When harvest season ends, it's fire time — and fun time as well. In a tradition originating in France, wineries prune their grapevines, collect the cuttings, and get burning. It's a way of both cleansing away the season that's passed and celebrating the coming of new growth. At many of vino-producing establishments, it's also reason enough to have a party, and Sirromet Winery is no different. On August 13, they'll be celebrating with tipples, food trucks and live entertainment, all around a bonfire. At their first ever Burning of the Vines Festival, there'll also be plenty of picnic space, pizzas on their Tuscan terrace and just an all-round ace way to spend a boozy winter afternoon. Entry is free, but registration is required — and while relaxing on the grass is recommended, BYO food and drinks aren't allowed.
Sample Food Festival is once again taking over the Bangalow Showground on September 2 for a day filled with the region's best producers. The festival is all about keeping it local, showcasing the creative cuisines of northern New South Wales. Set just outside of Byron Bay, over 200 stallholders will attract over 17,000 visitors each year. Since its debut in 2011, the festival has been dedicated to bringing together local restaurant owners, farmers and producers. Prior to the main event, there are four days of dinners and special events to get patrons excited. The region's top restaurants will also compete for the 'Gold Fork' awards and collaborate on special events. Expect to meet food lovers from all over the country who've come to share their passion in a meeting of the minds.
There really is a festival dedicated to everything you can think of. We've said it before, and we know we'll say it again; however, given that Redcliffe has a two-day fest dedicated to flying kites, we know that we're right. Yep, it's the event your inner seven-year-old will love — and, let's be honest, your adult self will too. It's a breezy way to spend the weekend, that's for sure. It's also a celebration of the simple pleasure of letting the wind catch a brightly coloured combination of wood, string and fabric, and then watching it soar. Of course, KiteFest is exactly what you make of it, whether something peaceful or action-packed is on your personal agenda. If you just want to stare at the sky, you can do that. If you want to browse market stalls, listen to live music, hop on a few carnival rides, watch roving performers and more — including world-class professional kite flyers, high-flying fly board performers, back-flipping sky skis and high-speed jet ski routines — you can do that too.
If a few drinks and a fine spread is your idea of Friday evening bliss, then the Treasury has you covered. Come September 15, they're hosting a night of cheese, wine and hops — and just indulging and relaxing in their courtyard. For $49, attendees get three hours of eating and imbibing fun, featuring Chandon, Squealing Pig and Rameau d'Or Provence Rose wines, Little Creatures beer and nosh aplenty. As well as dairy goodness, the food range will include buffet stations filled with antipasto tastings and wood-fired pizzas, while live jazz will provide a cruisy soundtrack. If it all sounds like enough to make you forget you're at a casino, well, you're right. Plenty of other people did just that at the Treasury's last shindig, so booking early is recommended. Image: Hayley Williamson Photography.
When the first-ever feature-length film with synchronised music, singing and speech made its way to cinemas 90 years ago, it told the tale of a fictional jazz singer. It was called The Jazz Singer, in fact. The movie made history for a whole heap of reasons, and it likely inspired plenty of jazz-crooning musicians to try their hand as well — such as the folks belting out tunes at the Brisbane Vocal Jazz Festival, for example. From August 3 to 8, a chorus of stellar jazz voices will be singing up a storm like they're the subjects of a film, with local, national and international talent descending upon the Brisbane Jazz Club for the festival's second year. Their croon-tastic celebration starts with a jam night, soars into a compilation of big screen jazz standards called Jazz at the Movies (fittingly enough), and includes everything from workshops to love songs to harmonies, before ending with an ode to Ella Fitzgerald to mark what would've been her 100th year.
A word of warning before attending the Museum of Brisbane's latest exhibition: you might want to have something to eat first. If you don't prior, we're betting that you'll be making a beeline to a cafe afterwards. Looking at food-inspired artwork tends to get the stomach grumbling, after all. At Tastes Like Sunshine, Brisbane's culinary culture is thrust onto a platter and served up for the cuisine and creativity-loving masses, endeavouring to challenge audiences' ideas of traditional still life, food and art mediums. Artists Elizabeth Willing, Sean Rafferty and Carol McGregor have used food as a stimulus to create new, multi-sensory pieces, using everything from possum skins and produce boxes to chocolate and marshmallows in the process. And, they've stepped into the heart of the city's food scene — spending time with local chefs, hanging out at the Brisbane Markets and working with the local Aboriginal community. The trio's works are joined by a photo series by Jo Grant that documents gardens created by some of Brisbane's migrant residents, plus a pictorial history of sugar farming and production in the region, as well as a look at our food markets.
Back in May, when Mother's Day rolled around, Wandering Cooks held a pre-occasion day of food, beverages and shopping for two reasons. Whether you were looking for something for your mum, or something to do with your mum, they had you covered — and they're doing it all over again now that it's dad's time in the spotlight. From midday on September 2, expect ceramics, hand-made tools, leather goods, small batch wares and handcrafted furniture to fill the corner of Fish Lane and Cordelia Street, plus plenty to eat and drink. Bring your father to Father for some quality bonding time, or pick him up a few pressies somewhere much more fun than your local shopping centre. In fact, you won't just be browsing and buying in a better location — you're likely to find a whole different kind of gift here as well. That's how you make your dad feel special: by giving him something other than a box of chocolates, a book or some socks. He'll thank you for it.
It's not every day that Michael Caine blows the bloody doors off an artist's reputation, dubbing them the next Andy Warhol, but that's what happened to Lincoln Townley. The self-taught British artist has been the toast of the art world ever since, painting portraits of everyone from his aforementioned biggest fan to Prince and David Bowie — and a selection of his work is coming to Brisbane. In The Surprise Collection, Townley turns the darkest depths of the human mind into striking oil paintings, endeavouring to capture the darkness everyone has to overcome in order to become an icon. That term, icon, is one of his recurrent obsessions, with his pictures of famous faces similarly exploring the same topic. Some will also feature in this exhibition. A joint effort between REDSEA Gallery and Brisbane Powerhouse, The Surprise Collection graces the latter's walls from August 17 to October 1.
Adapting Mark Haddon's Whitbread-winning novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has finished chewing up Broadway and the West End, and is now on its way to Brisbane. When Christopher Boone discovers the corpse of his neighbour's dog, he immediately becomes a suspect and sets out to clear his name. But while he sees himself as a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, everyone else sees an autistic teenager asking awkward questions. Regardless, the question remains: who stabbed Mrs. Shears' poodle with a pitchfork? Haddon describes the book as "peculiarly internal", in that its protagonist struggles more than most to escape the bounds of his own head. Playwright Simon Stephens and the UK's National Theatre have made the most of this by having the audience see the world as Christopher does. A set consisting of a black grid and myriad projections evokes physical locations, as well as the ordered and fiercely logical flow of Christopher's cognitive process. A Holmesian whodunnit as investigated by an Adrian Mole-esque outsider, The Curious Incident is both a celebration of difference and a decent argument against offing yappy pooches with gardening implements.
Hair of the dog that bit you? Or a refreshing start to your Saturday? Either way, Newstead Brewing Co is getting into the swing of the weekend with two tasty things at their Milton digs: beer, naturally, and Canadian-style breakfast. Originally scheduled for January 20 but postponed until February 3 due to customs, the first part comes courtesy of Founders Brewing Co, the Michigan-based beer lovers who'll be launching their new Canadian Breakfast Stout. Made with chocolate and coffee, aged in bourbon barrels and even including maple syrup, it's an early morning dream — and it'll be joined by other all-day and brekkie-themed tipples flowing through the taps. As for the food, you can't celebrate the Queensland launch of a Canadian Breakfast beer without a Canadian breakfast to go with it. On the menu: pancakes, maple bacon, eggs, sausages, potato hash and plenty of maple syrup. Washing it all down with the brew in question makes it the ultimate boozy brunch — but, if 10am is before your wake-up time, it'll be served up all day.
Think you know Li Cunxin's story? Think again. Sure, you've might've read his autobiography, Mao's Last Dancer. You've probably seen the Australian movie adaptation as well. And, you may have also gone along to one of Queensland Ballet's many performances since he became the company's artistic director in 2012. But wait... there's more. A book, film and his general creative vision can tell you plenty, of course — but peering behind the scenes in a world-first exhibition can build upon all of the above. Accordingly, that's just what Mao's Last Dancer, The Exhibition: A Portrait of Li Cunxin will be offering when it displays at the Museum of Brisbane from December 1 to April 29. Never-before-seen interviews with Li's family and ballet colleagues, Li's own original objects and documents, and footage from throughout his career all features as part of the extensive showcase, which aims to blend his personal and performing lives. So too does a snapshot of what he's been doing since he moved to Brisbane — aka the kind of things you won't see when the Queensland Ballet takes to the stage. Image: Museum of Brisbane.
Come December 1, you won't want to be late for a very important date. You will want to play croquet, drink espresso martinis and eat pizza, however. Sure, you mightn't find caffeinated cocktails and delicious slices in Alice in Wonderland, but folks at the The Fox Hotel are clearly using their imagination for this themed end-of-week laneway party. At Garden Wonderland, there'll also be a pop-up Colonial Brewing Co. bar, dedicated Asahi taps and wine spritzes — and that's just the beverage part of the proceedings. You can also throw some royal shapes to Thomas Prime x Lirks B2B, DIRTYLOVE and Darren Skaar, should that take your fancy. Or, play giant games of Jenga, Connect 4 and chess. Entry is free, with the fun taking over Fish Lane from 5pm. Pretending that you're following a white rabbit between bars, games and the dance floor won't cost a thing, either.
For the past two years, wandering through QUT Art Museum's last exhibition in its annual calendar has proven the artistic equivalent of peering into a crystal ball. On the George Street gallery's walls, you can see the future — of the art world. Given that The Churchie National Emerging Art Prize is all about rewarding up-and-coming talent, that's hardly surprising. Today's participants are tomorrow's stars, whether or not they emerge victorious. Indeed, Pierre Mukeba won the prize in 2017 with a piece titled James 2:10; however he's in very good company, 29 of which are part of the exhibition. Until December 17, all 30 of their efforts will be on display from Tuesday to Sunday, as whittled down from more than 900 submissions. Why 30? Well, as well as being a nice round figure — and ensuring the museum isn't too crowded — it also represents the number of years the prize has been up and running. 3o is also the average age of the award's finalists. Image: Anna Horne, Red 2017, concrete, paint, steel. Courtesy the artist.
Twin Peaks: you either love it or you love it, right? Don't just take our word for it — take Janey-E's, with her reaction expressing every Peaks-loving TV fan's as well. Indeed, both 25 years ago and now, there's just absolutely nothing like David Lynch's most wonderful and strange television series. And, thanks to the music stylings of Angelo Badalamenti, there's nothing like its score and soundtrack either. In fact, the composer won a Grammy for the Twin Peaks theme, and since 1990 many a muso has tried to follow in his footsteps. Xiu Xiu have toured a stunning rendition of the show's tunes, and now it's time for a bunch of Brisbanites to try their hand at The Junk Bar's Fire Walk With Us: The Music Of Twin Peaks series, again After the first series of intimate and immersive sets back in August, Mia Goodwin, Lucinda Shaw, SS.Sebastian, Tylea will take on vocal duties, while James Lees, Helen Svoboda, Rohan Seekers, Jamie Trevaskis, Andrew Saragossi and SS.Sebastian (again) will pick up their instruments. Together, they'll be belting out new renditions of Twin Peaks' minimalist, atmospheric tracks, channelling their inner Julee Cruise, and clearly imagining they're making like "the Nine Inch Nails" and taking to The Roadhouse's stage. Booking now is recommended, because last time, the shows sold out quicker than damn fine cherry pie.
"Location, location, location," is the catchcry when it comes to real estate, but it works equally well when you're picking a Friday evening drinking spot, too. The ideal spot should have beverages, of course, plus a relaxed atmosphere, live music and ace scenery — like a pool and views over the CBD. Once the working week is done and the clock ticks 6pm, NEXT Hotel Brisbane boasts all of the above. At Live Music Fridays, you'll sit, sip, listen to a jazz and soul soundtrack, and enjoy the poolside vibes. And, it's a regular event, with the casual shindig aiming to become your pre-weekend go-to. Entry is free, as are the acoustic sounds, but bring your wallet for whatever tipple takes your fancy. Those keen on a post-work snack can also peruse the Pool Terrace and Bar's menu, which includes garlic bechamel croquettes, duck and spring onion wontons, pulled pork pizzas and soft shell crab burgers.
Everyone loves a Friday night market. The working week is over, two days of fun awaits, and strolling, shopping, browsing and buying — not to mention eating and being entertained — sounds like the perfect activity. From November 3 until January 26, all of that is part and parcel of Old Petrie Town's festivities. Say hello to the historical site's Moonlight Markets. Kicking off at 5.30pm each week, the details are simple: expect stalls, a lack of sunlight and the end of the 9-to-5 grind all combine. The free, dog-friendly event also has another trick up its sleeve, thanks to its location. Part of Whiteside, about 40 minutes drive out of the city, Old Petrie Town comprises over 50 acres of pre-1930s-style life — including a restored village, manicured gardens and a throwback vibe. You know that feeling you get the moment quitting time comes each week, and you want to kiss your usual routine goodbye? Start your weekend with this, and you'll find it here.
Another week, another beverage-focused shindig. No, we're not complaining. Crafted Beer & Cider Festival is the latest to serve up an array of refreshing tipples, and it comes to the Gold Coast with a difference — it's focusing on small-batch concoctions. You won't find just any old brews at Broadbeach's Pratten Park come November 4, although you will find more than 100 drinks on offer. Here, it's all about beverages made with care and artistry, rather than big brands and mass-produced wares. Aether, Balter, Batlow, Brouhaha, Granite Belt, Green Beacon, Mornington Peninsula, Slipsteam Brewing, Stone and Wood, Young Henrys and Your Mates are some of the names jumping in on the action, and they'll have foodie company from the likes of Food Kartel, The Weiner Haus, The Roaming Pig, A Taste of Africa, Cheese & Deli Kitchen and more. On the entertainment side of things, expect live tunes to get you in the boozing mood — and, if you need a change of drinks at some point, a Champagne bar as well.
The Gold Coast might be known for its sandy beaches, sizeable array of shopping strips and more than a couple of theme parks, but beyond all that lurks plenty of interesting and architecturally significant buildings. Luxe bungalows, towering residential buildings, huge dams, grassy bowls clubs, the worlds first sand by-pass system, cute little granny flats... the list goes on. It's a side of the Goldie most of us never ponder, and it's on display come November 4. That's when Open House hits the sunny tourist spot, with more than 40 places welcoming anyone who'd like to take a sticky beak. Remember your childhood dreams of getting to run rampant in a department store after hours? Or your grown-up version, involving IKEA? Think of this as a more realistic version, as well as a way to satisfy your architectural and design curiosity. As well as touring an array of the coast's top spaces, the program includes a talk about happiness in high-rises on November 1 — aka a very apt topic for the location.
Anything can happen at an art gallery, right? That certainly seems to be the case at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art. There's currently a giant slide sat right in the middle of the building, for example. David Lynch has been there. And, it once boasted a room covered with dot stickers, with everyone who entered asked to add their own to the fold. Now, opera joins GOMA's lineup of wondrous events, with OperaQ stopping by for a one-night feast of live performance, eye-catching art, gourmet food and tasty wine. At Sensory, attendees will watch singers, dancers and musicians perform while wandering through the gallery's array of artworks. And yes, it's for a special occasion. In fact, GOMA has been going all out as part of their ongoing GOMA Turns 10 shenanigans, but consider this the fanciest of the bunch — and the most dream-like. Designed to provide an immersive experience that engages the senses, "everything one encounters is somehow familiar, with a deep and intangible undertow," says OperaQ artistic director Lindy Hume. A word of warning: at $150 per ticket, this collision of art and opera doesn't come cheap.
Forget eating green eggs and ham in cars, trees, houses, trains and all the other places that Dr Seuss mentioned. That's kids stuff. In the real world, away from iconic children's books, we eat wings on wheels. After the Valentine's meal took the city to great heights, The Charming Squire and the Wheel of Brisbane are joining forces again for another spinning culinary sensation. This time, chook is on the menu. In an alliterative event that'll tempt your tastebuds, Wings and the Wheel delivers exactly what it sounds like. Taking place on April 27, there'll be two sessions: first at 5.30pm, then at 7.30pm. Tickets start from $90 for a two-person gondola, and include wings in Charming Squire's Diemen's sauce plus smokey whisky BBQ beef ribs, as well as quite the spectacular view. Image: The Charming Squire.
When is a theatre show more than just a theatre show? When is an exhibition more than just an exhibition? Yes, both of those questions help answer each other. At England by Tim Crouch, audiences will experience a combination of performance and perusal as they step into the kind of production that can only take place in a gallery. Based on Crouch's internationally acclaimed contemporary theatre work, England asks patrons to step into Metro Arts, work their way through the space as they follow two guides, check out the pieces on the walls, and then realise they're not just looking at art — they're in some. Expect blurring when it comes to art forms, places, people, themes, questions and boundaries. It's the first time the production has been staged in Australia in almost a decade, with presenters Nathan Booth and Matt Seery doing the honours. Find out why the unique show has popped up in everywhere from Oslo to Madrid, Dublin to Singapore and Vancouver to Melbourne, and prepare to ponder some weighty considerations about life, death and more. Image: Richard Gailey.
Sometimes, you just want to watch a couple of coins get tossed into the air, and then try to guess which way they'll land. Come ANZAC Day, if that's you, The Shaftson has your day planned. After wowing the city with their Tinnies and Two-Up combo for the past two years, the East Brissie pub is giving their appropriately themed laneway party another spin. Expect food trucks, free-flowing beer and many a person throwing money about. Sure, that might sound like a normal Shaftston get-together — but this time, when you're splashing cash around for a one-day-a-year tradition, you'll be channeling the ANZAC spirit.
You might need a thousand monkeys working at a thousand typewriters to come up with the phrase "the blurst of times" — but you don't need them to tell you about how ace the festival of the same name will be. When an event is inspired by a quote from The Simpsons, it already has a fair head start in the awesomeness stakes. A lineup of 30 of the country's best current punk, rock, hardcore, garage, alternative and indie acts keeps making that case, as does the event's spread over three Valley venues. Basically, to hear the former, you'll have to head to the latter. So, find Skegss, Ngaiire, Royal Headache, The Creases and Alex Lahey— plus I Know Leopard, Good Boy, Jarrow and Bris 182 (yep, a Brisbane Blink-182 tribute), too — at The Brightside, The Foundry and Black Bear Lodge. Seeing them all on one bill is the kind of thing that doesn't happen very often, so you'd best get your ticket quick (2016's fest sold out). It'll be the best of times. Don't say we didn't warn you. Image: The Blurst of Times Festival.
How do you show your love for your favourite filmmaker, particularly when the director in question is none other than John Waters? Sure, you could watch a stack of DVDs in the comfort of your own home. Or, you could head to Brisbane's one and only John Waters Fest. Returning for its second year, expect the kind of fun-filled screenings only cult cinema guru Kristian Fletcher could've thought of. And expect to spread the fun times around, too, with the fest taking place over two separate days: April 19 and 23. It all starts with Multiple Maniacs. That's the name of the film, aka one of Waters' earliest and least seen, and also a fitting description of the audience. Follow it all up with the rarely screened Pecker starring Edward Furlong and Christina Ricci, and then prepare your nostrils for what has to be the main attraction. Yep, you'll be getting your scratch 'n' sniff on thanks to Polyester in Odorama. It'll be smell-tastic.
One of the best things about living in Brisbane is the good weather, particularly in summer. So, why not make the most of our fair city by drinking and dining al fresco? Round up your date or your mates and have a picnic in the sun. Lucky for you, we're giving away lush hampers filled with tasty snacks and top-notch Wolf Blass drops to three Brisbanites, so you can take your picnic game to the next level — without spending a dime. The hampers will come with six bottles of Wolf Blass Makers' Project wine, including its popular pink pinot grigio, rosé and pinot noir, and a heap of gourmet goodies, including eggplant and chilli chutney, artisanal crackers, handmade chocolates, gingerbread bickies, nuts and mini meringues. So, should you win this prize, you'll be feasting away this summer, whether you choose to do so by the beach, in a park or in your own leafy backyard. To enter, see details below. [competition]791143[/competition] Remember to Drinkwise.
Brisbanites, it has been a dark and grey morning — and today, Tuesday, February 2, looks set to continue in the same gloomy and wet way. Yes, a storm is coming. So if you're currently reading this from somewhere dry and cosy, we suggest that you keep it that way for the rest of your Tuesday. Brisbane isn't just in for any old wet weather, either. The Bureau of Meteorology has reported that "heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding" is expected — which, if you can currently hear the constant sound of raindrops on your roof, you're probably already experiencing. The storms are slow-moving, BOM says, but they're expected to affect the region between Bribie Island and Brisbane. Within an hour this morning on Bribie, 65 millimetres of rain fell — if you're wondering just how wet this storm might be. It's forecast to move across the city, down to Greenback and Logan by around 9.55am. https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1356381056522452999 As the storms approach today, the usual common sense tactics obviously apply: secure loose outdoor items and stay inside. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services's number is 132 500 if you need SES assistance. Weather-wise, it's predicted to be wet for the next few days. Wednesday is set for more showers and a top temperature of 27 degrees, while Thursday is expected to get a shower or two as the mercury hits 29. A 20–30 percent chance of rain will hang around between Friday–Sunday, before showers are forecast again on Monday. Of course, that's just summer in Brisbane. Stay dry out there. And remember to check Live Traffic, Translink and BOM for warnings and updates. For more information about the Bureau of Meteorology's storm warnings, head to its website.
Do you live in a dog-friendly house? Do you have some spare time on your hands? Do you fantasise about hanging around at dog parks with an actual dog? The good folk at Guide Dogs Queensland need you. They have an abundance of puppies running around the place at the moment, and they're in desperate need of carers to raise them. In other words, they're giving away puppies. If you put up your hand, you'll get a puppy for just over a year — from its eight-week birthday to when it turns 15 months — although placements can run for as little as four-to-seven months. During that time, you'll be responsible for introducing the sights, sounds and smells it'll meet when it starts working as a guide dog (and giving your new friend heaps of cuddles). Of course, it's not all just fun, games and cuteness. You'll have to be responsible enough to take care of regular grooming, house training and exercise, and be available to attend local training days, along with vet checks and Puppy Pre-School. For the latter, you'll need to live within 90 minutes of Guide Dogs Queensland's Bald Hills headquarters. A car and a fenced-in property are mandatory, too. In return, the organisation provides a strong support network, food, vet care and prevention of fleas and ticks. Guide Dogs Queensland are looking for people who are home most of the time, and are able to put effort into training and socialising the pup. Every day, 28 people in Australia get diagnosed with vision impairment, nine of whom can expect to go blind. Guide dogs are provided free to those in need, but each costs $50,000 to raise. Keen? Apply here. And send pics please.
Lobster has long been the fancy champagne of the seafood world. For most of us, it's the kind of dish that you can only justify having when you really feel like going all out and treating yo'self — but, for the next few weeks, the indulgent crustacean-based meal is gracing Betty's Burgers' menu. Combining fresh lobster meat, the chain's special mayonnaise, shallots, chives, lemon and spice, Betty's new lobster roll is now on offer at all of its 22 Australian stores. If your stomach is already rumbling, you can tuck into one for $19 — or combine it with fries and a glass of wine for $29. You'll need to get in quickly, though, with the lobster roll only available for a limited time. Just how long you'll be able to nab one for hasn't been revealed, but it's expected to only last a few weeks. Known for its Shake Shack-style burgs and frozen custard desserts (called concretes), Betty's is making a foray into lobster to celebrate its beachy roots. While you can now grab a Betty's burger at six Sydney outlets, four Melbourne spots, four Brisbane outposts, one Toowoomba eatery and one location in Adelaide, the company first began in Noosa, and then expanded to the Gold Coast. Betty's Burgers' lobster roll is available at all 22 Australian stores for a limited time. For more information and to find your nearest store, visit Betty's Burgers' website.
No plans for Valentine's Day and no interest in making any? You're in luck. Go about your usual business this Wednesday — that is, as far as humanly possible away from red roses, schmultzy songs and pashing pairs — and you could still be in for a nice little surprise. That's because Penguin Random House is planning on helping you to escape — by setting you up with a book, instead of a person. After all, books can't talk back and, if they end up being not what you thought they were, you can always put them back on the shelf. Said books will be dropped in bundles on trains and at various sites all over Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane this Valentine's Day. There's no way of knowing where you'll find them and what you might find yourself reading. The idea is to do away with pre-conceived ideas, promoted by particular genres, authors and cover art. The publishing house is scattering the books in partnership with Street Library, Sydney, and Books on the Rail, which launched in Melbourne in early 2016 and regularly circulates books on Melbourne's public transport. If you find one, take it home and read it — just remember to pop it back on the train when you're done.
The inspiration behind Billykart's latest addition isn't hard to find — just look at their menu. With the restaurant chain's cheeseburger considered one of the best in the city, they've given it pride of place at Billykart Bar, which takes over the space next door to Billykart West End. Previously home to the now-closed Billykart Provisions, the Edmonstone Street site is a casual, no-bookings kind of joint, where hungry patrons can mosey on in for a burg at their leisure. As well as the signature item — a house-made patty of dry-aged beef, decked out with cheese, pickles, onion, ketchup and mustard mayonnaise, then placed on a milk bun — Billykart Bar's range includes three other combos of filling between bread, truffle and parmesan fries, and bar snacks such as cheesy jamon croquettes, spicy wings and mac 'n' cheese bites. Philly cheesesteak rolls, deli-style sandwiches and fresh tacos are planned down the track, while diners can also enjoy a hefty selection of beers. Open from 4pm until late from Wednesday to Sunday, Billykart Bar is "all about giving a modern twist to those American classics," says manager Ben Roberts. Serving it up at an affordable price is also on the menu, as is a choice between dining in, taking away or getting your food delivered via UberEATS. Find Billykart Bar at 2-4 Edmondstone Street, West End, or visit their website for further information.
In what continues to prove a brutal year for Brisbane's culinary scene, fine-dining mainstay Esquire and its more casual sibling Esq. are set to shut their doors by the end of March. Announced via email, the duo will cease trading on March 29. "I wish to thank all who dined at esq. & esquire over its seven years in operation, a massive thank you," said chef and owner Ryan Squires. "I have not come to this decision lightly as I have very much enjoyed the experience but felt for a number of reasons this was the right time to close the restaurant." Enjoying a scenic riverside setting at 145 Eagle Street, the pair opened in 2011, fast becoming Brissie icons with their stellar views and delicious menus. Esquire's degustations have long been considered among the city's best — which is understandable given that it ranks as one of city's three-hatted restaurants. Their closures come after Petrie Terrace's Nativo and Burnt Ends shut up shop in January, and as the collapse of Damian Griffiths' hospitality empire continues to be felt around town. And, it arrives as Eagle Street looks set to undergo a drastic change, with Eagle Street Pier set to be torn down and redeveloped. Via Good Food.
Feed your stomach, your hard-earned thirst and your brain at Shady Palms on Wednesday. Yes, all three are possible at once, and they'll only set you back a crisp blue note. Mid-week is trivia night, as well as $10 chicken wings with a Young Henry's night— and you know you'll feel more knowledgeable once you're full of those tasty wings. In fact, it's the kind of deal that really could tempt you to Stones Corner every week and you'd never get tired of it. If filling your head with seemingly inane facts and titbits is your claim to fame among your friends, you really do owe it to yourself to go along. Image: Anwyn Howarth
Nom Nom Korean Eatery might celebrate one particular country in its name, but the Fortitude Valley restaurant has always had a soft spot for Japanese cuisine too. Alongside the likes of bibimbap (Korean mixed rice bowls) and banchan (small offerings such as fried octopus and spicy pork-filled buns), its menu features sushi, katsu and ramen — and now the soupy, brothy dish is getting its own spot next door. Yes, the sounds of slurping will be echoing through Bakery Lane — well, echoing louder — thanks to the opening of Nom Nom Ramen and Sake Bar. From Friday, May 11, the dedicated space will expand upon Nom Nom's existing Japanese selection, serving up six types of ramen as well as a range of dry and sweet sake. Menu standouts include the signature spicy vegetable ramen, plus two varieties of charsiu ramen, aka the go-to pork version that has become synonymous with the soup. For those keen on something other than noodles, meat and vegetables in hot liquid, two fried noodle dishes will also be available. In addition, when Nom Nom Ramen and Sake Bar's doors open for the first time, the eatery will be giving away 100 free bowls. Hungry ramen lovers should head by at 6pm on May 11 —and, given that free ramen is certain to be popular, arriving early is recommended. Nom Nom Ramen and Sake Bar will open in Bakery Lane, 680 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley on Friday, May 11. Visit the eatery's website and Facebook page for further details.
It's the closest that Brisbanites can get to Shake Shack, complete with juicy burgers, creamy shakes and desserts made from frozen custard. And, come mid-December, all of the above will be on offer at three locations across the city — with cult favourite Betty's Burgers launching its third local outpost in Indooroopilly. Less than 18 months after finally making the move from Noosa and the Gold Coast to Brisbane, the fast-growing burg chain will add new digs in the city's west to its existing spread in Chermside and Newstead. As always, that means plenty of burgers, including the latest menu additions featuring double beef patties (and double cheese, too), plus spicy chicken. Set to be located in Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, the store will boast outdoor dining as well. An exact opening date hasn't been revealed yet, but Betty's will be slinging its stacked burgers, beer-battered onion rings, chocolate peanut butter thickshakes and five types of 'concretes' — those aforementioned frozen custard sweet treats — before Christmas hits. For those keeping count, that'll make ten Betty's stores across southeast Queensland, meaning that you're never too far away from your next burger and shake fix. The company has also been expanding interstate, with four eateries in Sydney and two in Melbourne. Betty's Burgers will open at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, 322 Moggill Road, Indooroopilly from mid-December. Keep an eye on the burger chain's website and Facebook page for further details.
Now that house parties are back on the cards — and going out isn't quite back to what it once was — it's time to get your home bar set-up in good shape. Yes, you need to stock up on liquor, nab some good-looking (but easily replaceable) glasses and work on your bartending skills, but you should also make sure your bar offering stands out above the rest. How? Well, you could add a tap machine that keeps your booze nice and chilled, for one. Lucky for you, we've partnered up with Jägermeister to give away just that, so you can save your money for the party snacks. The compact, OTT house party accessory holds one bottle and is perfect for when you want to serve up well-poured, ice-cold shots of Jäger — whether that's as your mates arrive or late into the night when you're cutting shapes on your makeshift living room dance floor. Yep, you'll be sipping the stuff at a cool -18 degrees celsius, which is apparently the ideal way to drink it. Oh, and we're throwing in three bottles of Jägermeister to help get the party started, too. Keen to take your next house party to great new heights? See details below to enter. [competition]799781[/competition]
Queensland Health has advised that any Brisbanites who visited a number of eateries and venues in the city's south should self-isolate immediately — with two of the state's three latest COVID-19 cases linked to locations in South Bank, Sunnybank, Springfield, Park Ridge, Browns Plains and Woodridge. Asking southsiders to "remain alert but not alarmed", the government body sent out a public health alert last night, on Wednesday, July 29, detailing the places visited by two Queenslanders who returned from Melbourne via Sydney, failed to self-quarantine and tested positive to the coronavirus. The list of spots is lengthy, as is the time period affected, with the latter spanning from Wednesday, July 23–Tuesday, July 28. In the inner city, those who visited South Bank's Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar and P'Nut Street Noodles at any time on Monday, July 27 must immediately quarantine and contact 13 HEALTH to get tested. Visitors to Woodridge's African Grocery Shop and Chatime at Browns Plains' Grand Plaza on Tuesday, July 28, again at any time, must do the same, too. The positive cases have also been linked to Sunnybank's Madtongsan IV restaurant between 7–9pm on Thursday, July 23, and to bubble tea shop Heeretea on the same date at 9.25pm. In Springfield, the Thai Peak restaurant was visited by one of the positive cases between 6.30–9pm on Sunday, July 26. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1288363942281003009 Other places affected include the Primary Medical and Dental Practice in Browns Plains, as well as two schools in Park Ridge and Springwood — with the full list of venues, dates and times available in Queensland Health's public health alert. Anyone who lives in the South Brisbane, Springfield and Logan areas and is feeling unwell or displaying any symptoms — even minor symptoms, and even if you haven't visited the above locations on the above dates — is asked to stay home and immediately get tested. Fever clinics are open at Orion Springfield Central Shopping Centre, QEII Hospital, Logan Hospital and Parklands Christian College. The health alert comes as three new cases were identified in Queensland on Wednesday, July 29 — with the third case connected to the first two. In response, the state also closed its borders to anyone who has been to the Greater Sydney area in the past 14 days, effective from Saturday, August 1. As has been the advice for months now, anyone with symptoms — coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath or loss of smell or taste — who lives in any part of Brisbane is also encouraged to get tested and self-isolate while awaiting results. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. Top image: Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar, South Bank via Google Maps.
Paddington's new eatery has opened its doors, and everyone is a winner. And if you're wondering what that prize just might be, like plenty of places these days, it's all there in the name. What else could a restaurant called Winner Winner offer its diners? You guessed it: Southern chicken dinners are the main attraction at 233A Given Terrace. Of course they are. To be specific, Winner Winner serves up Nashville-style pieces, which traditionally means fried chicken that has been marinated in seasoning and coated in a cayenne pepper paste. Kentucky, eat your heart out. As well as a "Love Me Tender" neon sign that turns an Elvis lyric into a poultry pun, Winner Winner boasts its own secret recipe, because all the best chicken places do. Think wings, drumsticks, tenders, dark meat, burgers and entire birds, available in three heat ratings, and with six varieties of sauce. Sides-wise, expect shoestring and curly fries, sweet potato chips, onion rings, slaw, pickles, chicken bite and something called porn corn. You'll also find a list of local craft brews and wines to round things out; you can't devour some finger lickin' goodness without a beverage to match, after all. And, with a rotisserie chicken joint long-rumoured to be headed to Milton too, Brissie's love affair with poultry keeps on cooking. Find Winner Winner 233A Given Terrace, Paddington. For more information, check out their website and Facebook page. Images: Natalie Hoo.
Breakthrough Brisbane artist Athena Thebus creates art that frequently explores the notion of a "queerer future." With this in mind, her latest exhibition hones in on and plays with instances of shame as a method to pinpoint unease, sympathy and uncomfortable emotions and reactions. Thebus' practice spans sculpture, video and drawing, with Demented Fury showcasing each. Her art attempts to shift feelings of shame toward adoration, and tries to imagine what the future holds for those bound by such emotions. The show represents a return home for Thebus, who graduated from Queensland College of Art in 2012. She undertook a studio residency at Eastside International Projects, Los Angeles in 2014, and is currently based between Sydney and Los Angeles. Demented Fury exhibits from October 21 to November 7. Thebus will be speaking about her practice as an artist and the exhibition November 5 at 6pm.
On the lookout for a dope new denim jacket? Or do you want to be rid of that weird-looking lamp taking up space in the living room? Then, by golly, you're in luck. The Garage Sale Trail works with local council partners Australia-wide to get as many trash-and-treasure troves happening on the same day as possible. More than 15,000 garages are expected to open their doors to bargain hunters, selling two million items, when the event returns for its ninth time across the weekend of October 20 and 21. Aside from the retro goodies up for grabs, the Trail is all about sustainability. Instead of ending up in landfill, unwanted clutter becomes a fantastic find. So get that tight pair of sunnies for peanuts and help the environment at the same time. The Garage Sale Trail began humbly in Bondi in 2010 and is growing bigger every year. There'll be a right slew of sales happening all around Brisbane, so keep your eyes on the event website — or register online to make a quick buck from your old junk and hang out with the friendly folks in your hood.
You wouldn’t believe me if, after listening to Parades’ debut Foreign Tapes, I told you that the Sydney four-piece started off as a hardcore band. The complex yet free-spirited arrangements topped with Daniel Cunningham’s dream-like, ethereal vocals just don’t seem like they’d have ever thought of being in the same boat as The Devil Wears Prada. It’s good that Foreign Tapes became what it is though – it’s received praise from all over the board, including a SMAC award nomination for Record of the Year and a triple j nomination for Best Video (if you haven’t seen it, please do. It’s all kinds of slow motion, coloured-powder throwing amazing). They’ve followed up Foreign Tapes’ success with their new single, Water Stories, which they’re taking on a tour this month with local dream pop lovers Little Scout. Woodland is hosting the Brisbane leg of the tour and Parades hopes you can come, but remember: Parades =/= hardcore! Leave the circle pit for another day.
Despite the fact that it features the name of a month right there in its moniker, Oktoberfest traditionally kicks off in September. So, at Sea Legs Brewing, it's sticking to the custom — right up until Sunday, September 27. On the menu at Oktoberfest at Sea Legs Brewing: steins, schnitzels and pretzels, aka the three things that were always going to feature (and the three things you'd be missing if they were absent). As for what you'll be sipping, the brewery has whipped up two new limited-release beers. Yes, you can say prost to that. All of the above is on offer from midday daily — and, because that's the kind of world we now live in, bookings are essential. As part of the venue's COVID-safe restrictions, you'll only be able to pretend you're in Germany for two hours if you're heading by on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, too. Oktoberfest at Sea Legs Brewing runs until Sunday, September 27.
All the world's a stage, or so William Shakespeare told us. For Queensland Music Trails, all of the Sunshine State is an excuse to celebrate live tunes. Debuting with a trial run in 2021, then returning in 2023, this event goes big on hitting up music festivals and gigs while also exploring. So far, the outback, Scenic Rim and southern Queensland have scored some love, and next it's finally Brisbane's turn. Meet the Brisbane Music Trail, which was always promised, but hadn't yet become a reality. Also in the event's original plans, as led by QMF (Queensland Music Festival) and receiving a $20-million investment by the Queensland Government over its first three years: trails in the far north, along the reef, and through both the Gold and Sunshine Coasts. [caption id="attachment_909280" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mitch Lowe[/caption] Brisbane's first-ever trail is a case of capitalising upon timing, because everyone knows that the River City is a hub for music in September anyway. Brisbane Festival takes over the city for three weeks, and BIGSOUND makes the Queensland capital the centre of the music world for four days. Unsurprisingly, they're both a part of this debut Brisbane Music Trail. Accordingly, Brisbane Festival's jam-packed music lineup earns a place on the trail, spanning everyone from Paul Kelly to Gretta Ray, and also Groove Terminator with the Soweto Gospel Choir and a tribute to rock's Laurel Canyon era, from Friday, September 1–Saturday, September 23. And when BIGSOUND returns from Tuesday, September 5–Friday, September 8 with 141 acts on the bill, that's a Brisbane Music Trail event as well. So is brand-new fest Sweet Relief!, which will be headlined by Groove Armada, The Avalanches and Ladyhawke — complete with Australian-exclusive sets by the 'I See You Baby' and 'Frontier Psychiatrist' talents — at Northshore Brisbane on Saturday, September 16. "Brisbane's music community has a long and proud history of working together to achieve amazing things. This story can be told in words, but it is best experienced through the unique events and venues we have that can't be replicated anywhere else," said Queensland Music Trails CEO and Creative Director Joel Edmondson, announcing the Brisbane Music Trail. "The Brisbane Music Trail is a long-term initiative to bring our strongest homegrown experiences under one banner so that September becomes the month that Brisbane owns live music in Australia." The Brisbane Music Trail runs from Friday, September 1–Saturday, September 23 at various venues around Brisbane — head to the event's website for more information. Top image: Mitch Lowe.
Every week until September, Palace Barracks will become home to all manner of retro flicks. You've just spent months streaming anything and everything at home, but now it's time to revisit a heap of bona fide classics on the big screen — all as part of the Palace Encore season. On the bill: Studio Ghibli's enchanting Spirited Away, Martin Scorsese's 90s gangster classic Goodfellas and Stanley Kubrick's horror masterpiece The Shining, as well as martial arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, cult classic musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show and all the horror-comedy fun of Ghostbusters. Or, you can don a bathrobe to watch The Big Lebowski, or exclaim "great Scott!" at Back to the Future. The list goes on, with everything from Fight Club to American Psycho also getting a whirl. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZspM1JrOmA8 Sessions screen on Monday and Friday nights — at 6.45pm both nights until August 7, at which point the Friday night sessions will move to 8.30pm — with tickets costing $10 for Palace movie club members and $15 otherwise.
Music fans have vinyl. Movie buffs have VHS. Gamers, well, where do we start? If you're a lover of retro fun and mashing buttons is your preferred pastime, then there are just too many formats to choose from. Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Master System, Mega Drive, Gamecube, Saturn… the list goes on. Don't stress — whichever one you're into, you'll find it at the Brisbane Video Game & Pop Culture Market, plus a whole host of other stuff as well. Yes, there really is a fair, swap meet or shopping event for just about everything. Basically, this annual smorgasbord of gaming paraphernalia, toys, books, comics and more will take over Shady Palms Cafe to make your Sunday morning dreams come true, as long as those dreams involve consoles and pop culture. And, let's face it, it'll also make your Sunday afternoon dreams come true as well. We know what you'll be heading home to do (or, should we say, play) when the market closes at 1pm.
Every year, before Brisbane Festival drops its full lineup, it teases the city's arts fans with a few sneak peeks. In 2019, the event's early reveals have included a blazing garden of fire, an immersive theatre production that takes over an entire warehouse and a screening of No Country for Old Men with a new live score — but they're just a taste of the whole program. Just unveiled in all of its glory, the festival's entire feast of arts, music, performance, comedy, cabaret, installations and culture promises everything from amazing mazes to ambitious theatre productions to music-fuelled birthday bashes, which will all liven up the city between September 6–28. By the numbers, Brisbane Festival 2019 will feature 454 performances of 83 shows over 23 huge days. Performer-wise, it'll boast 908 artists from around the globe. And for artistic director David Berthold, it'll commemorate his fifth year at the helm. After House of Mirrors proved such a hit in 2018, it should come as no surprise that Christian Wagstaff and Keith Courtney are bringing their equally mind-bending 1000 Doors to this year's fest. As the name suggests, you'll navigate your way through a huge setup of doors, which'll be located at Brisbane Festival's Arcadia hub at the South Bank Cultural Centre Forecourt. Also in the expected and thoroughly welcome camp: the return of the event's biggest-selling show to date, aka Strut & Fret's Blanc De Blanc. The hedonistic cabaret's encore version won't be exactly the same as its last, so that's reason enough to head along. [caption id="attachment_729417" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Blanc De Blanc, Jacquie Manning[/caption] With this year marking 30 years since the Brisbane Riverstage hosted its first gig, Bris Fest is throwing the famed outdoor venue a shindig — and, with the help of Hot Dub Time Machine, partying like it's 1989. Much of the event's music lineup will also takeover the site, including The Amity Affliction, City and Colour and the enormously popular (and free) Symphony for Me orchestral show. There'll be tunes over at The Tivoli, too, including a 90s-themed throwback for opening night, featuring Groove Terminator with a gospel choir, plus the likes of Paul Dempsey and Emma Louise in the rounds. Other highlights include Kate Miller-Heidke, fresh from her dazzling Eurovision performances; Chinese choreographer Yang Liping's Rite of Spring; both Sam Simmons and John Safran, with each breaking out their inimitable comedy stylings; Bryony Kimmings' acclaimed I'm a Phoenix, Bitch; the world premiere of Fangirls, which ponders teenage obsessions. Or, you can enjoy a dance-off eisteddfod featuring ordinary folks, Regurgitator doing a family-friendly show, and a stage production that sees four people recreate Tetris — yes, the classic video game — with their bodies. In the old fave camp, Riverfire is back to close out the fest with a literal bang, plus River of Light returns to cast another laser-filled glow over the city's central waterway while drawing upon local Indigenous history. As always, the spiegeltent will once again set up shop and welcome a host of musicians, such as Girlpool, Justin Townes Earle and Bruno Major, while the performance-focused Theatre Republic will host modern takes on ancient myths, an apocalyptic drama that combines climate change and Chekhov, and a cycle of stories about love, death and friendship. Brisbane Festival runs from September 6–28 across Brisbane. For the full 2019 program, or to book tickets, visit the festival website. Compagnie Carabosse Fire Gardens images by Vincent Muteau
I'm gonna go slightly off topic for a moment: the following subject consists of images that have recently made their way onto my desktop wallpaper. Only the best of the best pictures have earned the right to be burned into my retinas when lappy's on standby and the winner for the last couple of months has been the intricate and delightful we miss you magic land! teaser image. If this 1024 x 768 pixel photo is anything to go by, the we miss you magic land! exhibition will be all my childhood dreams come true. It's no secret that the Children's Art Centre installations at GoMA are equally as interactive and entertaining for big kids as they are for regular-sized ones. we miss you magic land! is no exception. The exhibition, by Perth artistic duo Pip & Pop, is a vibrant, immersive environment for “children and families” (pfft!) and draws on children's stories, creation myths (yup!) and Buddhist ideologies, as well as video games and folktales. The large-scale, fairy floss-esque fantasy worlds are made using cake-decorating tools and heaps of layers of sugar, glitter, clay and mirrors. They look so good you’ll want to eat them. Walk the magical pathways and squeeze into peepholes to parallel worlds – there'll be a magical forest of odd flowers, vines, mushrooms and animals on the other side. If this sounds like the best thing you have ever heard, you're probably right. We missed you magic land, like candy, and it's time you came to GoMA for three months of fluffy bliss.
Christian Thompson is one of the most celebrated contemporary Indigenous artists working today, and Ritual Intimacy represents the first major survey of the artist's extensive and diverse works. Through photography, video, sculpture, performance and sound, he explores notions of identity, race and history, often placing these themes against the backdrop of the Australian environment. Thompson's prodigious talents were recognised from an early age with his early career spent at the side of world-renowned artist Marina Abramovic, who became his mentor. Later, Thompson was accepted into Oxford University, making him one of the first Indigenous Australians to study at the institution in its 900-year history. Taking place at the Griffith University Art Gallery, Ritual Intimacy features a new major commission first unveiled at the exhibition's Melbourne run, while also highlighting Thompson's continued exploration of musical works centred around Indigenous language. The showcase will be on display until September 23. Image: Christian Thompson: Ritual Intimacy installation at Monash University Museum of Art, shot by Andrew Curtis.
