As far as blasts from the pasts go, trawling through cinema greats from years gone by has to be one of the most enjoyable. Who doesn't want to travel back in time movie by movie — sometimes discovering classic features you've always meant to see but hadn't yet, sometimes revisiting tried and trusted favourites. The Vintage Centro 2016 program offers all that, of course, as screened in themed monthly blocks between May and October. Fancy a dose of music and the movies to get things started? Or a trip to space, a look at great on-screen couples, the best of the '80s and a few memorable send-ups? Well, that's exactly what's in store at what may as well be a mini film festival in weekly instalments. In fact, with everything from the King's Elvis: That's the Way It Is to Mel Brooks' Hitchcock parody High Anxiety on the lineup — and the likes of musical wonder Singin' in the Rain, age-old classic The Wizard of Oz, David Lynch's sci-fi epic Dune, animated delight The Iron Giant, Bruce Lee's frenetic marital arts showcase Enter the Dragon and the original The Nutty Professor as well — film fans are in for a whole heap of retro cinema fun. As with any great movie selection, that leaves cinephiles with an obvious question. No, it's not "what should I see?", but "what can I live with missing?"
Fancy a slice of baked flour, butter, sugar, eggs and more? Let's be honest — who doesn't? Yep, everyone loves a piece of cake, or several. Or 22, perhaps? Because one cake just won't do, Alphabet Cafe is bringing out every single recipe in their repertoire for a one-off eating event like no other. The details are simple, but delicious. Just book in, then head to Wandering Cooks at 5pm on April 27, and prepare to devour as many $4-per-slice servings of dessert goodness as you can possibly manage. Tickets cost $16, which includes your first piece plus a drink. We reckon this is a bit expensive — 16 bucks entry plus cake money — but we'll probably swallow our gripes with our third piece of cake. Just in case you're not excited enough already, we're going to run through some of the concoctions on offer. There's Always Money in the Banana Stand is a banana cake meets peanut butter pudding mix, while Look to the Cookie adds a whole heap of biscuits to a vanilla and white chocolate-topped choccy feast. Cheesecake lovers can indulge in orange scented and spiced pumpkin varieties, and anyone avoiding gluten is covered too. There's more, but we don't want to give everything away. Now, who's hungry?
When you're rockin' along to a live set at the Woodford Folk Festival — after a day jam-packed full of other activities, and before heading back to your tent to get some shuteye, of course — you're probably not thinking about what comes next. No, we don't mean the reality that is your post-fest life. We're talking about the impact of so many friendly revellers upon the event's luscious natural setting. Of course, the folks behind the annual event always have that on their mind. In fact, they've crafted a yearly pilgrimage to help redress the damage the festival does to the environment. It started as a tree-planting working bee back in 1997, and has evolved into something even bigger. Think talks, presentations and performances, as well as daily planting and weeding activities. In 2016, The Planting includes conversations about everything from climate change and community gardens to sustainable artworks and eco-tourism — and yes, that's just the beginning. Learning more about saving seeds, keeping bees and building with bamboo is also on the agenda, as are wildlife-focused bushwalks, a host of culinary cook-ups, a craft beer appreciation class and more than a few meditation sessions. Music-wise, Old Man Luedecke, All Our Exes Live in Texas and Winterbourne are among those on the bill, while film fans can check out on-topic docos such as Bikes vs Cars and Just Eat It. And, by camping out and doing your part to give back to the place and space that hosts such a fantastic cultural event, you're not only making sure you can see in the new year there in the future, but that generations to come will be able to too.
Move over, craft beer — it's craft spirits' time to shine. Everyone's been to a day dedicated to the former; however spending an afternoon in a room with over 30 exhibitors showcasing more than 100 craft spirits, with master distillers on hand too, is a pretty rare occasion. No wonder the Indie Tasting folks thought they'd bring their booze-infused celebration to Brisbane, and to Lefty's Old Time Music Hall, no less. It's the type of event that whiskey, gin, rum, vodka and tequila-lover's dreams are made of. We'd keep listing different kinds of spirits, but we're getting thirsty. Sampling the best Aussie and international indie brands on offer is the number one item on the agenda, obviously, including scoring a sneak peek sample of a few boutique tipples that aren't even available in bars and stores yet. Six seminars covering the likes of small-scale production, modern mixers and coffee-flavoured concoctions will boost your craft spirits knowledge too, and live music from the aptly named Whiskey Blues will keep the day rockin'.
It's not every day one of Brissie's best-loved pubs turns 127. And if there's one thing that Breakfast Creek Hotel knows how to do, it's celebrate a special occasion. You know this. You've dropped by for a birthday party. You've had the full steak and beer experience. Sure, everyone's been there and done that before; however The Creek Carnivale isn't the waterside watering hole's usual shindig. Bringing a taste of Brazil to Brisbane, they're throwing an evening of fun, food and frivolity — and raising money for breast cancer research and the PA Research Foundation at the same time. Yes, handing over $130 for a ticket supports a good cause and helps you have a great night out. And with a 5-hour food, beverage and entertainment extravaganza on offer, including traditional Brazilian performers, dancers and musicians, food popups, tequila-infused cocktails and a themed lawn and marquee area, there's plenty of merriment to be enjoyed.
If the term "slow-cooked" gets your tastebuds tingling, then you're going to want to head to Wandering Cooks' latest food frenzy. By now, you should know that every event they host is certain to get your stomach rumbling; however this one will help you make one of your favourite types of meat at home. We're talking about smoked, slow-cooked beef and pork ribs, of course — i.e. the Brissie culinary trend that's not burgers or doughnuts. Local barbecue collective The Shank Brothers has become quite the experts at cooking slabs of flesh at a low temperature over a lengthy period of time, and now you can discover their secrets. Think of The Shank Brothers Rib-athon as a different kind of protein training, with your arms getting a gastronomic-based workout but the corresponding bulk — aka the ribs themselves — taking a little bit of time. The $60 per person class takes between 90 minutes and two hours, and also includes tasters and a drink on arrival, with dinner available to purchase afterwards.
Music is an experiment, even if most of the songs in your Spotify playlist don't exactly sound like it. Of course, catchy tunes sit at one end of the acoustic spectrum. The kind of sounds you'll hear at Sonic State Queensland Week Microfestival — well, you'll find them at the other end. That's what happens at a celebration of spatial and sonic music-making, after all. Over the course of four days at Metro Arts, everything from electronica and post-rock to contemporary classical and sound art installation will echo through your ears. Indeed, curator and sound artist Luke Jaaniste has corralled a whole host of nationally significant musicians to unleash their experimental efforts upon eager listeners, with Lawrence English, Nicola Morton, Andrew Gibbs and Chris Perren among the musicians featured. Take your pick of their evening shows, and then delve beyond their array of ambient, synth-heavy, chamber and punk soundscapes courtesy of an accompanying free workshop program. Image: Lawrence English by Marco Microbi.
Maybe you don't get paid until next week. Perhaps you're saving all your cash for your next holiday. Or you could've broken your bank account by buying all the Prince albums you could ever want. However it happened, you're still broke. But, as long as you've got a fiver burning a hole in your wallet, you can still have a great Saturday night out. Thank the legends at The Zoo for an evening's entertainment that everyone can afford. If you've ever wondered how the Ann Street icon has managed to keep the tunes pumping and the crowds coming since 1992, it's because of ace ideas like this one. Yes, Five Bands Five Bucks is exactly what it sounds like — and what it sounds like is 100% awesome. Big Bad Echo, Cassette Cathedral, Yaurout, Age Champion and Whalehouse will be on the bill, waiting for you to part with a piece of pink-coloured currency to hear their latest and greatest tunes.
Kings want to reign for years, but if they can't, then they'll certainly want to follow in Richard III's footsteps. He only sat on the throne for two orbits around the sun, getting the position in rather dubious circumstances and eventually meeting his demise at the hands of the rebellion; however his tale is among royalty's most famous. That's what happens when William Shakespeare writes a play about you, after all. And yet, that's not the end of old Dick's tale. Though he died in battle in 1485, his body wasn't actually discovered until 2012 — and in a supermarket car park, of all places. No wonder Marcel Dorney and Daniel Evans have come up with a new theatre production that probes real life, the Bard's take and our continuing fascination. The Tragedy of King Richard III excavates the play, the man and the reasons that its titular figure still gets tongues wagging. Even if you think you know everything there is to know about one of history and drama's greatest villain, you haven't seen him dissected and contemplated quite like this before.
The 17 artists displaying their work at The Laundry Artspace's latest exhibition are in a state of flux. While that can be said of all creative practitioners — given that they're always making or creating something, and promptly starting on a fresh piece once the last one is finished — this group really is an in-between bunch. Firstly, as current QCA Honours students, they're in that realm between just beginning to learn their discipline and finally escaping the confines of school to let their imaginations roam free. And, in Something like this, but not this, they're unleashing their in-between works to anyone who wishes to see. In fact, this gang not only knows that they're still working things out — they're also not afraid to show it. In a world where everyone's always embellishing their achievements, they're embracing just where they're at. We're guessing their art will be as refreshing as their attitude. Image: Peter Kozak, Couch Jump, 2016.
Even if you're not the biggest film fan, you've probably seen more than a few that seem a bit familiar. Maybe they focus on the same types of characters. Perhaps they tell a well-worn story. Or, it could be about the placement of the camera, or the clichés in the content. At Motion Picture, it might appear as though that's what you're in for — aka more of the same — but trust us, it's not. Curators Katherine Dionysius and Amy-Clare McCarthy have assembled cinematic movements by Benjamin Crowley, Simone Hine, Daniel McKewen, Llewellyn Millhouse, Anita Holtsclaw and Grant Stevens that undermine, confuse, dismantle, obscure and subvert everything you've feasted your eyes on before. So no, you haven't watched these films. And no, you won't see the same thing twice. The six artists each engage in the medium in their own way; however, despite their differences, they're drawn together through commonalities such as repetition, subversion and anticipation. Image: Simone Hine, 11:35am 2010, Digital video, 2:04, looped.
When it comes to yoga poses, downward-facing dog is yesterday's news. Now, it's all about reclining cats and scampering kitties — and having furry, friendly felines in the room with you. Okay, okay, so we just made up those two positions; however we wouldn't dare joke when it comes to Brisbane's latest exercise trend. And, at Stretch Yoga's next event, working out with a purrfect pal isn't the only thing on the agenda. Should you fall in love with one of the cute critters, you can also take it home with you. That's right, stretching your limbs, potentially adding a cat to your family and helping a creature from Kitten Kapers Rescue and Brisbane Valley Cat Rescue go hand in hand at the Holland Park studio's Pop-Up Kitten Yoga & Adoption Day. With all that on offer, resistance is futile. Just remember to book in for the 12.30pm or 1.30pm classes in advance, because this kitty bonanza is certain to be popular.
Hungry? Thirsty? Hankering for a barbecued feast, delectable dessert, tasty tipple or array of craft beverages? Of course you are — and on Friday and Saturday evenings from June 3 to 25, Queensland's newest food and wine festival has all of your cravings covered. That'd be the Gold Coast Food and Wine Festival, the first such event to bring gastronomical delights to the glitter strip. The theatre and the art of food is the inaugural event's focus, which means eating and drinking isn't the only thing on the menu. You'll also find performances and all-round sensory experiences alongside meals, masterclasses and more offerings than your stomach can handle. Indeed, whether making gourmet caramel apples, decorating cookies, mixing cocktails or learning sustainable fish cooking methods gets your tastebuds tingling — or a progressive degustation of signature dishes from the Gold Coast's emerging chefs, perhaps — you'll find it here. Plus, the entire festival is a foodie treasure hunt, with halls, alleys and back streets overflowing with things to devour.
In 2013, Expressions Dance Company presented When Time Stops. The idea behind the performance was simple yet striking. It crafted a dance piece out of the instances when life seems to slow down or even come to a screeching halt, as remembered by a woman during her final moments. That was then, and while the show proved a success, every director dreams of improving upon their efforts. A collaboration between Queensland's premier contemporary dance company and local chamber orchestra Camerata of St John's — who play Iain Grandage's Helpmann Award winning score live — When Time Stops: Director's Cut endeavours to reshape its inspiration. Off stage, that task falls to Expressions' artistic director and choreographer Natalie Weir; on stage, eight dancers and twelve musicians work their magic. The end result tells of first kisses, accidents that nearly came to be and tragedies that couldn't be avoided, all while simultaneously retaining the spirit of and reinterpreting the original work.
Remember Stones Corner, that little pocket of weird shoe shops and depressing facades? It's the new West End of the east side — and it's all grown up, looking fine and you're invited to its birthday party. The Stones Corner Festival is happening on May 29 from 12pm to 8pm and entry is free. As always, the focus is on craft beer, cider and wine from a glut of excellent breweries, which makes it completely acceptable to get your day drink on. The festival also puts on live music throughout the day and a wide selection of local market stalls. Of course, all that drinking, dancing and browsing is certain to get your stomach grumbling, which is where the fest's array of food options comes in. As well as helping you get to know the local eateries, this year's event will host a convoy of food trucks courtesy of the World Food Markets.
Italian filmmaker Nanni Moretti is no stranger to death, or to examining the subject on film. It might be something most of us don't like to think about, however the writer-director understands the shadow mortality can cast, as well as the way that the act of mourning can overtake a person's life. After exploring the impact of losing a child in 2001's Palme d'Or winner The Son's Room, and then writing and starring in 2008's Quiet Chaos, he returns to the topic with Mia Madre. That the film's name means "my mother" in his native tongue is telling. Taking a decidedly meta approach, the film follows a filmmaker in the midst of production while at the same time coping with the hospitalisation of her mother. It's not quite as autobiographical as it sounds: the director is a woman, Margherita (Margherita Buy), while Moretti plays her brother Giovanni, and veteran Italian actress Giulia Lazzarini plays their mother. And yet, in the way that Mia Madre hones in on the stress of simultaneous professional and personal crises, there's no doubting that the tale evolves from experience. As her mother's health begins to decline, Margherita struggles to make her movie – about factory employees fighting for better working conditions – while also using it as a distraction from her troubles. Alas, her freshly arrived American lead (John Turturro) refuses to learn his lines or follow her directions, constantly derailing and delaying production. With her live-in lover in the process of moving out and her teenage daughter struggling at school, Margherita's home life offers little solace either. Depicting many a balancing act, Mia Madre swiftly proves one itself. Moretti keeps searching for the right mix between quiet and anxious, dramatic and comedic, and contemplative and freewheeling. In fact, his film is more convincing in demonstrating how frustrating that can be than it is in finding any harmony between its competing elements. Of course, that's partially the point, with grief clearly painted as a disruptive and destabilising force. And yet, as accurate and authentic as the movie's messiness feels in an emotional sense, it also makes other contrasting factors — such as the patient camerawork and energetic performances — seem slight, a little convenient and sometimes out of place. Indeed, it's always distracting when a specific actor appears as though they're in the wrong film, even when they're one of the best things about it. Turturro lights up the screen and brings a few well-timed comic moments, yet never completely fits in with his surroundings. That's not a criticism of his performance, or of the more restrained but similarly excellent efforts of Buy and Moretti. Instead, it's an acknowledgement that even in thoughtful, intimate accounts of something as complex and challenging as death, mimicking chaos and actually embodying it aren't quite the same thing.
In an age in which we spend more time looking at screens than we do looking at each other, the organisers of a monthly public meet-up are trying to encourage a little old-school human connection. Held once a month in cities around the world, including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Eye Gazing is exactly what it sounds like: a group of strangers meet in a public place in order to create a silent bond. The events are run by The Human Connection Movement, a group that aims to change the way that people interact for the better. "We're here to empower people to stay open and lead with an open heart whilst maintaining authenticity, courage and awareness," reads a description on the event page for the group's upcoming Brisbane meet. It's set to take place in Orleigh Park on Saturday, January 14. It's free to attend, although you will need to register online. Image: The Human Connection Movement/YouTube.
If Sad Affleck didn't already exist, Live By Night might've made the meme happen anyway. The actor rarely appears particularly engaged in the prohibition-era gangster flick — and given that he's not just the star, but the writer-director too, that's a little bit of a problem. Sure, the plot throws up plenty of reasons for his sorrowful expression, and yes, brooding over what it means to be a man living a life of crime requires an absence of smiles. Still, Affleck largely just looks lost and glum rather than convincingly conflicted or troubled. To make matters even more trying for audiences, he also can't seem to tear the camera away from his own face. Live By Night isn't the first time Affleck has directed himself, with The Town and Oscar-winner Argo both listed on his resume. Thanks to the former, it's not the first time he has pondered masculinity and violence, or the difficulties of trying to do the right thing by the wrong means. Staying in well-worn territory, his latest flick is also his second adaptation of a novel by Dennis Lehane, with the author penning the book that Affleck's excellent helming debut, Gone Baby Gone, was based on. They say that familiarity breeds contempt, but what it really inspires here is a movie that matches his on-screen look: poised and polished, but bland from top to bottom. When the film first introduces Affleck's character, World War I veteran Joe Coughlin, it's with an anti-authoritarian attitude; "I left a soldier, I came home an outlaw" his voiceover bluntly offers. Discovering just how far down that path the Boston crook will go is one of the aims of the game, along with probing the darker side of the American dream. At first, Coughlin just wants little more than to break the rules and bed a hotshot mobster's mistress (Sienna Miller). But when his romantic bliss ends, he switches to revenge and bootlegging booze in Tampa. An alliance with the local Cuban population, including his new girlfriend Graciela (Zoe Saldana), earns the ire of the Ku Klux Klan, while trying to build a casino draws opposition from a wannabe actress turned born-again preacher (Elle Fanning). There's no shortage of plot driving Live By Night as it meanders through its 129-minute running time. As forces of good and evil clash in a variety of ways, Coughlin wears a number of hats (literally and figuratively), firmly establishing that a well-meaning gangster's existence is painted in shades of grey. Of course, if you've seen The Godfather, Goodfellas or any other American effort in the genre, you've already toyed with these themes more than once. Other than following in their footsteps, there's not much more this movie has to offer. That's not to say that the project is entirely without merit. Though he keeps frowning in front of the camera, Affleck finds some much-needed directorial spark in the film's late shootouts — so much so that you'll wish that he'd done so much earlier. Set in the 1920s, Live By Night also looks the sumptuous part, but sadly that attention to detail doesn't extend to the supporting characters. The less said not only about Saldana's thankless, throwaway role, but Chris Messina's exaggerated performance as a supposedly comic offsider, the better. Although even then, they still seem less miserable than Affleck.
If you're a fan of musical theatre, then you'll know who Stephen Sondheim is. And even if you're not, you still will — even if you don't know it. The American composer and lyricist has played a hand in everything from West Side Story to Sweeney Todd to Into the Woods, both on the stage and screen. There's more to his talents and impact, of course, as Boys of Sondheim explores at MELT Festival. The intimate cabaret celebrates the Pulitzer Prize and Oscar, Tony and Grammy Award-winner as one of the most significant gay artists of the 20th century, as well as the men his works have brought to life.
Roll on up, the circus is in town — but Vulcana Women's Circus isn't any old acrobatic troupe. The Brisbane mainstays are known for their energy and experimentation. They're also known for putting on quite the MELT show. For the 2017 festival, that'd be Quiver. We're pretty certain that the performance's title describes how you'll probably react. To try to entice that reaction, it will present a mix of queer and queer-friendly artists, who'll all combine circus, dance, music and spoken word to contemplation notions of sexuality and gender.
It has become one of 2016's most unfortunate trends: gathering in bar, club or venue around town to commemorate a music icon and commiserate over their loss. At The End on December 11, Jet Black Cat Music is taking the opportunity to put this cathartic routine into action once again, this time focusing on the late, great Sharon Jones. Two things are certain once 5pm hits, and you should be able to guess what they are. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings' records will be given a spin or several. Obviously. And, there will be dancing. Most likely tears as well. That's how you mark the impact of soul and funk singer who only released her first record at the age of 40, but made up for lost time in the 2o years that followed. You don't need to think twice about heading along — and yes, this kind of shindig has got to be the way it is.
Chess is best played calmly, with an analytical mindset and with an awareness of the many life lessons it can teach — at least as far as every film depiction of the strategic game is concerned. Based on the tale of Ugandan prodigy Phiona Mutesi, Queen of Katwe is certainly guilty of finding parallels between reality and moving pawns around a board, and even of tasking a kindly coach with pointing them out. Thankfully, in the hands of The Reluctant Fundamentalist director Mira Nair, embracing cliches and relying upon metaphors can't stand in the way of a great story. And what a rousing tale it is, not quite of the rags-to-riches kind, but one filled with fighting spirit and driven to discard the shackles of poverty and gender. When the film first offers a glimpse of teenaged Phiona (Madina Nalwanga), she's poised to win a national championship — making Queen of Katwe's end goal apparent, yet never downplaying her struggle to get there. Jumping back, we next see her as a nine-year-old spending her days selling corn to help her widowed mother Harriet (Lupita Nyong'o) support their family of six. Learning to play chess is the last thing on her mind; in fact, she only heads to the local club run by volunteer Robert Katende (David Oyelowo) to get a free cup of porridge. Even if you're not familiar with Phiona, or the magazine article turned book The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster that inspired Nair's film, you should know what you're in for. Phiona takes to her new hobby with gusto, with Robert's encouragement and despite Harriet's disapproval. The local boys aren't happy to be playing a girl — and they're even less impressed when she keeps beating them. And when the club raises the funds needed to play a tournament against wealthier students, they're hardly welcomed with open arms There's a game afoot in this film about a game: one side patiently tries to position the pieces necessary to paint a portrait of Phiona's impoverished life in a developing country, while the other happily tries to fit her tale into an established pattern. Mair alternates between fleshing out the location-specific details and brightly bouncing through the usual underdog sports movie elements. Yes, it seems that chess really is relevant everywhere, even when it comes to the way that Queen of Katwe handles its narrative. In terms of performance, everyone from newcomer Nalwanga to Oscar-winner Nyong'o to standout Oyelowo shines, enhancing the film's many uplifting charms. Add an end credits nod to the real-life figures behind the inspiring story, and joyful tears are more than likely. Sure, Queen of Katwe still proves the kind of movie that makes its plays known several moves in advance. But that doesn't diminish the moving end result.
Who says you can only celebrate Halloween in October? Not The Brightside, The Foundry and Black Bear Lodge. They're hosting Deadlam, aka Bedlam Records' annual super-sized epic Halloween extravaganza — and they don't care that the spookiest day of the year has already been and gone. To be fair, holding their four-stage party on a Friday night really is the best move. Plus, Halloween was just this week, and there was plenty of other cool stuff on the weekend prior. Anyway, enough quibbling about a fright-themed music fest taking place a few days late, and more getting into the fearsome but fun vibe. At Deadlam - Episode III, headliners The Drones will certainly assist, and they'll have help. i heart hiroshima, GL, Dorsal Fins, Shining Bird, Twin Haus, Astro Travellers, Shady Bliss, squidgenini, You Beauty, Bugs, Thigh Master and Golden Age Of Ballooning are all on the bill, plus Big Dead, Romeo Moon, Muddy Chanter, Tiana Khasi, Rahms, White Blanks and Voiid. In fact, this overnight fest is so stacked with talent, it's scary
Space Virgin. John Farnham, I'll Be Your Substratum. A Crotch Full of Diamonds. Danger Zone... Of Love. They're all titles of comedic, erotic tales, and they're as amusingly, purposefully awful as they sound — and they have the book covers to match. That's what Fanciful Fiction Auxiliary is all about: fictitious amateur romance writers penning stories that make Mills & Boon seem classy, complete with so-bad-they're-good-but-still-really-really-bad artwork. It's the latter that's decking the halls of the Brisbane Powerhouse from October 28 until December 11 as both a prelude to and a part of their annual Wonderland festival, and it is certain to inspire many things. You'll cry. You'll laugh. You'll whip out your phone, head to the FFA website and start devouring the accompanying text. Expect big hair and shoulder pads aplenty, because it's always the '80s as far as romance book jackets are concerned. And expect a hilarious project from some very talented folks, including Pascalle Burton, Trent Jamieson, Krissy Kneen, Michelle Law, FFA creator Jackie Ryan and more.
Brunch isn't just something you eat after you've enjoyed a weekend sleep in. And it's not just an excuse to gorge on breakfast, lunch and a few cheeky mid-morning beverages all at once. It's both, as well as an occasion that's always worth celebrating. That's why Cloudland are throwing a series of brunch-themed shindigs. It's a concept that has been happening in New York and London for a while now, and now it's Brisbane's turn. The Brunch Club really does combining everyone's favourite meal with a party vibe; think live entertainment, garden games and a 3.5 hour food and beverage package. That's what you'll find from 11.30am every Sunday in November — and yes, if it kicks off before midday, it still counts as brunch. Tickets coast $75 per person for the most indulgent before-noon boozy spread you're likely to ever enjoy. And it's certain to be popular, so we'd recommend booking in advance.
Everyone's doing it: taking something not-at-all scary, switching up a word or two, and giving it a frightening twist. You've seen it all over social media, and now you can see it in action at the Southside Tea Room's latest event as well. Yep, the Morningside hangout is hosting the Mourning-side Scavenger Hunt. You'll be searching the suburbs as part of this little Halloween spot of fun — or one inner-east suburb, to be precise. If anyone can make Wynnum Road spooky, it's the SSTR, Death Valley and Red Robin Supper Truck combo. And, once the main quest is over, the latter two places will be hosting a beer garden sing-along screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
When gallery owner Susan (Amy Adams) first rifles through a manuscript penned by her ex-husband Edward (Jake Gyllenhaal), the pages draw blood. Her finger bleeds from a simple paper cut, but another, unseen wound also opens — one caused by her actions 19 years earlier, that she thought her now-strained second marriage to the wealthy Hutton (Armie Hammer) had healed. Already an insomniac and riddled with stress about her latest exhibition opening, she's drawn to the dark tale told found within those pages. There, a man by the name of Tony (also played by Gyllenhaal) finds his family holiday with his wife (Isla Fisher) and daughter (Ellie Bamber) interrupted by Texan troublemakers (including Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Karl Glusman). Before long, the story segues from road rage terror to nightmarish tragedy to an account of violence that can only be solved with more of the same. As Susan reads, ravenously leafing through the novel at any moment that she can, it inspires memories of her younger, happier days with Edward. That's the film's second narrative within a narrative, one in which Susan earns the disapproval of her mother (Laura Linney) by wedding a writer of little means, and then struggles as their married bliss inevitably falters. And so Nocturnal Animals becomes a nesting doll of pain, heartbreak, betrayal, sorrow and, eventually, revenge. Alluring exteriors hide ugly depths on multiple levels. The film constantly juxtaposes beauty and horror; an opening sequence is filled with fleshy, scantily clad women dancing in a cloud of glitter. Who better than director Tom Ford to usher audiences into such a seductive, psychologically complex world? Nocturnal Animals is a bolder, blunter and more brutal movie than the fashion designer turned filmmaker's first effort behind the lens, A Single Man. In adapting Austin Wright's 1993 novel Tony and Susan, the writer-director proves that he still knows how to provoke a reaction. Still, where A Single Man heaved with emotion as it bewitched the eye, Nocturnal Animals seethes with emptiness. As shot by cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, the film's glossy visuals feel like vacant vessels, styled meticulously, and yet never containing more than the obvious. In a pulpy, throwaway thriller, that's fine, but Ford aims much higher than that. Ensuring that his feature wears his clear influences, from Alfred Hitchcock and Brian de Palma to David Lynch and Douglas Sirk, prominently on its impeccably dressed sleeves, he strives to craft a sensual, suspenseful exploration of regret, and the aches that mistakes can bring. Sadly, he comes up short. The cast of the work is expectedly first-rate, from the glassy-eyed Adams to the increasingly frantic Gyllenhaal to the ever-stellar, scene-stealing Michael Shannon as a cop helping Tony seek justice. Some play real characters within the world of the film, while others are literary manifestations of decades worth of pain. But then if there's one thing that Ford excels at as much as making his features look stunning, it's casting. Everyone's performance is perfectly pitched, which is perhaps why the overall lack of feeling behind the film's luxurious facade feels so very disappointing.
Want a bit of greenery in your life, but suffer from thumbs of a different colour? Or, maybe you love hardy plants of the thick and fleshy variety, particularly those native to arid climates and known to retain water. Either way, like most things, there's an event just for it. Hosted by Facebook group Succulovers, the Succulent & Cacti Extravaganza is their latest trading day. If you're after succulents, cactus and lithops that are rare, colourful and unique, you'll find them here. Echeverias, sempervivums, kalanchoes, cotyledon, graptopetalum, haworthias, aeoniums, pachyphytum, gasterias, haworthias: even if none of that means anything to you, you can feel good knowing that they'll all be on offer. Just remember a couple of things going in. Firstly, such pretty, pretty flora make ideal gifts for absolutely everyone, and Christmas is just around the corner. Secondly, if you're buying something for yourself, your new purchases will look pretty ace brightening up your Insta feed.
You know that feeling when you think you've seen someone before, but just can't place them? Imagine that turned into a video exhibition. At Split Screen, you'll be certain you recognise the person in each of the works displayed throughout Metro Arts — and, as you peer closer, you'll realise that they're all the same. That'd be video, performance and installation artist Simone Hine, who not only created everything in the showcase, but stars in every single piece. Combining both new and existing works, she probes the idea of screen content, plays with popular culture, and picks apart the concept of fashioning an identity through the flat, rectangular surfaces we all spend too much time looking at. The end result displays at the CBD space from October 19 to November 5, though Split Screen does more than adorn the walls waiting for viewers to watch. It also takes audiences on a journey of newly constructed narratives — and, probably makes you think differently about your screen time.
How to start a new Brisbane record label in a few easy steps: 1) write a book about the city's music scene; 2) team up with a drummer and music manager; 3) sign an ace local band; 4) throw what's sure to be a cracking party during Fortitude Valley's annual music-focused celebration. That's the Pig City Records model, anyway, but it looks like a good one. On October 28, the new venture from Pig City: From The Saints To Savage Garden author Andrew Stafford and Lords Of Wong's Sean Clift will be putting it all into action at Black Bear Lodge, with the event doubling as the launch of their first act's second album as well. That'd be Some Jerks' Strange Ways, in case you were wondering. With a surf-rock sound, they were once described as something like Sleater-Kinney covering the Shangri-La's, so you know the tunes are going to be good. As is the vibe, because who doesn't want to be merry when a new Brissie record label is making its way into the world? Some other jerks, that's who.
It's back. It's now two decades old. And, it's the inner-city street party to end all street parties. Sure, Brisbane as a whole likes to throw a whole heap of suburb-specific bashes; however no one does it like Fortitude Valley. If you've lived in this fair, mostly sunny city at any point over the past twenty years, then odds are that you've been to at least one Valley Fiesta — and that you know why it's worth celebrating as a result. From October 28 to 30, Brunswick Street and the surrounding Valley nooks and crannies will come alive with the sound of music, the smell of food, and the sight of everything from art to fashion. Oh, and yes it has the area's beloved markets as part of the program, too. After some specifics? How about The Vines, Yacht Club DJs, Harts, KLP, Joyride, Hey Geronimo and more taking care of the tunes, for starters? The event also boasts local talent singing their hearts out on Friday evening, multicultural showcases in the Chinatown mall on both Saturday and Sunday, the annual Queensland Music Awards showcase, and all the Valley shopping you could want. Yep, it's a fiesta alright.
Name an act that brings you the most happiness — and it's okay if you go with the obvious one. Looking at Mik Shida's latest series of images, you're supposed to think of it. Rites of Joy reflects upon how love and sexuality evoke the titular feeling, and how they both tie into our rituals. That's why the Brisbane-based artist's pieces look like psychedelic entities entwined in a ceremonial act transcending the bounds of known reality. That's the official description, in fact. Shida is searching for, exploring and depicting commonality and contentment in a time when differentiation, division and defined identities are prevalent, all through the invocation at its most energetic. The exhibition kicks off on October 28 with an opening night shindig, complete with beverages from Young Henrys and a fundraising component to help Queensland Writers Centre, too. After that, drop by until November 11 to see Shida's range of smile-inducing mixed media works. Image: Mik Shida.
If you know your alohomoras from your sectumsempras and have read your Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them from cover to cover, Harry Potter Trivia Night might be your time to shine. There will be glory, giveaways and all-round Harry Potter cred to all those who can trance a boggart, tame a hippogriff and tell the difference between Finch's cat and Fluffy. Harry Potter Trivia Night will be hosted by the always brilliant Man vs Bear Trivia, and will take place at Finn McCool's. It may not be the Leaky Cauldron, but you can pretend you're drinking Butterbeer throughout the evening. There's your magical plans from 7pm on October 27. This is the type of trivia night that rounds up only the truest of diehard fans and makes them compete with more blood and gusto than a Quidditch Grand Final. A word of warning: choose your team wisely.
68 feature films from 19 different countries make up the program at this year's Jewish International Film Festival. Screening at select cinemas around Australia — and in Auckland, too! — the 27th annual edition of this celebrated festival will showcase films that explore every angle of Jewish history and identity through critically acclaimed dramas, side-splitting comedies, mind-blowing documentaries and more. JIFF 2016 will be bookended by a pair of films about one of the darkest moments in human history. Opening night film Denial stars Rachel Weisz as Professor Deborah Lipstadt, who in 1996 was sued for defamation by English holocaust denier David Irving (Timothy Spall). Closing night, meanwhile, will screen the provocative documentary The Last Laugh, featuring the likes of Sarah Silverman, Mel Brooks and Louis C.K. as they ponder how far comedy can go when tackling such a sensitive topic. Other standout titles include a new German adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank that premiered to critical acclaim at this year's Berlin Film Festival, as well as Jerry Lewis: The Man Behind the Clown, a documentary about the titular comedian's remarkable decades-long career. The Brisbane leg of the festival will run from November 10-20 at New Farm Cinemas. For the full JIFF 2016 program, go here.
"Stereotypes: there must be more to life," sang Blur back in '95, and wiser Brit-pop lyrics have never been crooned. More than two decades later, it's a sentiment photo media artist Emma Wright also aims to explore in her first solo exhibition, Persona non kata. Consider her pieces a response to widely held, over-simplified ideas and beliefs, as well as a way of sparking conversation. Using constructed scenes and performance, she responds to easily misunderstood social shortcuts, turning them into absurd self-fulfilling prophecies and challenging the viewer to label her. How that process turns out is up to each audience member, of course — and that's the point. Until October 9, you can witness her compositions at POP Gallery in Woolloongabba, and probe your reactions in the process. All your life you are dreaming, and then you stop dreaming, as Albarn and his bandmates would put it. Image: Emma Wright Here we go again 2016. Inkjet print on rag matte paper. 85 x 120cm.
If there's one thing no one ever gets tired of, it's food truck gatherings. A bunch of meals-on-wheels restaurants converge in one place, cook up a storm and sell their delicious dishes to the hungry masses. What's not to love? Indeed, The Paper Plate Supper Club might be the latest such shindig to pop up around town; however it's also one of the tastiest. Every Friday to Sunday until the end of November, it'll help ravenous Brisbanites chow down on everything from Nutella French crepes to hotdogs to handmade gnocchi and dumplings. Who's hungry? Okay, okay, we know you're on board, so we'll stop asking questions. And if you're after some specifics, J'Adore Les Crepes, The Pretzel Nook, Wild Rissoles, Steam'd, Tibetan Momo Fresh Dumplings, Mums Green Thai Curry, Mother Africa,Toni's Gozleme, I Love Paella, Crispy Potato Cakes, Cornish Pirate Pasties, Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers and more will converge on the Powerhouse Plaza three nights a week for the eating pleasure of anyone in the vicinity. Yum.
Do you remember what the Hamilton stretch of the Brisbane river looked like more than a decade ago? No, neither do we. And it's not just because we have short memories; Portside just seems like it has always been there. In fact, it has been ten years since the riverside precinct opened, which is a mighty fine reason to throw a shindig, fancy dinner or combination of the two. A Taste of Portside will take place on both October 6 and 13, paying tribute to four restaurants that have been on-site since the very beginning with a roving dinner. You won't just head to one of Moda Events, Sono Japanese Restaurant, Gusto da Gianni and Byblos Bar for a bite — you'll have a different course at each. Start with canapés, then enjoy an appetiser platter with sake, before feasting on an Italian banquet and ending with cocktails and desserts. Happy birthday indeed.
Cast your mind back to 2006. It was a simpler time. You were probably listening to Bloc Party, The Killers, Pendulum and Wolfmother, and going to the kind of massive music fests that no longer exist (RIP Big Day Out). And, you'd never even heard of an iPhone. Miss those days? It's okay, sometimes everyone does — and The Flying Cock has the antidote. They don't just serve up great chook; sometimes, they want you to dance like a chicken, too. Okay, not literally; however at their We Get Around [2006] Two Level Dance Party, they do want you to strut your unrestrained stuff on the dance floor. So does a lineup of Habebe, Cosmo Cater, Belfriend, Doe, Harry Doofward, Baby Making DJs, Greaves and Tom Gazal, who'll all help you party like it's 2006. All you need to do is grab your besties from a decade ago, show up and relive old times. Too easy.
With little more than markings on paper, Monica Jimenez peers into the essence of life. Her drawings depict runners, swimmers, pole-dancers, and people dressing up as animals and in costumes, all in a minimalistic fashion; however whether viewed individually and as a whole, their impact is maximised. "My characters are all runners," says Jimenez. "They have run away from their context. They have left their circumstances behind and they are floating in the page deprived of any reference." Pondering who they are and what they're running from is up to you, the viewer. In the process, you'll craft a story to finish their incomplete narratives, and challenge notions of cultural, sexual and national identity. In other words, you'll contemplate existence. Of course, we're all running from something — or, in the case of seeing Jimenz's Corre/Run exhibition, we should be running to Junky Comics. Her pieces adorn the walls until October 20; and of course, while you're in the store, you can also ruminate over a spot of shopping.
If there's one thing Australian television has taught us, it's this: everybody needs good neighbours. At the Gallery of Modern Art, they're contemplating that concept between October 15 and January 17. In fact, they're looking at one nearby place in particular. No.1 Neighbour: Art in Papua New Guinea 1966–2016 assembles work made in the southwestern Pacific nation over a 50-year period filled with significant change. As the country evolved through various eras, including independence in the mid '70s, its resident artists explored their world with a critical and creative eye — and their relationship with Australia as well. The exhibition marks the first time the gallery has presented a showcase centred on PNG of this scale, and features everything from colourful works on canvass to towering sculptural forms. Also featured is major new collaborative work a Bit na Ta (the source of the sea), from Australian musician, composer and producer David Bridie and Tolai musician George Telek, with the involvement of the wider Tolai community based in East New Britain. The immersive, distinctly Tolai cultural space draws audiences in with its soundscape, aka offers the perfect thing to get that soap opera theme you've been humming out of your head. Image: GENDE, Simon; Papua New Guinean, Simbu Province, Highlands; Papua New Guinea b.c.1965; No 1 Kiap Australia Mr Jim Taylor I brukim bush long Highlands Papua Niugini (The first Australian Officer, Mr Jim Taylor, in an exploratory mission in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea); 1999; Synthetic polymer paint on canvas; 78.5 x 90.5cm; Acc. 1999.145; Purchased 1999. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation Grant.
Artist Lucy O'Doherty remembers doing what many of us did as kids: making a whole world come to life with little more than dolls and doll houses. Now, she paints images of domestic scenes — and if both pastimes sound quite similar, that's because they're supposed to. Suburban Rituals mades the parallels plain, one alluring, colourful, stylised image of ordinary living at a time. Each picture provides a portrait of a yard, and usually a house, as well as glimpses of unique lives played out in relatable scenes. Peek into any garden and you'll find a path, lawnmower, pool, spa or combination of the above, for example. Peer into any window and you'll spy a bed and a television too. If O'Doherty's pieces indulge her own need to create new worlds, then the exhibition satisfies everyone's cravings to look into them. Suburban Rituals graces the walls of the Edwina Corlette Gallery from November 29 until December 17. Image: By the Light of the TV, Lucy O'Doherty, 2016, oil on linen.
He wrote about cats wearing hats, grinches stealing Christmas, ham served with green eggs, and a creature called Sam. He was cartoonist Theodor Seuss Geisel, also known as Dr Seuss. He jotted down the humorous rhymes and scribbled the colourful images from the books that were a staple of your childhood. All that, you know — but did you know about his secret art? Beyond the 44 children's stories, more than 400 World War II political cartoons, hundreds of advertisements and countless editorials that made him an icon, he also painted and sculpted for his own enjoyment. At The Art of Dr Seuss, both sides of his creative endeavours are on display as Mitchell Fine Art delves into 70 years of Seuss' art history. In the Brisbane return of a project that has toured the world, you can view rare works and buy prints and reproductions. You're also likely to get more than a few rhymes stuck in your head — that's just how Seuss would liked it, after all.
Roll up, roll up, Cirque du Soleil is back in town. As they've proven over their last seven visits to Australia, the Canadian troupe is more than just the usual circus. However, for their eighth display of acrobatic feats on our shores, they're going back to basics. Kooza offers high-flying, death-defying feats (twin highwires that intersect diagonally at 15 and 25 feet above the stage, and an enormous spinning contraption called the Wheel of Death, for example), combined with the age-old art of clowning around. As far as the latter is concerned, prepare to watch a choreographed skeleton dance, plus the finessed fluidity of seven hoops spinning at once — and they're just the fantastic feats that we know about. Of course, there really is more when it comes to Cirque du Soleil: the music, the movement, the mood and the accompanying musings, specifically. This time around, in addition to showcasing eye-popping displays of physical trickery and amusing antics, Kooza also contemplates deeper notions, including fear, identity, recognition and power. Image: Matt Beard Costumes: Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt ©2012 Cirque du Soleil.
If Mad Men taught us anything — and it taught us many things, let's face it, including how catching old soft drink commercials can be — it's that advertising agencies sure do like to target middle-aged men. Tasmanian visual artist Grace Herbert wants to challenge that idea through her latest exhibition, Show Room. Her approach is simple: she tries to place herself in that role, and then unleashes the results. Herbert's showcase spans a mix of forms and materials, including sixties minimalist sculptures to the modern Australian display centre. And if you're wondering why she's exploring the concept after exhibiting her work as part of both Next Wave festival and Dark MOFO, let's just say that the rhetoric behind targeting products to male consumers could also be said to underscore the art world. Show Room displays at Metro Arts from November 16 until December 3 as a FAKE Estate presentation.
Oysters are the kind of seafood that you either love or hate; maybe their salty taste and slimy texture tantalises your tastebuds, or maybe it doesn't. If you fall into the first category and you happen to be fond of beer, too, then Green Beacon has the event you've been dreaming about. That'd be the annual Green Beacon Oyster Festival, which returns for a fourth round of saltwater clams and some of Brisbane's best brews. The Teneriffe-based bar and brewery will source the best and freshest oysters in Australia, shuck them to order, and offer up an ocean's worth of specials. When it comes to washing it all down, you can choose from Green Beacon's usual brews, of course, or you can treat yo'self to something more in line with the occasion. A single keg of Oyster Stout will be running through the taps, should you be feeling adventurous. We say: when at an oyster festival, and all that.
It's not every day that an inner-city street shuts down for an onslaught of music and fun. No, just Big Gay Day. Now in its 17th year, the annual event returns to The Wickham and the surrounding roadway for an afternoon and evening of music and celebratory mayhem. Topping the bill is a name Ru Paul's Drag Race fans will know and love: season four winner Sharon Needles. She's joined by Yolanda Be Cool, Peyton, Nat Conway, Ellen Reed, DJ Citizen Jane, Sveta, Estee Louder and more, including Mega Drag, akaBrisbane's biggest drag show. Consider them the icing on the cake on what has proven the city's most colourful and diverse street festival for the past 16 years, and will continue to do so again in 2017. Roving carnival acts, multiple performance spaces and plenty of partying people are also on the agenda, as is raising funds for charity partners that help the LGBT community.
Does the thought of ribs make you instantly lick your lips? If doesn't already, it will soon. In fact, getting the citizens of Brisbane to go weak at the knees for grilled meat products seems to be Barbecue Mafia's main aim — and their latest gathering is certain to achieve that outcome. Rack City 2.0 might seem simple; however, as the first event proved, the response it inspires will be anything but. If you're not overcome with a wave of complicated sensations when you tuck into wood-smoked beef ribs, as well as sweet corn slaw, dill pickle, sliced white onion and fresh bread, well, you're just not doing it right. To celebrate Barbecue Mafia's move to their new Stafford headquarters, that's exactly what's on offer from 6pm on Saturday March 11 — and all for just $25 - $30 per person, plus booking fee. You'll think you've died and gone to barbecue rib heaven, but only if you get in quick. Pre-ordering online is recommended because this meaty feast is limited to 250 plates, making it sure to sell out.
Aaaah, steak. If you're a meat-eater, there's nothing quite like a juicy slab of beef cooked just how you like it. Well, actually, sampling a heap of steaks ranging from grain-fed to grass-fed and Angus from wagyu just might top munching on one — and it's on the menu at Ribs and Rumps Fortitude Valley's Beef & Wine Tasting Dinner. As these things often are, it is exactly what is sounds like (and it sounds so very delicious). You'll eat morsels of meat. You'll drink Penfolds wines to match. You'll arrive ravenous (we suggest), and leave stuffed full (we predict). Also on offer: a drink on arrival, a foray into the world of pork ribs as an entree, sides and signature sauces with the tasting plate that comprises your main meal, and either salted caramel brulee or oozing chocolate pudding for dessert. Plus, there'll be experts on hand filling you in on everything you're drinking, too, because this kind of dinner is about learning as much as it's about eating.
We're said it before, and we'll say it again: if you want to see the future of any given art form, then you'd best keep an eye on the current crop of emerging talent. In the indigenous dance space, that means checking out Flight, the yearly gala showcase by the Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts. In their tenth annual takeover of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, ACPA will make audiences feel like they're soaring through the Cremorne Theatre thanks to a powerful blend of dance, music and acting. When all three combine, something special normally happens. When all three combine in the hands of eager up-and-comers, expect the unexpected. You'll watch as ACPA's young, home-grown creatives demonstrate their skills in a dynamic, once-off display, and they'll make like the show's title and come as close as they can to taking flight while they do so. And, they'll also highlight new and original works during a unique and innovative evening of performance artistry.
Live music fans, want to spend the last night of the year the same way you've spent much of this one (and plan to fill much of the next one)? Crowbar has you covered. They have drinks packages galore, and their usual vibe amped up to suit the occasion — but here, it's all about the entertainment. Let's be honest: wherever The Gooch Palms are playing, it's an instant party. Watch them do their rocking best after a mammoth 2016, and catch Walken, Concrete Surfers and Muddy Chanter in support.
