigenous Australians have died in custody, including Dunghutti man David Dungay Jr, who's 2015 death draws many parallels to that of Floyd. Organised by the Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance, the Brisbane protest is called Black Lives Matter — Stop Black Deaths in Custody Meanjin. It'll be held from 1–5pm, starting at King George Square. While Queensland's COVID-19 cases are declining, we're still in the midst of a pandemic and rally attendees are encouraged to practise social distancing measures, with the organisers saying everyone should wear a mask, stand as far apart as possible and do not attend if they are feeling unwell. If you have even mild symptoms, it's strongly encouraged you go and get tested. If you can't attend, but would still like to do your part, you can donate to an Indigenous Australian charity or organisation — including to the family of Dungay Jr, who are currently raising money to cover legal costs — and educate yourself on Australia's Indigenous history. To help start with the latter, here are 13 films by Indigenous Australian filmmakers you can stream.
Art galleries are places of creativity and tranquility. Twice a month at the Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art, they're places for yoga too. It makes sense — you're in a space known for its peace and quiet, and for contemplation and serenity. Breaking out your best downward dog pose just seems like a natural thing to do, really. We don't recommend showing off your flexibility just anywhere, of course. Instead, make a date with QAG and GOMA's Monthly Mindfulness Yoga sessions. The dates change each month, but there's always one session from 8.45–9.45am on a Sunday, and another from 6–7pm on a Wednesday, giving you the option of bending and stretching to start your day or winding down after work. [caption id="attachment_677207" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Gallery of Modern Art. Exterior. South & East face. James Turrell artwork.[/caption] Taught by Miriam Van Doorn, the classes combine flow-style yoga and meditation, and are open to all skill levels. Sometimes they're held at QAG, sometimes they're at GOMA — so you won't get tired of the scenery. Bookings are essential, and cost $12 for gallery members and $16 otherwise.
On Tuesday, February 25, Salt Meats Cheese Gasworks is bringing back one of its best all-you-can-eat events: all-you-can-eat arancini and meatballs. Unlike the restaurant's weekly bottomless pizza and pasta feast, this happens much less often, so you'll want to clear your night if the idea is already making you hungry. Tuck into arancini and meatballs in four varieties, including beef, barramundi, falafel and vegan arancini, then smother them in toppings. That's where you can choose from napoletana or carbonara sauce, go traditional with bolognese, opt for mushroom and cream, get super cheesy with four cheeses, or even slather them with truffles — and the list of goes on. Vegan and vegetarian options are available, so everyone can enjoy indulging in as many arancini and meatballs as you can possibly stomach. The night kicks off at 5pm, and costs $25 with a drink purchase. Unsurprisingly, bookings are recommended. And, take note: this is only happening at SMC's Gasworks store. Image: Salt Meats Cheese.
Have you spent the last decade popping your colleagues' staplers in jelly, or covering their desks in gift wrap? When someone makes a comment — any comment — do you answer "that's what she said"? Do you have a soft spot for paper company employees, or for anyone who gets married at Niagara Falls? As soon as you meet people who work in HR, do you expect them to be called Toby? If so, then The Office — the US version — has changed your life, and now it's time to put your secret skills to the test. Michael Scott won't call everyone into Ivory Tusk's conference room on Wednesday, February 19; however the Fortitude Valley bar will host a trivia night from 6pm, so it's almost the same thing. Because Brisbane loves trivia evenings based on sitcoms that Mike Schur had a hand in (think Parks & Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine) more than it loves pulling pranks, it's certain to be a popular evening. The quiz session will run until 9pm, and someone had better break out Jim and Pam's wedding dance — and bring something beetroot-flavoured, ideally from Schrute Farms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryxUeWEcUqE Playing is free, but you'll need to reserve your spot by calling or emailing the restaurant. Also, there'll be $10 tacos on offer as well.
Sometimes, finding bliss is as easy as sinking a cold one. At other times, an energetic bout of bending and stretching hits the spot. Beer yoga combines the two, obviously — and to raise money for the bushfire appeal, it's coming to Brisbane's XXXX Brewery. To answer the question that has probably popped into your head: yes, it's very likely that your exercise session will be scented by the yeasty smell that hangs over the Milton venue. The whole suburb has adopted the aroma, after all. Of course, once you're done testing your flexibility for an hour, you'll smell that beer smell while you're downing a schooner of XXXX Gold. Run by Yoga Flex Studio, the class takes place at 4pm on Saturday, January 18 — and arriving slightly beforehand to get set up is recommended. Bringing your own mat if you have one is, too. Tickets cost $20, with all the proceeds being donated to the Australian Red Cross's bushfire appeal.
Looking for an excuse to head north, up to the Sunshine Coast and into the hinterland? An afternoon of eating, drinking and wandering through a rainforest should do it. That's all on the agenda at the Sunshine Coast Asian Food Festival, which takes over Maleny's Spicers Tamarind Retreat on Saturday, February 22 with plenty of food, booze and leafy greenery. The plantlife is the easiest part to take care of, because it surrounds the hotel anyway — and provides quite the backdrop for all the culinary fun. As for what you'll be snacking on, ready your appetite for a feast of Asian street food. Lamb-stuffed steamed bao, Asian-style tacos with char sui-marinated slow-braised pork, pad thai chicken wings and Asian-inspired gelato will all be on offer. Drinks-wise, you'll be sipping wine, Brouhaha Beer's finest, and ciders and spirits from Noosa's Fortune Distillery, including gin and vodka. Your $99 ticket will nab you a dish at each of the five food stalls, two beverages, access to cooking demonstrations and live music — while for $145 you can also attend a riesling masterclass. Bring blankets and cushions with you, too, for lazing around on the grass between bites.
Trivia nights mean gathering your mates around, enjoying a few beverages and trying to convert your respective stores of knowledge into glory. At this particular trivia night, you'll do all that, but there'll be a particular emphasis on your pals. Given that the topic of the evening is a certain sitcom about a band of best buddies, celebrating your chums is the thing to do. Yes, Friends is in the spotlight at Foresters next battle of pop culture tidbits. If you think you know everything there is to know about the show that caused viewers to agonise over whether Ross and Rachel would get together, wish that Joey and Chandler lived next door and get their hair cut like Jennifer Aniston, here's your chance to prove it. Prizes are on offer — and if you want to break out those 90s and early 00s fashions, no one will stop you. Remember, though, it has been 15 years since Friends was on TV, making the contest not just a test of trivia, but a workout for everyone's memories. No one told you that watching endless television reruns could turn out this way. Friends Trivia takes place from 7pm on Thursday, January 16. Registration is required in advance, as is a gold coin entry fee per participant on the night.
It's BrisAsia time in Brisbane, again. Each year, for the whole month of February, this city of ours celebrates Asian culture — and in great news for your hungry stomach, plenty of food is always on the menu. Expect a heap of bites to eat at the festival's new Valley of Spices event, which takes place from 4–9pm on Sunday, February 9. We hope you like a bit of heat in your meal and some tingling tastebuds afterwards, because that's what you'll be getting. Twelve hawker-style street vendors will be serving up their spicy dishes and, if you want to know how to work your own culinary magic at home — spicing up your own curries, or adding some bite to your homemade dumplings, for example — there'll also be cooking demonstrations. [caption id="attachment_758021" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Tanya Dedyukhina via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Taking over the Chinatown Mall for a busy afternoon and evening, the free event will also feature live performances to help celebrate Lunar New Year.
If you've ever wanted to care less about all the things that really don't matter — and, honestly, don't we all — then you've probably read Mark Manson's The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. If you're really devoted to the idea, you're probably keen to get stuck into the author's latest book as well, aka Everything is F*cked: A Book About Hope. When the first book hit, it was everywhere. Approachable, brutally honest, not-quite self-help advice will have that effect. It's not about not giving any f*cks. It's about giving the right number of f*cks about the right things. After all, there are only so many one has time to give. You should obviously give a f*ck about Manson's upcoming Australian tour, of course, with the author coming to Brisbane on Thursday, July 18. See the blogger-turned-bestselling writer share his thoughts and insights at Brisbane Powerhouse — and leave giving the number of f*cks that you need to. Tickets go on sale at 1pm, Friday, June 7.
If you like beer and you live in Brisbane, then you've probably noticed a trend in recent years. In fact, you've probably been making the most of it. That's to be expected when a certain patch of turf just outside the inner city starts welcoming new drinking spots with frequency. Thanks to Range Brewing, Green Beacon Brewing, Newstead Brewing Co and The Triffid, there's no shortage of bars to have a brew at in Newstead — and while you've likely been hopping between them all anyway, The Beermuda Revival Tour gives the suburb's pub crawl an official spin. Jumping down the above list of places from 2pm on Saturday, June 15, it'll take you between all four spots, slinging frothy ales at each. Your $35.10 ticket gets you a beverage at every spot, plus games, prizes and a spot of plogging — which is a combination of jogging and picking up litter, and must go better with brews. There'll also be a sausage sizzle and live music, as well as just generally soaking in the boozy Newstead vibes.
Keen to escape the cold weather in a cinema, but your wallet doesn't want to play ball? Call Dendy's latest special a case of great timing, then. For the weekend spanning Friday, June 14 to Monday, June 17, its Portside and Coorparoo cinemas is offering up discount tickets that'll solve your problem — as long as you purchase tickets to one of five flicks, you'll only pay $6. Just which flicks you have to choose from depend on where you go. At Portside, you can go to a whole new world with Aladdin, ponder spy history with Red Joan or finish out a superhero saga with X-Men: Dark Phoenix. At Coorparoo, Aladdin is on the agenda too, as is the director of That Sugar Film's hopeful new climate change doco 2040 and monster mayhem with Godzilla: King of the Monsters. You can score the cheap tickets in person at the cinema or online (although the latter will cost you an extra $1.50 booking fee). The deal is valid for all sessions of all of the above films at the specific locations across all four days.
If you're one of those people who's always meaning to give blood, now might be the perfect time to roll up your sleeve. The Australian Red Cross Blood Service needs 99,000 new donors, and so they're hosting Australia's first 24-hour donate-a-thon — with some bloody great incentives to get you through the door. A CBD donor centre on Edward Street will be open for 24-hours from 7pm on Thursday, June 13 through to 7pm on Friday, June 14 (aka World Blood Donor Day). To encourage you to donate, there'll be live music, live magic and free food. Oh, and you'll be helping to save up to three lives. We all know it's important to have a bite to eat after giving blood, and for once it'll be more than just a cookie and a party pie. Celebrity chef Richard Ousby (previously at Stokehouse) will be serving up pulled pork 'donor' kebabs with salt and vinegar veggie chips and a whipped cheese dip. And Gelato Messina have created a new flavour just for the occasion — blood orange cheesecake gelato with red velvet cake and raspberry puree. How very fitting.
Between Thursday, June 13 and Tuesday, June 18, Palace Cinemas is giving movie buffs an extra gift. It's not just the gift of great flicks — that is, its daily bread and butter — but the gift of cheap great flicks. Head to one of the chain's two Brisbane locations — Barracks on Petrie Terrace and James Street in the Valley — across the week in question, and any film at any time will only cost you $7.50, plus an online booking fee of $1.50. Want to see Rocketman with your friends on a Saturday night? It'll cost you $9 in total. Keen to laugh your way through last year's Lavazza Italian Film Festival favourite, My Big Gay Italian Wedding, after work one afternoon? Still $9 all up. After another excuse to stare at Chris Hemsworth on the big screen? Go see Men In Black: International for (yup, you guessed it) $9. We'd keep naming movies, but you get the picture. Booking in advance is highly recommended, given how much everyone loves going to the flicks for cheap, so you will want to nab your tickets online here and pay the fee. With the cold well and truly here, seek refuge in either Palace across Brisbane and see some of the hottest movies showing on the big screen this season. Image: Palace Barracks.
Everyone in Brisbane has been to the Ekka on more than one occasion, but have you heard of the food and drink-focused equivalent? There mightn't be any rides, sideshows, goldfish, fireworks or flu at the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show; however, there are plenty of tasty delights of the edible and drinkable kind, all vying to be crowned the state's finest in their respective category. Don't worry — if you're wondering why you haven't come across RQFWS before, that's because it's not open to the public. Well, not usually, anyway. Grape Grazing by Night is a delicious, alcohol-infused exception. For one boozy evening on Friday, July 12, more than 1800 wines submitted for the judges' seal of approval can also compete in another taste test: yep, that'd be yours. You'll sample award-winning tipples, snack on cheese, beef, lamb and other canapés, and chat with the experts, all while raising your glass — or several — to the best boozy grape drinks in the country.
There's no shortage of markets happening around Brisbane — pick a day, pick a spot, and you'll likely find a bunch of stalls selling a range of wares. One thing that you won't usually come across, however, is a market dedicated to authentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts, crafts and experiences, which is what the two-day-only Meeanjin Markets is offering. After first popping up last year, the city's first all-Indigenous market is back, just in time for a mid-year shopping spree. Taking place at Reddacliff Place, the markets will highlight the work of local Queensland creators, while also celebrating the sights, sounds, creativity and flavours of the Australian bush. That means there'll be dance, music and workshops — as well as plenty to buy. Drop by from 9am on Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1.
How many hours have you spent playing the best karting game ever made? Too many? We'll throw a shell at that idea — when it comes to Mario Kart, there's no such thing as too much. In fact, you should race on out of the house and down to Netherworld to play more at their very own speedway. Yes, it's back for the third time. Between midday and 5pm on Sunday, July 7, the Fortitude Valley bar will become a haven for everyone that knows just when to sling a ghost at their opponents — and just how to press buttons in the right order to get an early boost. The Mario Kart-obsessed afternoon is a highly competitive affair, asking you to feel the need for speed as part of the venue's 48-player Mario Kart tournament, which'll take place on the Switch this year. If you're keen to head along and take part, you'll need to buy a ticket, with the $20 entry free including your first drink. There'll be more beers on offer, given that it's all taking place at a bar — and we're assuming that there won't be any banana peels to throw around the place, but maybe watch where you're walking anyway.
Most Brisbanites have driven past the historic, heritage-listed villa that is Hanworth House many a time. You mightn't have ventured off Lytton Road and into the tree-lined property, though — or wandered around drinking plenty of sparkling. Always wanted to do the former, and never even dreamed you could do the latter? Well, now you can. After running as a weekend-long event at Spicers Hidden Vale for the past couple of years, the Effervescence Champagne festival is back. In 2019, it's taking place on just one day, in Brisbane, and with a focus on all things pink, fizzy and from a certain French region. Hence the new moniker, Blush by Effervescence, which makes its revamped debut on Sunday, July 21. Multiple options are available, suiting every kind of Champers fan — well, as long as you like rosé champagne, that is. You can head along at midday for a $295 four-course lunch, with well-known chef Alastair McLeod whipping up a truffle-heavy feast with matched tipples, all in a garden marquee. Or, you can make your entrance at 2.30pm, pay $65 and sip your way around a tasting trail. If masterclasses are your thing, two are on offer too, serving up vintage 1996 varieties for $195 and learning how to cook with the wine in the spotlight for $130.
Clear your window sills, dust off your shelves, and make some space in the various nooks and crannies scattered throughout your house. Trust us — after a trip to Botanicals by Bella's Botanical Extravaganza on Saturday, June 29, you're going to need more than a few places to pop more than a few plants. Another outing for this year (after a similar event in April), the one-day Greenslopes market will be filled with rare and collectible indoor greenery. That includes succulents, and it's always popular, unsurprisingly. Last time, more than a 1000 people turned up. Accordingly, while entry is free, you'll need to register online if you want to mosey along. With the extravaganza kicking off at 9am, tickets are available for each one-hour window until 1pm. Once you're there, you can browse and buy a large range of plant life, whether you need begonias, a ficus or some ivy. This event will be extra special, with Bella releasing super rare plants from her personal collection. Be there, or your indoor garden just won't look the same.
If you haven't already dropped by West Village, West End's newest precinct at the old Peter's Ice Cream Factory site, then here's your new excuse: pizza and pinot. To celebrate Italian Week, the inner-city spot is combining two staples for one tasty night. The word you're looking for? It's bellissimo. From 6–8.30pm on Friday, May 31, Italian-loving Brisbanites will sit under the stars, sip vino, sling back slices and listen to live music that'll suit the mood. Salt Meat Cheese will be providing the woodfired pizzas, as well as a few morsels of premium Italian cheeses, while there'll be two wine options: pinot noir and pinot gris. Tickets for this long table event cost $25, which is a very reasonable outlay for your Friday night dinner. And, obviously, it's much more affordable than what we'd all like to be doing during Italian Week — aka flying overseas.
Whenever a new exhibition graces the Gallery of Modern Art's walls, it's reason enough to stop by. Until October, two huge and free showcases are doing the honours: one dedicated to Margaret Olley, and the other to Ben Quilty. But, something else exciting happens regularly at GOMA, too. When its major exhibitions are in full swing, the South Bank venue often throws open its doors after hours for a few huge parties. Those shindigs have been badged Up Late for obvious reasons, and they're back. Running from 5.30pm on Fridays between August 2–30, the Quilty, Olley and Turrell Up Late series will bring some fun to winter, courtesy not only of art, but live music, food, drinks, pop-ups and talks. And, they're highlighting something else as well — the gallery's permanent James Turrell light installation, because it's always worth celebrating. Music-wise, the lineup is also cause for cheer, complete with local legends Custard, the hip hip sounds of The Herd, plus Clare Bowditch, Midnight Oil's Jim Moginie and more. Or, you can provide the tunes yourself as part of Pub Choir, which is hitting up the fun for a stint of communal singing.
When July 14 rolls around, France commemorates the storming of the Bastille back in 1789 — and, 230 years on, the celebration is still going strong. The rest of the world joins in too, because everyone loves an excuse to eat cheese and drink wine. Understandable, really. Highly relatable, too. At West End's West Village, marking the occasion definitely involves plenty of dairy. In fact, the inner-city precinct has dubbed its event Fromage, should you be wondering just how much cheese will be on offer. For $35 per person, you'll tuck into cheese grazing boards, sip a glass of bubbles on arrival and listen to French jazz. You'll also start dreaming of a Parisian holiday, we're betting, but that's understandable as well. The Sunday afternoon fun runs from 3–6pm, and nabbing a ticket asap is recommended — it sold out last year. Image: West Village.
If you've been making plans to revamp your style, but haven't been able to rustle up the coin or are sick of online shopping, here's your chance. Hugo Boss is hosting a mega sale at its outlet stores. You'll be able to score a further 30 percent off menswear, womenswear, footwear and accessories. Whether you're after a suit for a special occasion later in the year or looking to level-up your WFH wardrobe stat, Hugo Boss's mid-season outlet sale will have you sorted for a fraction of the fashion label's usual prices. You'll have to get in quick to score though, with the sale running from Wednesday, May 27 until Sunday, June 28 (or until stocks last). The only catch? You'll have to take a trip to the Gold Coast to bag yourself a bargain. Just head to the BOSS Outlet at Harbour Town Premium Outlets to get these quality threads for such a steal. Current opening hours at all BOSS outlets are 11am–4pm. Hugo Boss mid-season outlet sale will run from Wednesday, May 27 till until Sunday, June 28, or until stocks last (excludes new season stock). To find your closest outlet, visit the website.
The constant flow of COVID-19 news was interrupted, temporarily, earlier this month when a former Prime Minister's memoir launched. Well, was leaked. According to the book's publisher Hardie Grant, a pirated version of Malcolm Turnbull's A Bigger Picture was allegedly shared multiple times from an address "within the PMO [Prime Minister's Office]". And that's not the only reason the book made headlines. As well as calling out Kevin Rudd's potty mouth, Turnbull spills the tea on his relationship with now Prime Minister Scott Morrison and even calls him a "Machiavellian plotter". If this is the kind of inside gossip that get's you excited on a Monday, you'll be happy to know you can hear even more from the man himself at a one-off Sydney Writers' Festival event. At 7pm AEST on Monday, April 27, Turnbull will be chatting to writer and presenter Annabel Crabb about his memoir, his ex-colleagues and the 2018 leadership spill. The talk will be live streamed via the Sydney Writers' Festival YouTube channel, website and Facebook page. While the literary festival has been cancelled inline with the government's restrictions on public gatherings, it's hosting a series of online events and podcasts that'll reimagine its 2020 program. You can check out more of them over at Sydney Writers' Festival website. [caption id="attachment_660576" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sydney Writers' Festival by Prudence Upton[/caption] Top image: Flickr/Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff
Once a year, Portside Wharf gives Brisbanites an extra-cheesy reason to stop by. That'd be Cheese Week — which has evolved from a one-day pop-up to eight whole days of cheese specials, all by the Hamilton waterside. Whichever eatery or retailer you stop by, you'll find cheese on the menu — and in different ways, too. Think cheese platters, three-cheese pastas, four-cheese pizzas, mozzarella sticks, cheese-slathered nachos, lamb cutlets with roquefort blue souffle, cheese naan and cheesecake. There's even cashew cheese as well. The whole precinct is getting into the cheesy spirit from Friday, March 13–Friday, March 20, including Belvedere Bar and Grill, Byblos Bar, Gusto da Gianni, Hello Harry and even Dendy Cinemas. [caption id="attachment_763644" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Claudia Baxter[/caption] Folks keen to embrace the classic pairing that is cheese and wine can do so at a one-night tasting event at Mr and Mrs Jones, too, with tickets costing $25. And if you think that cheese goes better with beer, Sense of Taste is hosting an evening just for that as well — plus meat — with tickets costing $50. Images: Claudia Baxter / Portside Wharf.
There's no doubt about it, it's cold. Sydney's winter weather has settled in — we've seen frosty mornings, snow on the mountains and rain aplenty. Luckily, Japanese casual apparel retailer UNIQLO has got some super snug clothing to keep you warm throughout the chilly season. What's more, it's giving away 10,000 free Heattech products to make sure you're cosy to the core. Essentially thermals, the Heattech innerwear comes in three levels of warmth — warm, extra warm and ultra warm — in the form of singlets, long-sleeve shirts, turtle necks, leggings, long johns and tights. So, whatever this winter holds in store, UNIQLO will help you stay nice and toasty. To nab yours, you'll need to complete an online version of 'hot and cold'. Available to play from 10am Wednesday, July 15 to 11.59pm Sunday, July 19, the virtual game will see you navigating three levels (aptly named warm, extra warm and ultra warm) looking for 'invisible' Heattech tops. If you find the tops and complete all three levels, you'll be sent a code to redeem a free men's or women's Heattech product — you can choose from any of those listed above, up to the value of $19.90 — at any Uniqlo store in Australia.
Food-themed days are threatening to become the culinary equivalent of the boy who cried wolf: so many manufactured eating occasions, only so much stomach space. Still, no matter how frequently they seem to pop up, there's one thing that always grabs attention. Boy oh boy do we all love cheap chook. Perhaps that's why El Camino Cantina is celebrating National Wing Day by giving the people what they love. On Wednesday, July 29, buffalo wings will be ten cents each all day at the chain's Brisbane stores — as long as you buy a Cadillac margarita, beer or wine to wash them down with. Feeling brave? Like your poultry pieces not just super affordable, but extra spicy? El Camino is also doing 'wing roulette'. Here's how it works: you order a serving of 20 wings (for a sum total of $2), and two will come marinated in 'face-melter' sauce; however you won't know which ones until you eat your way through them. El Camino Cantina's National Wing Day special is available all day onWednesday, July 29 at its Bowen Hills and Chermside stores.
Already known for its bottomless vegan pizza and pasta feasts, Italian restaurant chain Salt Meats Cheese is upping its cruelty-free food game across a new food series. Called Soul Meets Cheers, the event consists of two regular parts: a five-course vegan banquet and a vegan cooking class. At the former, you'll tuck into an entirely plant-based menu, which'll feature vegan versions of Italian classics. For the feast's second outing, think pizzetta with sweet potato and truffle oil, orecchiette with broccolini and Tuscan kale pesto, and raspberry sorbet. The next vegan dinner takes place on Tuesday, September 8 at SMC's Newstead venue, with bookings from 6pm. And, your $49 ticket also includes a glass of vegan wine or or Young Henrys beer or cider upon arrival — or you can pay an extra $15 and get bottomless vegan wine and beer. At the latter, which is next being held on Saturday, October 3 also at Newstead, you'll learn how to make your own SMC-style vegan dishes at home. In this year of lockdowns, isolation and quarantine, that's a particularly handy skill. If you're keen, tickets cost $89. Salt Meats Cheese's Soul Meets Cheers Vegan Series five-course banquet takes place from 6pm on Tuesday, September 8 at SMC's Newstead venue, with the cooking class held on Saturday, October 3 — and bookings are essential.
Break out the martinis and prepare for a shaken but not stirred few months — because Bond, James Bond, is coming to Palace James Street. At 2pm every Sunday afternoon between August 16–October 18, the New Farm venue will screen 20 films in the espionage franchise in double features, all as part of an event it's calling the 007 Double Feature Series. Sean Connery smouldering his way through everything from Dr. No to Diamonds Are Forever, Roger Moore stepping into 007's shoes between Live and Let Die and A View to A Kill, Timothy Dalton's two-film run in The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill — they're all included. So is Pierce Brosnan's stint as the secret agent between GoldenEye and Die Another Day, plus Aussie actor George Lazenby's one-movie appearance as Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The action franchise's 25th movie, No Time to Die, is currently slated to hit the big screen in November — after being delayed from April due to COVID-19. So, as tends to be the case when it comes to James Bond, the 007 Double Feature Series' timing is perfect. Head along to rove your eyes over every single detail — and every villain, Bond girl, gadget and opening credits sequence too — and start craving martinis. As for donning a tuxedo, well, that's up to you. Need some more motivation? Let the trailer for Goldeneye get you in a 007 mood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHFXthl5IJo The 007 Double Feature Series runs every Sunday afternoon between August 16–October 18 at Palace James Street, with tickets on sale now.
Brisbane is already home to two mini-golf bars, multiple arcade bars, several axe-throwing bars and a digital ping pong bar — and it boasts a huge two-storey darts hangout, too. Usually the domain of old-school pubs, the projectile-flinging sport is the main attraction at Oche Brisbane, though it's had a thoroughly 21st-century update. Originally launching in Oslo in Norway, Oche (pronounced ockey) opened its first Australian digs in Fortitude Valley in 2019. Lining the walls are dart boards that look exactly how you remember — but they all have an electronic component. Each board comes with dozens of games built in, so you can pick between the knockout-style Killer, high-scoring High Striker and points-accumulating 201, among other options. The boards also keep score, so there's no need for a pencil and paper (and no room for arguments). And, for unknown reasons, some of them chat to you as well. Fancy having a throw, drinking brews, eating pretzels and celebrating this time of year? That's what Ochetoberfest is all about. Running from Wednesday, October 14–Sunday, October 18, the five-day event features German beers on tap, schnitzel meal deals and free pretzels for everyone who books a darts session online — combining boozy October shenanigans with an updated version of a favourite pub activity.
Everyone loves Friday afternoons, that magical time when another week of the nine-to-five grind comes to an end. Feel like marking the occasion by giving yourself a slight early mark, sipping pink-hued wine and soaking in a watery view? Yes, that's definitely an option. Each week — because the onset of two days off is always worth saying cheers to — Alchemy is hosting Rosé Fridays to help you welcome the weekend with a drink in your hand. Head by its riverside Eagle Street digs from 3–5pm, and you can grab a glass for $7. Obviously, if you want to grab several, that's up to you. If you really have something to celebrate, a champagne will set you back $10. From the food selection, there'll also be cheese, antipasto and oysters to munch on — so you can start your weekend with a bite, a slurp, a few drinks and a mighty upbeat mood.
There's something oh-so-relaxing about staring at the sea; however, despite our glorious sunshine most the of year around, Brisbane isn't really a coastal city. Forget the fact that we have rivers, pools and man-made beaches instead by heading to the Ocean Film Festival World Tour. Between Monday, October 19–Thursday, October 22, screening each night at 7pm, it'll unleash a cinematic feast of water-focused wonders onto the big screen at the riverside Brisbane Powerhouse. Film-wise, viewers will spend time both above and below the ocean's surface thanks to a compilation of shorts from around the world. Expect to chase big waves, explore a range of sea life and get a hefty ocean rush, plus a heap of other sea adventures. The program is united by a love of the ocean, an appreciation of the creatures who dwell in its waters and a curiosity to explore the substance that comprises more than two-thirds of the earth. It's the next best thing to diving in, all without getting wet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5BZV6IoSX8&feature=emb_logo The Ocean Film Festival World Tour hits Brisbane Powerhouse from Monday, October 19–Thursday, October 22. Image: Travis Burke.
When a film casts a universally adored actor as an unlucky-in-love character, it sends the world a message: that romance's joys and heartbreaks spare no one. When a movie tasks its protagonist with grappling with technology, it makes another statement: that the advancements meant to makes our lives easier can, and often do, have the exact opposite effect. Not just tried-and-tested, but commonplace, these cinematic choices have become cliches. The truisms they represent are already well-known and well-worn, too. And yet reminders don't go astray when they're not only clever and compelling, but baked into a catfishing thriller as twisty, perceptive and engaging as Who You Think I Am, which turns subverting expectations into its very mission. Nothing is what it seems in this French standout. As the picture's moniker makes plain, that includes its protagonist, as played by Juliette Binoche. Starring in a film that initially appears a kindred spirit to last year's rom-com Let the Sunshine In, the acclaimed talent again steps into the shoes of an unhappily single 50-something who's newly navigating the dating pool. Where Claire Denis' rom-com poignantly revelled in the ebbs and flows of being unattached later in life, filmmaker Safy Nebbou uses the scenario as a springboard to examine the contradictions of today's always-online, always-connected society. Finding a partner, whether for now or forever, may be as straightforward as swiping across a screen these days, but it's also burdened with complications and deceptions. There's a glimmer of defiance twinkling in Binoche's eyes when her character, university academic Claire, takes her love life in a drastic direction after her divorce. Adjusting to the new status quo, she still wants to be desired. So, if her ex can run off with someone much younger, then she can have flings with men half her age. When her latest squeeze starts fading out of her life, she also takes up cyberstalking. To discover why Ludo (Guillaume Gouix) has called time on their dalliance without any real explanation, Claire becomes Clara, a fresh-faced fashion intern aged just 24. Soon, the professor isn't just trawling through social media looking for answers about her latest breakup — under her new persona, she's cosying up to Ludo's friend and assistant Alex (François Civil). The ordinary act of clicking "like" on Facebook sparks a thread of direct messages, then texts, then hot-and-heavy phone calls, with Clara and Alex's online affair getting serious quickly. Adapted by Nebbou and co-screenwriter Julie Peyr from Camille Laurens' novel, Who You Think I Am isn't content to just inch towards the expected revelation one keystroke at a time. Nor is it happy to merely probe the unfair importance placed on appearances in the online dating realm, or the ageist tendency to erase women over a certain age. All of the above play a part in this icily, meticulously shot flick, but its insistence on never fitting neatly into any category extends to a narrative that keeps branching off in different directions. Framed by chats between Claire and her therapist (Nicole Garcia), as obsessed with duality as any Hitchcock classic, and also purposefully referencing the notoriously slippery and seductive Dangerous Liaisons, the end result is snaky thriller, a contemplative drama and even a thorny romance. Or, much like Claire, it's a movie with more than one identity. Continuing an exceptional recent run that also includes witty literary comedy Non-Fiction and the stellar, space-set High Life, it goes without saying that Binoche is the glue holding Who You Think I Am together. The film is impressively scripted, structured, shot and styled, and would retain these facets even with a different lead — however the right performer can always elevate a great picture to a higher level. While investing in the story's twists and turns is crucial, and something that Nebbou achieves with aplomb, believing in Claire is even more vital. Whether agonising over the right wording for her next message, itching for the phone that becomes her portal to another world, or confidently embracing not just her online charade, but the chance to rewrite her own tale, Binoche ensures that audiences are with her lonely, yearning character every step of the way. A catfishing movie that makes you empathise with the perpetrator? That's just one of the delights of this sharp, smart and savvily layered surprise package. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShwXIOszzIM
Your next stint of Sunday shopping just got boozier, all thanks to City Winery Brisbane and BrisStyle. The former is Fortitude Valley's resident winery, the latter hosts markets around town, and the two are joining forces for their first Sip & Shop Pop-Up event. Between 11am–4pm on Sunday, August 4, Brisbanites are invited to browse stalls, buy handmade wares and enjoy a few wines in the process, all at City Winery's James Street digs. If you've always thought your market experience needed a bit of vino, then you're in luck. If you've always wished your next wine-sipping afternoon would also involve shopping, you're in luck as well. Focusing on Queensland artisans, the pop-up will feature jewellery, art, clothing and homewares, with BrisStyle highlighting some of its popular online sellers. Plus, City Winery won't just be serving up beverages, but bites to eat as well. Image: City Winery.
UPDATE, February 5, 2021: Apollo 11 is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. For those born after humanity initially visited the moon, it's easy to take the amazing achievement for granted. It has been 47 years since anyone has strolled across the earth's only natural satellite, but our ability to soar into space and tread on the lunar surface if we wanted to still seems like a given. With 2019 marking five decades since Neil Armstrong took one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind, the timing couldn't be better to consider the historic Apollo 11 mission in detail. Naming his documentary after the pioneering spaceflight, director, editor and producer Todd Douglas Miller knows that anyone can run through the ins and outs of the preparation, voyage and on-the-ground hoopla. Only by assembling an astounding array of archival audio and video footage, however, can a documentary dare to dream about capturing not just the expedition, but the complete experience. How does it feel to place one foot in front of the other on a celestial body located nearly 400,000 kilometres above the earth, as Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin did? What was it like to be back at Cape Canaveral viewing the rocket launch? Or to be in NASA's mission control centre during the eight days that the vessel's three-man crew were in the air? They're questions that Apollo 11 endeavours to answer. While space-based films have tracked nearly every other possible aspect of venturing into the heavens, especially in science fiction, relaying the one thing that humanity has actually accomplished has always proven trickier until this exceptional doco. In the inky darkness above us, no one can hear you scream, according to Ridley Scott's Alien — and yet, if you're Armstrong, an entire planet can hang on your every word while you're taking the first-ever walk across the moon. Last year, Damien Chazelle's First Man went to great lengths to show that iconic incident from the late astronaut's perspective, but there's simply nothing like watching the real thing. As an editor, Miller's task is immense, trawling through more primary materials than any filmmaker tackling the moon landing could hope to have at their disposal. The Dinosaur 13 director not only received access to a wealth of newly discovered, previously unprocessed 65mm visuals, but to more than 11,000 hours of uncatalogued audio recordings featuring 60 key personnel. Delving into such a treasure trove, he follows a linear timeline. Although that may sound straightforward, the end result is by no means standard. Apollo 11 flies meticulously through the intricacies of its eponymous mission, specifically highlighting the launch of the Columbia spacecraft, the Eagle lunar module's descent to the moon, the process of reconnecting the two vessels together afterwards and the re-entry into the planet's atmosphere. More than that, it makes viewers feel as if they're there as well — waving flags in Florida, muttering into headsets in Houston, careening through space and stepping onto the moon's powdery white surface. There's a basic principle at work here, and one that Apollo 11 puts into action in the best possible way: show don't tell. For the last 50 years, the world has deployed countless words to discuss the mission's feat — perhaps that's why we've lost our sense of wonder about it — so Miller doesn't waste time recapping, recounting or analysing. Although Aldrin and fellow Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins are still alive, he doesn't ask them to chat about the space venture either. Rather, he lets the materials from the period offer a portal back to the past. Eschewing narration and interviews, the filmmaker relies upon his stunning archive to relay this monumental story. Nothing else is necessary; vivid and teeming with life, Apollo 11's footage and audio truly goes above and beyond, especially when seen on the big screen. It gives the big, weighty moments their time to shine, including Armstrong's famous words. It features astonishing off-the-planet sights, such as the view of Earth from such great heights. It also turns seemingly routine minutiae, of which there's plenty, into a jaw-dropping spectacle. Indeed, much of the documentary's power stems from its vibrancy, not just in observing the nuts and bolts of the spaceflight, but in making this immersive portrait of five decades ago appear virtually futuristic. The movie's images are that comprehensive, even with the obvious 60s-era clothing, furniture and technology, that they feel almost unreal. The open and engaged looks on everyone's faces evoke the same sensation, as do their relaxed and respectful conversations, because such collective camaraderie and widespread earnestness aren't overly common in the 21st-century. Of course, it should feel extraordinary to ponder something as significant as sending people to the moon, let alone to bear witness to it. Continuing that sentiment, Apollo 11 doesn't simply transport the audience back in time, or immortalise one of humanity's greatest achievements in never-before-seen detail — it also provides a glaring snapshot of who we were, what we once valued and how much we've changed in such a short period. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKWKjKtkwxk
Winter is for indulging — rugging up by fireplaces, donning luxurious coats, and feasting on foods and fiery liquors all help us keep warm during the chilly season. Luckily for us, premium scotch distiller Glenmorangie is treating Brisbane locals to a next-level whisky and dessert pairing this winter. For six weeks only, Glenmorangie is teaming up with local chocolatier Koko Black to bring you Signet and Sweet — a special after-dinner treat at 15 bars in and around Brisbane. Meeting the cold head on, the collaboration will see you sipping on Glenmorangie's richest whisky — Signet — while tasting some mighty fine chocolate. With Signet's sweet and spicy notes, the smooth single malt is an ideal post-dinner drink and dessert accompaniment. So, down to the details. Expect Glenmorangie's Signet served neat and paired with three Koko Black chocolates. Head to any of the partaking bars and you'll be sampling spicy dark chocolate ganache, dark chocolate-dipped candied orange and cafe latte squares alongside your scotch. In the central Brisbane, you can head to Malt Dining, Kingsleys, The Boom Boom Room, Bacchus, The Treasury, Pony Dining, Mr & Mrs G, Regatta Hotel and Moo Moo Bar to nab this offer. Further afield locations include the Gold Coast's Moo Moo Bar and The Star, Zinc in Port Douglas , Salt House in Cairns and Sofitel Noosa. Glenmorangie Signet x Koko Black's Signet and Sweet after-dinner special is available at bars across Melbourne and will run from Monday, July 15 through Saturday, August 31.
The Gold Coast is already known as the glitter strip, but from Thursday, August 1 to Saturday, August 3, it'll be extra dazzling. Forget the shine of the southeast Queensland spot's many beachside high-rises — who needs those kinds of lights when there's immersive luminous mazes to walk through, high-powered laser beams to see and radiant inflatable horses to marvel at? All of the above form part of GLOW, a free, three-day, after-dark festival that's brightening up HOTA, Home of the Arts with creatures and colours of the night. Featuring works from both Australian and international artists, it'll also liven up your winter, because frolicking through projection-filled interactive play spaces and sculpting neon critters out of glowing wires will do that. Highlights include Dan Acher's Borealis, which'll change the colour of the sky into the hues of the northern lights; Proud Horses, which sees France's Cie Des Quidams let luminous animals loose; and Meagan Streader's Parallelism, which combines light and sculpture into an all-encompassing installation. Or, you can wander through the bubble garden, listen to the HOTA choir, grab something to eat from a food truck or nab a drink from a bar — while this is an all-ages, family-friendly affair, it's also licensed. GLOW runs from 5–9pm between Thursday, August 1 to Saturday, August 3.
For 31 days between Friday, July 26 and Saturday, August 31, the same wall at the UQ Art Museum will receive a fresh lick of paint. Two students will be responsible for splashing a different colour across it each day, and they can choose whichever hue they like. While they're painting, visitors to the gallery can watch. At the end of each session, a black-and-white framed photo of the pyramids will be hung over newly coated wall. As conceived by American conceptual artist John Baldessari, the aim of Wall Painting is simultaneously simple and complex, inviting both participants and audiences to reflect upon time, labour and decision-making. Wall Painting forms part of the St Lucia site's latest exhibition, Unlearning, which ponders the whole process of shedding old notions and discovering new things — whether about art, culture, memory, bodies or social interaction. There's a joy in not knowing something, allowing you to contemplate a subject or issue with a fresh mind, pick up new skills and see the world from a different perspective. The entire showcase runs from Friday, July 26 to Saturday, December 21, kicking off with a party from 6–9pm on opening night. Also on display is Elizabeth Willing's large-scale window installation, ahead of her exhibition Through the Mother from Tuesday, September 10; Jacobus Capone's seven-channel film installation Dark Learning, which focuses on extreme locations; Lara Merrett's High Stakes, where you're able to touch her paintings; and Weaving the Way, a curated range of fibre works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Image: John Baldessari, Wall Painting, initially curated by Tara McDowell at MADA Gallery, Monash University in October–November 2017. Photo: Melissa Vallence.
For its latest excuse to eat, drink and be merry, the Treasury Casino is taking inspiration from our neighbours across the ditch. Over one cheese and wine-filled evening, the CBD hotspot will be serving up New Zealand's best dairy and vino — and given the country's reputation on both fronts, it's certain to deliver. In a special Ekka holiday eve edition of the casino's regular cheese and wine parties, your tastebuds will think they've ventured across the ocean between 5pm and 8pm on Tuesday, August 13. With sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling on offer from Matua Valley, Squealing Pig and more, prepare to sip and sample away for three hours for $59 per person, which is definitely cheaper than jumping on a plane. So are the event's VIP $110 tickets, which include Dog Point wines, chats with winemakers, and a premium cheese and canape selection. This time, the tastiness takes place not only in the Treasury's courtyard — complete with a starry backdrop — but also in The Lab, because there's just so much NZ-themed deliciousness to around. New Zealand canapés, Pan Head craft brews and 42 Below vodka will all help round out the evening.
Seven days a week, West End's Crepe Kamon serves up Japanese-style desserts — which, although they're much the same as regular crepes, come curled up in a cone. Whether filled with fruit, ice cream or even stuffed with savoury toppings, they're delicious. But nabbing one of these rolled-up treats isn't the only reason to head to the Vulture Street spot. Across five nights between Tuesday, July 30 and Tuesday, September 24, Crepe Kamon is playing host to Japanese cooking classes. No, the sessions won't teach you how to whip up the joint's signature dish, but you will learn how to make a heap of other favourites. Always wanted to rustle up some homemade gyoza, dashi and udon? Master the art of making sushi? Create your own bento boxes? In three-hour classes, you'll pick up these skills. One session will also focus exclusively on vegan and vegetarian Japanese dishes, while another is wholly dedicated to miso (because it's just so versatile and can be used in so many ways). Teacher Yoshi has more than two decades experience hosting classes in Japan — and, once you come to the end of each class, you'll get to tuck into all the food you've made. Tickets cost $100 per session, or $450 for all five classes.
Brisbane's riverside Howard Smith Wharves Precinct is keeping Queensland's perennial summer vibes going with its Weekends on the Lawn. Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, the space will be home to outdoor activities aplenty, including live music, lawn games, food trucks and even an Aperol spritz bar (which will feature until August 18). Bring along your mates to enjoy a refreshing Aperol Spritz, other drink carts on offer include wine, cider and Felons Brewing Co. beers. There'll be plenty of food trucks to dig into, too — think wings, barbecue, seafood and burgers, plus churros and gelato for dessert. The lineup will change each day, as will the live tunes by local acts — Phoebe Sinclair, Daniel Stoneman and Greg Alston are among the names slated to perform. So bring your friends, your kids and your pets, and enjoy that enviable Brissie winter weather. Weekends on the Lawn will take place from 1–8pm each Saturday and Sunday. To check the lineup and for more information, head this way.
That time of year is here again. It's not just the part of the annual calendar that's earmarked for the Ekka, but the portion of every 12-month period when everywhere in Brisbane gets into the carnival spirit. Some do so by hosting sideshows. Others serve up strawberry ice creams. Over at Eat Street Northshore, food and fun are usually on the menu, so it's adding in a heap of rides. Take a whirl on some dodgems, hop on a spooky train or whirl around in the air — they're all on offer. We do have some very sensible advice, though: maybe save the stomach-churning attractions until after you've tucked into all of the top bites that Eat Street has to offer. Carnivale at Northshore is popping up across two weekends, so head by from Friday, August 9–Sunday, August 11, and then again from Friday, August 16–Sunday, August 16. It'll be open from 3pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11am on Sundays — with entry to Eat Street costing $3 per adult, and the rides each attracting their own fee. Image: Eat Street Northshore.
If you ever need to kick your appetite into gear, feasting your eyes on Pie Town's social media feeds is a surefire tactic. Or, you could tuck into its enormous array of pies — which've been available at Wandering Cooks of late, but will farewell the venue on Saturday, August 10. The home of pie wizardry is moving on to a permanent home elsewhere in West End; however it isn't going without a celebration. From 10am–8.30pm, its current site will become pie central, complete with some rather weird and wonderful flavours to mark this time of year. Sure, you can go to the Ekka — but you can also tuck into an Ekka-themed pie. Dagwood dog pies, strawberry sundae pies, Bertie Beetle pies... you'll find them here. Pie Town will be going on a short hiatus while it gets setup in its new digs, so if you're hankering for one of its sweet or savoury treats, this'll be your last chance for a while. Image: Pie Town.
Brisbane's midweek public holiday is upon us, you'd prefer sitting in a cinema to walking around the Ekka, but your wallet doesn't want to play ball. Call Dendy Cinemas' latest special a case of great timing, then, with the chain offering up discount tickets that'll solve your problem. All day on Wednesday, August 14, regardless of whether you purchase online or in person, you'll only pay $5 for your movie of choice at Portside and Coorparoo. Or movies. With everything from Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw and The Lion King to Apollo 11 and Ophelia currently screening — plus Midsommar and Late Night, too — there's plenty to watch if you're keen to spend as much time in a darkened room as possible. The special isn't available for special events, Dendy Arts sessions or preview screenings, but you're certain to find something to watch regardless.
Take a slab of crumbed chicken, top it with ham, tomato and cheese — and, well, you can't really go wrong. Little Big House certainly hasn't since opening in late 2017. In fact, the South Bank pub has sold plenty of them, and so it's throwing a party in the humble parmigiana's honour. It plans to serve up quite a few more, too, particularly across the week between Monday, August 26 and Sunday, September 1. Drop by Grey Street for a feed and you'll pay just $14 for a parmy — and these aren't your average creations. Yes, you can stick with the tried-and-tested classic variety, which is never a bad idea. If you're feeling adventurous, however, there'll be four new takes on the dish on the menu for the week. Highlights include the corn chip-topped 'The Big Sombrero' and the sweet-and-sour flavoured 'Big Trouble in Little China' (complete with prawn crackers, naturally). Or, you can tuck into 'The Big American Dream', which wraps a parmy around a hot dog. The $14 deal leads up to a one-day Parmy Party from midday on Sunday, September 1, where people will just drink, eat and talk about how much they love parmys, we guess. There'll be parmy trivia as well, because that's now a real thing. By heading along, you can also win free parmys for a year, in case you needed some extra parmy motivation.
The 90s were great. That shouldn't be a controversial opinion. Whether you lived through them or have spent the last couple of decades wishing you did — aka binging on 90s pop culture — this late-night shindig at The Foundry will indulge your retro urges. Drinks, tunes, fashion: expect all of the above at the No Scrubs: 90s and Early 00s party from 11.30pm on Saturday, July 20. Of course, it's up to you to make sure the clothing side of thing is covered, and to get into the spirit of the party. If you want to use Mariah Carey as a style icon, it'd be fitting. Expect to unleash your inner Spice Girl and Backstreet Boy too. TLC, Destiny's Child, Savage Garden, Usher, Blink-182, No Doubt — we'd keep listing artists, but you all know what you're getting yourselves into. Tickets are $12.25 online, with the fun running through until 3am
If you're a 90s kid who isn't too fond of clowns, your fears probably stem from Stephen King's IT. And, if that's the case, you probably steered clear of Pennywise's return in the new film version. The 2017 flick was only part one, of course. Now, with IT: Chapter Two, coulrophobics have a whole new movie to steer clear of. If the sight of over-sized shoes and water-squirting flowers gets under your skin, you'll probably want to avoid New Farm Cinemas' clown-filled opening night screening as well. In the stuff that some nightmares are made of, the Brunswick Street movie theatre is celebrating the release of eagerly anticipated horror sequel in coloured wig-wearing style — that is, with clowns aplenty. If their face paint and red noses don't give you goosebumps, then head on down for the 7pm session on Thursday, September 5. Clowns won't just surround frightening flick-loving film-goers, however. If you want to see the movie, you have to get into costume yourself. The venue did the same thing with the last flick, and the same rule applies: "all patrons should dress as a clown to attend". So don your best clown outfit and get made up Pennywise-style by on-site face painters. Pre-film festivities kick off at 6pm, and include magic tricks — and red balloons as well, we're guessing — before the Bill Skarsgård, James McAvoy, Bill Hader and Jessica Chastain-starring movie itself plunges viewers into even spookier territory.
How long has Charles Boyle been dreaming of Jake Peralta and Amy Santiago's wedding? What did Rosa Diaz do before she was a cop? Who keeps swooping in and taking the Nine-Nine crew's cases? Which one is Scully and which is Hitchcock? If you can answer all of the above — and name Captain Holt's dog, Terry's twins, Gina's dance troupe and Jake's favourite movie — then you're set for this trivia night. Yes, it's all about the hit cop sitcom we all know and love. You know, the one that was cancelled and then resurrected in the space of 36 hours. We'd keep asking Brooklyn Nine-Nine questions and dropping tidbits, but we'll save some for the big night. Every time a trivia evenings dedicated to B99 hits town, places are snapped up faster than Terry can snap open a tub of yoghurt. This time, you need to book a ticket for Aether Brewing's tribute trivia night in Milton, and then Saturday, April 6 can be your night to shine (that can also be the title of your sex tape if you'd like). It all starts at 7pm and entry costs $20, which includes a drink on arrival. If all this sounds rather noice, get in quick as spots are limited.
Last Christmas, VEND Marketplace helped you deck your halls with all types of greenery, and it isn't stopping there. The northside spot has added a new space dedicated to plants, and it's hosting a huge sale. Welcome to the Greenhouse, as the new area is aptly known. While it has been open, operating and making gardeners dreams come true since last month, you'll want to drop by from 8am on Saturday, March 30. That's when the 250-square-metre indoor garden will be slinging its green babies at a special one-day event — and yes, there'll be about succulents, cacti, indoor plants, hanging plants, outdoor plants, pots and more. Plenty of plants will be on sale for less than $15, and there'll also be juice, smoothies, tea, coffee, beer and wine to drink, plus food trucks serving up street eats. Plus, if you can find a hidden jungle animal, you'll nab yourself a free piece of greenery.
Between Thursday, May 16 and Monday, May 20, make the drive to Noosa to do something other than take a swim. Catching some surf, sun and sand will likely be on your agenda anyway — that's what happens on the Sunshine Coast, after all — however the tourist spot will be in the thick of its annual food and wine festival. Touring the region's breweries, getting stuck into plenty of rosé, shucking back oysters, and enjoying bubbles and canapes on the beach are just some of the events on offer as the town goes gastronomy crazy, and the surrounding area too. Head to a street food mini-fest within the fest, learn how to make new cocktails or dine on the waterfront — whatever cuisine-focused celebration takes your fancy, you'll probably find it on the menu. Basically, it's the kind of fun you'll want to make a weekend of. You've heard of eating, drinking and being merry; this is eating, drinking, being merry and being beachy as well.
Brisbane's big blue sky is about to get brighter — no, summer isn't here again, but Brisbane Kite Festival is. From 10am until 3pm on Sunday, April 28, the high-flying event will take over the Murarrie Recreation Ground, filling the air with colourful structures flapping in the wind. It's a family-friendly affair, but kids small and big are welcome to roll out their kite and watch it float in the wind — and, if you need some help, there'll be kite workshops onsite, too. Plus, if you want to be part of the fun, but don't have your own kite, there'll be some for sale on the day, as well as professional kite flyers (yep, that's a thing) to give you a hand. When you're not holding a string and staring at the clouds, you can also grab something to eat or do a little browsing, with the festival also featuring markets and food stalls. Entry is free, but gold coin donations are welcome — as are pets, so bring your doggo along.
