Walking around Brisbane is a great way to enjoy your own backyard, see the local sights and get in some exercise. For a 17-day period between Friday, June 24–Sunday, July 10 this winter, doing just that in Brisbane will also allow you to engage with a series of interactive installations. They're called 'curiocities', and they're part of the returning Curiocity Brisbane festival, which focuses on the interaction of science, technology, innovation and the arts. If this all sounds familiar — and not just from past years — that's because Curiocity Brisbane was meant to take place back in March during this year's World Science Festival Brisbane. Then the wet weather got in the way, the broader fest moved online, and Curiocity decided to hold out until later in the year. While this event loves toying with all things digital, it can't actually go virtual and have the same impact. Peruse its program and it's easy to see why that's the case; giant artworks aren't quite the same when you're only seeing them through your computer or phone. So, in 2022 — across a longer festival in its new dates, too — Curiocity Brisbane will feature physical spaces that are designed to ignite the senses, as spread across South Bank, the Cultural Centre, the Goodwill Bridge, the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens and the Queen Street Mall. That gives you plenty of places to head, as well as a trail filled with 20 artworks to mosey along. Standout installations span Acknowledging Place, which asks participants to sit and consider an Indigenous perspective of caring for Country; public sculpture OHCE/ECHO, which captures your portrait and embeds it in the work; and The Wandering Birds Have Returned to the River (Even Bernice), featuring imaginary giant bird nests made out of repurposed and reusable consumer goods. Other Curiocity must-sees include Luminous Threads, which combines embroidery with modern fibre optic technology; Mirage Project [Iceberg], which uses stereoscopic photography to inlay an iceberg from Antarctica into South Bank; and light and soundscape In the Air, a time-lapse piece that uses data from Antarctic ice-core samples to map changes over the past 400,000 years in a half-hour music and light show. [caption id="attachment_853022" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Evanescent, Curiocity 2021, Markus Ravik[/caption] Curiocity Brisbane will pop up around the city between Friday, June 24–Sunday, July 10. For further information — or to get tickets from Monday, May 16 — head to the World Science Festival website. Top images: Evanescent, Curiocity 2021, Markus Ravik.
Sitting on the toilet can be a time of contemplation for a lot of us. If your mind ever wanders to the sustainability and style of your toilet paper, Wipe That has you covered. This new sustainable startup has launched a quirky new Christmas collection of bamboo toilet paper that will ease any stress about the environmental impact of your toilet breaks, and make a great gift for friends and family as the holiday season approaches. The star of the Christmas collection is a stylish little character named Poocci. Brought to life by graphic designer Bernardo Henning, Poocci plays off a certain luxury fashion house, rocking a chain and sunnies in order to brighten up your toilet paper. What was once Australia's most in-demand grocery store item is now a cutting-edge fashion statement (of sorts). Non-recycled toilet paper is a major cause of deforestation worldwide, so if you haven't made the switch, now's the perfect time to embrace the wonders of bamboo. The planet and your tush will thank you. All of Wipe That's three-ply toilet paper is environmentally friendly, vegan, plastic-free, and scent-free. It has also partnered with Australian revegetation project Carbon Neutral to ensure a tree is planted for every sale it makes. This new collection means that toilet paper is no longer a dud present come Christmas time. Your eco-conscious relatives will love it, or you can grab a pack for yourself to impress those who might be visiting your place for holiday celebrations. Stock is limited for the Christmas collection, so jump on the pre-sale if you'd like to get your paws on this loo roll. Each 36-roll box is available for $58, contains a personalised Christmas card and is available to be delivered Australia-wide between December 1–14. Outside of the collection, Wipe That offers sustainable toilet paper on a one-off or subscription basis, as well as eco-friendly laundry detergent sheets. You can shop Wipe That's entire range at the website. FYI, this story includes some affiliate links. These don't influence any of our recommendations or content, but they may make us a small commission. For more info, see Concrete Playground's editorial policy.
One moment, you're watching Diego Luna sit down two rows in front of you in a cinema that seats 1600 people. The next, you're spotting Maggie Gyllenhaal and Patrick Stewart on the street. That's life at the Berlinale, or Berlin International Film Festival, which took place from February 9 to 19 — and it matches all of that star power with a massive, jam-packed program of movies. In its 67th year, Berlinale had everything in its 400-title-plus program, and we mean everything. Want big, mainstream efforts such as T2 Transpotting and Logan? Indie Aussie flicks like Emo the Musical and Monsieur Mayonnaise? A sci-fi retrospective and the world premiere of the 3D version of that other T2 — that is, Terminator 2, not the Aussie tea company or Trainspotting sequel? Geoffrey Rush getting an award? Charlie Hunnam traipsing around the jungle? Two movies filled with famous faces arguing over a meal? A flick about utopian world without men? A 1993-set Spanish coming-of-age effort that makes an impact? Another great entry in Romania's new wave? Yes, the festival delivered on all of the above and then some. Yes, you already know that the list goes on. Of course, not everyone can be there to experience films galore, below freezing temperatures, mulled wine aplenty and a newfound pretzel addiction. Don't worry, that's where we come in. We went, we watched, and we're excited about all of the movies that'll hopefully make their way to Australia at festivals or in general release. In fact, we can't wait to watch these ten again. CALL ME BY YOUR NAME If this film sounds more than a little familiar, that's because we were already mighty excited about it when it screened at Sundance. Oh boy, did Luca Guadagnino's (A Bigger Splash) latest and best feature to date more than deliver. Let us put it this way: when you're watching a 17-year-old become infatuated with his father's handsome research assistant, played by Armie Hammer, you're feeling every single emotion he's feeling. And, you're falling head over heels for everything about this masterpiece as well. Call Me By Your Name is the kind of effort that couldn't be more seductive, from the sumptuous sights of its scenic Italian setting to the summertime heat — and sizzling sentiments to match — that radiate from the screen. Keep an eye on Timothée Chalamet, too, who plays the teenager in question. If this movie is any guide, he should become one of cinema's next big things. A FANTASTIC WOMAN A Fantastic Woman? Yes, this sensitive drama and Berlinale best screenplay winner places one front and centre. A fantastic film? You bet. After using a compassionate gaze to explore the world of an older lady trying to find happiness in Gloria, Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio turns his attention to Marina (Daniela Vega), a waitress and singer whose life is thrown into disarray when tragedy strikes. The family of her much older lover are horrified, judging her transgender status rather than daring to let her into their lives — or let her mourn. The movie doesn't make the same mistake, in an effort that proves empathetic and engaging from start to finish, complete with an exceptional lead performance and one perfect song cue. THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE No one makes films like Finnish filmmaker Aki Kaurismäki. Sure, that's true of many directors, however the balance of deadpan humour and heartfelt drama he cultivates time and again isn't an easy one, even if he makes it seem otherwise. In this year's Berlinale Best Director winner The Other Side of Hope, Kaurismäki tackles the subject of refugees in Europe as Syrian Khaled (Sherwan Haji) finds himself in Helsinki, applies to stay and is forced to pursue other options when he's hardly given a hearty welcome. The tale of an unhappy salesman turned unlikely restaurant owner intersects with Khaled's plight, and so does absurdity, but in the filmmaker's warm but insightful way. THE PARTY It all seems so simple: gather a group of excellent actors together, stick them in a few rooms, give their characters plenty to argue about and watch what happens. At its most basic, that's what The Party does over 71 entertaining, black-and-white-shot minutes — of course, it does more than that as well. The scenario sees Kristin Scott Thomas' Janet securing a plum political appointment, with her friends and family — played by Timothy Spall, Patricia Clarkson, Emily Mortimer, Cillian Murphy and more — all gathering around to celebrate. As something other than joy starts seeping through their get-together, writer/director Sally Potter crafts a lively and hilarious comedy filled with sparkling dialogue and intent on unpacking the political climate in Britain. ON BODY AND SOUL When On Body and Soul took home Berlinale's top award, the Golden Bear for Best Film, the Hungarian feature caught everyone by surprise. That's the beauty of film festivals, though — little turns out as expected, including a contemplative, surreal romantic drama set in a Budapest slaughterhouse. Writer/director Ildikó Enyedi takes her time to spin a tale of austere lives and vivid dreams, letting the emotion build at a slow and steady pace, as well as glimmers of humour. While it won't be for everyone, two things other than its accolade and its filmmaker make it stand out: just how it brings its absurd yet ultimately still relatable story to a close, and its corresponding performances. CASTING JONBENET Good news and bad news, everyone keen to watch the second full-length effort from Australian filmmaker Kitty Green. On the one hand, it's headed to Netflix in April. On the other, the film really does provide an astonishing viewing experience if you ever get the chance to see it in a cinema. As the name gives away, murdered six-year-old beauty pageant queen JonBenet Ramsay sits at the centre of this documentary — however, a regular true crime offering, this most certainly isn't. Instead, in an approach that results in disarmingly revealing insights about how we filter the events of the world through our own experiences, Green asks the people of Ramsay's home town of Boulder, Colorado to audition for a film about her case, then captures their responses. SPOOR Even if you don't know it, you're already familiar with the work of Polish filmmaking great Agnieszka Holland. Over the past decade or so, she has helmed episodes of everything from The Wire to The Killing to House of Cards — and while we can say that the flavour of all three can be glimpsed in her latest feature, Berlinale Silver Bear winner Spoor, don't go expecting something as straightforward or obvious as that may sound. A series of deaths, an investigation in an insular community and the political fallout provide the storyline for this moody and sometimes amusing feature that flits between mystery, thriller, black comedy and even fairy tale elements. Another Agnieszka also deserves acclaim, this time lead actress Agnieszka Mandat who puts in a more than memorable performance. I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO In I Am Not Your Negro, Samuel L. Jackson lends his voice to the words of American essayist James Baldwin. He does an outstanding job at capturing the tone and passion required, but it's the text itself, rather than the star uttering it, that's truly remarkable. Stepping through the state of race relations in the U.S. by focusing on the lives and deaths of civil rights leaders Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., every syllable spoken couldn't be more perceptive — or, even though they were written decades ago, still relevant today. It's little wonder that the film was nominated for best documentary at this year's Oscars, with director Raoul Peck matching the verbal content with an illuminating compilation of footage from the '50s and '60s. ON THE BEACH AT NIGHT ALONE Last year, South Korean director Hong Sang-soo's two most recent films (Right Now, Wrong Then and Yourself and Yours) played at various Australian film festivals. Yes, he's prolific. Expect his latest, On the Beach at Night Alone, to pop up this year — and, amazingly, he has two other features due out in 2017. That might mean that he returns to the same themes of love, identity and fulfilment again and again, and plays with the same kinds of structural devices, but every one of his efforts has their delights. Here, one of them is the fact that he riffs on his own rumoured real-life circumstances, relaying a narrative about the fallout of an affair between an actress and a director. Another is the leading lady herself, Kim Min-hee, who both sits at the centre of his own scandal and puts in a revelatory, Berlinale best actress-winning turn. GOD'S OWN COUNTRY The words "Yorkshire-set Brokeback Mountain" have been bandied about with frequency regarding God's Own Country; however, thankfully they're accurate in the very best way. Set on a struggling farm, it's a film of sprawling landscapes and surging urges — with both weathering hardships but proving rich and resonant. Forced to take care of everything due to his father's ailing health, to say that scowling, constantly booze-soaked Johnny (Josh O'Connor) is frustrated is an understatement, but, slowly and tentatively, the arrival of handsome Romanian farm-hand Gheorghe (Alec Secareanu) helps brighten his unhappy days. First-time writer/director Francis Lee takes a raw, realistic approach to everything from the animals scenes to the feature's underlying emotions, with heart-swelling results.
Fiftysomethings Nick (Jim Broadbent) and Meg (Lindsay Duncan) are in a rut. He has just been terminated from his job as an academic after making an inappropriate comment to a female student. His wife, a biology teacher, is going through her own career issues. More importantly, their marriage is fraying at the seams. As a way of reviving their flagging relationship, they take off to Paris for a break, returning to the city where they honeymooned many years before. They initially arrive at a hostel which they had stayed at years ago, but Meg turns up her nose at the Spartan accommodation and they up sticks to a more glamorous hotel, where they are offered a beautiful penthouse where Tony Blair once stayed. Meg is overjoyed. Nick is less sure. "As long as you change the sheets first," he snips. Gradually, they begin to explore their new surrounds and are by turns charmed by the fabled city and agitated by old resentments and simmering tensions which have built up in their relationship. The two-hander expands when they run into Morgan (a terrific Jeff Goldblum), a slick but somewhat glib academic and author who was something of a mentee of Nick's, but who has gone on to enjoy mainstream success which eluded his older colleague. He shoehorns them into attending a dinner party with his coterie of cosmopolitan pals, a development which intrigues the vivacious Meg but leaves the anxious Nick more perturbed than ever. Le Week-End feels more like a snapshot in time than a traditional three-act story, as long-held frustrations wane as they wander through the city. The couple sense that they may have stayed together out of routine and fear of being alone rather than any great attachment. With their children having finally moved out of home, what, if anything, will keep them together? Nick suggests that he needs Meg, is hopeless without her. She wonders if a childlike dependence is a healthy basis for their ongoing relationship. Le Week-End is set in the world's most romantic city and was directed by Roger Michell of Notting Hill fame, but this is no Hollywood confection. Instead, it has a messiness, looseness and a real honesty. Paris often looks more tired than idealised. While not as flat-out brilliant as Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise trilogy, those films seem an obvious touchstone in their improvised-feeling dialogue and clear-eyed focus on the tribulations of long-term relationships. Broadbent and Duncan are tremendous as Nick and Meg, characters who are contradictory, vulnerable and at times, frankly irritating. It's rare to see older actors on screen who aren't supporting figures or comic relief, but real, flawed people. https://youtube.com/watch?v=t0jzTSKr3VY
Who said Good Food Month was a Brisbane-only culinary celebration? Not the folks in charge. For one special event, they're directing hungry foodies up to Noosa — and making the trek to the Sunny Coast absolutely worth it. When and where else are you going to experience a floating street food market in Queensland, after all? Pretend you're in a Southeast Asian city, wander through stalls and soak up the watery atmosphere. And when you're not indulging in edible delights whipped up by chef Shane Bailey, you can knock back a craft beer, wine or cocktail. It's all happening Sunday, July 17 from noon till 3pm.
The release of a shiny new album, Strange But Nice, was a good time as any for Sydney trio Step-Panther to take their show back on the road. Collaborating with long-time buds, Bearhug, the lads will be embarking on an East Coast album launch for the so-called New Arrivals tour. For those of you playing at home, Step-Panther are a homegrown garage-pop-rock outfit, with a sound described as 'slacker-pop'. Indeed, Step-Panther's lo-fi sound makes the perfect soundtrack for a lazy afternoon at a mate's house, preferably paired with an inflatable pool filled with ice and tinnies. Bearhug have a dreamier sound, sporting the unavoidably-dubbed 'indie' vibe without being douchey. Also hailing from Sydney, the band are also celebrating an album released — their recently-dropped second album, So Gone. Guitar-heavy with infectious melodies — these guys are onto something good. Also supported by Hound. and Tape/Off. https://youtube.com/watch?v=2y4goxKYj7M
Step into your local arthouse theatre these days and you'd be hard pressed not to find a regional film festival going on. From established cinematic powerhouses like France, Germany and Japan, to less spotlighted industries such as Poland, Indonesia and Serbia, the sheer amount of world cinema on the cultural calendar means there's almost always an alternative to the latest blockbuster out of Hollywood. As long as you don't mind reading subtitles, that is. In 2014, the line-up is getting that little bit more crowded, with the inaugural edition of a brand new festival highlighting the films from Europe's frozen north. Covering Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, the first annual Scandinavian Film Festival is set to put the kvikmynd in kvikmyndahátíð. One area where contemporary Scandinavian cinema really seems to excel is the crime genre. Case in point, the Easy Money trilogy, starring Joel 'RoboCop' Kinnaman as a uni student turned drug runner. All three films will screen at the festival — see them before the scheduled US reboot featuring Zac Efron. From across the bridge in Denmark, meanwhile, comes police thriller The Keeper of Lost Causes, one the highest grossing films at the Danish box office last year. Continuing the dramatic thread, Metalhead, out of Iceland, tells the story of a pre-teen girl who copes with her brother's accidental death by taking on his identity. Sounds a little strange, sure, but the film has drawn rave reviews on the international festival circuit and scored a record-breaking 16 nominations at Iceland's prestigious Edda Awards. Thankfully, despite the region's chilly climate, not everything on the program is so severe. Finland's August Fools is a rom-com set against a Cold War era backdrop, while opening night features the informatively titled Swedish comedy The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. For more information about the Scandinavian Film Festival, visit their website. It's on at Palace Cinemas on the following dates: Canberra Tues 8 July - Sun 20 July Sydney Wed 9 July - Sun 27 July Melbourne Thu 10 July - Sun 27 July Brisbane Fri 11 July - Sun 20 July Adelaide Wed 23 July - Thurs 31 July Perth Thu 24 - Wed 30 July Byron Bay Fri 25 - Wed 30 July
It's called hump day for a reason. This September, spend Wednesday night curled up at home with three sexy little audio stories pinged directly to your phone. Writers Benjamin Law, Krissy Kneen and Mandy Beaumont have penned steamy, tongue-in-cheek stories for The Good Room. On Wednesday, September 9, listen to the story of a call girl working in West End who receives a call from a young gent looking to dominate; on Wednesday, September 16, a retirement home resident plans a covert reunion with her swarthy husband; and on Wednesday, September 23, enter the world of after-hours hairdressing and erotic queer fantasy. You can book into three timed sessions (8pm, 9pm and 10pm) every week. It's strictly adults-only, and each 'call' is $15. Image: Joel Devereux
The apocalypse is something we fear, right? The desolation and destruction caused by a cataclysmic event is something we surely would not want to witness. Yet we seem to have a weird fascination with Armageddon, dedicating a significant amount of time to it in film, video games and those pub conversation about which of your friends has the best zombie survival plan. Now Lori Nix, a Kansas-born artist, has shared her deep wonderment with Judgement Day in her exhibition The City, which depicts New York City devoid of humanity, scarred by the apocalypse. "My childhood was spent in a rural part of the United States that is known more for its natural disasters than anything else," says Nix on her website. "For a child it was considered euphoric." This informed her project The City, which imagines "a city of our future, where something either natural or as the result of mankind, has emptied the city of it's human inhabitants. Art museums, Broadway theaters, laundromats and bars no longer function. The walls are deteriorating, the ceilings are falling in, the structures barely stand, yet Mother Nature is slowly taking them over. These spaces are filled with flora, fauna and insects, reclaiming what was theirs before man's encroachment." Nix portrays this reclamation through a series of photographed dioramas that she painstakingly constructs, right down to the most minute detail. Some of you may have heard of the The City before and that is because Nix began the project in 2005. However, each diorama takes approximately seven months to construct, followed by three weeks to shoot the final image of it, and so the series is ongoing. It has come to the fore again as the latest nine photographic works in the series are currently on exhibition at ClampArt, NYC until November 16 to coincide with the release of her first book. Explore our favourites in the gallery below and head to Nix's website to see the full collection. Via Gizmodo.
Still sad because you missed The Avalanches much hyped comeback show at Splendour? Well, start saving your pennies because they're back for the Falls Music & Arts Festival. They're just one of the artists who have just been announced in the full 2016 lineup, alongside Childish Gambino, London Grammar, Grouplove, Broods, Jamie T, Parquet Courts and heaps, heaps more. As always, Falls will be heading to Lorne in Victoria for four nights, and Marion Bay in Tassie and Byron Bay on the NSW coast for three nights over New Year's Eve. They'll also be setting up shop in Fremantle for the first time with Falls Downtown, a two-day city festival slated to take place over the weekend of January 7-8. If you're seriously strapped for cash, it's time to warm up those vocal chords because The Falls Festival folks are giving you the chance to win VIP tickets for you and three mates. All you have to do is serenade the world with your favourite song from the 2016/17 lineup and upload it to Instagram with the hashtag #fallskaraoke. Get cracking. FALLS FESTIVAL 2016 LINEUP Childish Gambino (No Sideshows) London Grammar (No Sideshows) The Avalanches Violent Soho Matt Corby Alison Wonderland* Catfish and the Bottlemen* Fat Freddy's Drop* Ta-ku The Rubens* The Jezabels Ball Park Music Grouplove Bernard Fanning* Jamie T Broods Tkay Maidza Grandmaster Flash Illy MØ Hot Dub Time Machine DMA's AlunaGeorge Booka Shade Client Liaison Vallis Alps Parquet Courts City Calm Down LDRU* Modern Baseball Tired Lion* Remi* RY X Marlon Williams* Lemaitre Shura *Not Playing Fremantle Tickets for Falls Festival 2016/17 will go on sale at 9am on Tuesday, August 30 via their website.
The COVID-19 situation in Australia continues to change every day. Already, the federal government has implemented a ban on non-essential events with more than 500 people and mandated that everyone arriving from overseas self-isolate for 14 days. And, day by day, that's having an enormous impact on the arts world. On Monday, March 16, Melbourne's major art and cultural institutions — including Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks, Arts Centre Melbourne, the NGV and State Library of Victoria — temporarily closed their doors. Today, Sydney Opera House announced that it is doing the same. Now, in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19, some of Brisbane's big cultural venues are following suit. The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) today, Tuesday, March 17, announced that it is closing its theatres until at least April 30, at which stage it will re-evaluate the situation. It has also cancelled all public performances during that period. Three of the South Bank centre's theatres have capacities larger than 500 — the Concert Hall, Lyric Theatre and the Playhouse — however it's taking precautionary measures and cancelling performances and shows in all venues, including the smaller Cremorne Theatre, as well as the Melbourne Street Green and Cascade Court. [caption id="attachment_760739" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Green Jam at QPAC[/caption] Shows affected include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's entire Brisbane season, which was due to open on Wednesday, March 18; the weekly free Green Jam gigs; all backstage tours; and everything from Queensland Ballet's 60th Anniversary Gala to shows by Penn and Teller, The Umbilical Brothers and The Wiggles. Elsewhere in Brisbane, Brisbane Powerhouse has cancelled the final week of the Brisbane Comedy Festival; however the venue itself remains open at this stage. Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art have cancelled Water Up Late, as well as all public programs, events and tours, but again the venue itself — and the Australian Cinematheque's current program — remains operational for now. The Queensland Performing Arts Centre has closed all theatres until at least April 30. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Following on from the success of its first outing in 2010 the Gypsy Jazz Festival returns for two nights at The Powerhouse Theatre. The night will be opened, and filled in at regular intervals, by DJ Tagada, founder of Balkan Beats Paris and modern troubadour for urban flavour. With a flamboyant performance that integrates rock, world music and gypsy elements with impressive speed and sensitivity French quartet Les Doigts De l’Homme will follow on. Closing the night Loulou Djine will take to the stage with heart rendering laments and fast, furious rhythms that revitalise the traditions of Balkan musical expression.
If you're in Melbourne or Brisbane and Uluru has always been on your travel bucket list, getting to the world-famous large sandstone formation in Australia's Red Centre just got easier. Back in late 2023, Virgin announced that it was starting direct flights from the two cities to the Northern Territory landmark in June 2024 — and now those routes are taking off, complete with a sale slinging cheap fares to celebrate. People make their way Down Under from around the globe to see Uluru. Last year, it was even named one of the best places in the world to visit by The New York Times. For folks keen to head there from the Victorian capital, flights begin on Thursday, June 6, 2024. And for Queenslanders, you can take the trip from Friday, June 7, 2024. The new direct routes mark Virgin's first-ever legs to Uluru from Melbourne and Brisbane. The airline is flying between Melbourne and Uluru four times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The carrier is zipping between Brisbane and Uluru three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Virgin has partnered with the Northern Territory Government and Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia — which runs Ayers Rock Resort — on the new services to get more people to the middle of the country. And it's aiming to send quite a few more tourists in that direction, with 62,000-plus seats a year on offer thanks to the two new legs. "To see Virgin Australia planes touching down in Uluṟu again is a huge thrill — this is a landmark moment that underscores the boundless appeal of the Red Centre," said Matt Cameron-Smith, CEO of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia. "We're excited to have even more visitors experience the wonders of Uluṟu, along with culturally immersive experiences like Sunrise Journeys and Wintjiri Wiru, through Virgin Australia's extensive network." If you're eager to book ASAP and score a bargain, Virgin's new flight sale is running until 11.59pm AEST on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Fares start at $119 one-way in economy, with dates varying across July–December 2024. For accommodation, Ayers Rock Resort is doing $230-per-night three-night stays as well. [caption id="attachment_905928" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Salty Travellers[/caption] [caption id="attachment_905930" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism NT and Sean Scott[/caption] Virgin's Melbourne–Uluru services commence on Thursday, June 6, 2024, and its Brisbane–Uluru services start on Friday, June 7, 2024. The airline's current sale on flights to Uluru is slinging fares from $119 until 11.59pm AEST on Saturday, June 8, 2024 — head to the Virgin website for more details.
Not be outdone by their neighbours, whose own festival du film celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, the latest line-up at the Audi Festival of German Films is guaranteed to give the French a run for their money. Presented by the Goethe-Institut in conjunction with Palace Cinemas, the 2014 festival boasts a selection of more than 50 German language films, as well as parties, lectures, special screenings and Q&As. Just a few of the highlights include Marc Rothemund's The Girl with Nine Wigs, about a young woman struggling with a cancer diagnosis; Constanze Knoche's simmering family drama, Visitors, about the strained relationship between a father and his three adult children; and Jan-Ole Gerster's black and white, day-in-the-life dramedy Oh Boy, which scooped up the top prize at the 2013 German Film Awards. The Audi Festival of German Film is in Sydney and Melbourne from March 27 to April 11, and in Brisbane from March 28 to April 3. Thanks to the festival, we have six double passes to give away in each city, valid for a session of your choosing. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au For the full Audi Festival of German Films program, see the festival website. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Xlyt_IRWM30
Every year since 1987, when March rolls around, the Texan city of Austin becomes a hive of activity for fans of film, music, creativity, culture, technology and everything in-between. That's no longer the case in 2020, however, with this year's South By Southwest now cancelled for the first time in the event's 34-year history. In the same week that new Bond movie No Time to Die had its release date pushed back from April to November, the reason for SXSW's cancellation is obvious, with concerns mounting about the effect of the coronavirus COVID-19 — especially in such a busy, public, highly populated space as a large-scale, highly attended music and film fest. SXSW organisers scrapped the 2020 event after the City of Austin basically made the decision for them. "The City of Austin has cancelled the March dates for SXSW and SXSW EDU. SXSW will faithfully follow the City's directions," the festival announced in a statement. With SXSW 2020 due to take place next week from Friday, March 13–Sunday, March 22, speculation that the event wouldn't go ahead had been mounting over the past few days. In fact, a Change.org petition calling for the fest's cancellation due to the coronavirus outbreak received more than 55,000 signatures. Before the event was officially canned, plenty of high-profile parties had already dropped out of attending the festival — including Amazon, Netflix and Apple, all of whom had scrapped screenings of upcoming films and TV shows; music groups like Sony, Universal and Warner Music; and speakers and guests such as Trent Reznor, the Beastie Boys and Ozzy Osbourne. [caption id="attachment_764009" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Shelley Hiam[/caption] SXSW's powers that be are currently exploring their options — to either reschedule this year's event, or provide a "virtual SXSW online experience". It's highly unlikely that this is the last time that COVID-19 will have this effect on the entertainment industry. Large swathes of cinemas have been temporarily shuttered in China, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Italy and France; theme parks have been closed in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo; and the latest Mission: Impossible movie shut down its production in Venice. Music tours have been cancelled throughout Asia, too, and plenty of questions hang over forthcoming events elsewhere in the world — such as Coachella in April and the Cannes Film Festival in May. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: David Brendan Hall.
Fortitude Valley’s The Brightside has been handed the coveted role of hosting the Official Laneway Afterparty, and they’ve gone to Martha Stewart measures to ensure it’s the best around. They’ve locked down some of the sweetest live acts from Laneway and organised to have them mini-vanned from the RNA to Brightside faster than you can say Mac DeMarco’s mum. Kicking off at 10pm, right around when Laneway is due to wrap up, Brightside will fling open its doors. They’ve got Jung Le DJ (aka Jungle DJ set), Violent Soho, Dune Rats, Eagulls and I OH YOU DJs parked up behind the decks, pumping out whatever tunes they see fit till the wee hours of the morning. They’ll be pouring beer and drinks from both out- and inside bars, though we suggest you stick to water, because while we hate to play daggy mum, after spending all day at a music festival you'll almost definitely have heatstroke. As much as you might deny you’ll be ‘going out’ after Laneway, be realistic and responsible and prepare yourself for the inevitable migration from the RNA to Brightside.
On October 12th 2012 Melbourne rock/pop sibling three-piece Evermore are set to release “Follow The Sun”, their fourth studio album, and first following a three year hiatus from the local scene. Written, performed and mixed by the brothers “Follow The Sun” is led by its title track, a triumphant march of a single that evokes a sense of grandeur, youthful energy, unrelenting spirit and never-ending yearning for human affection, as only an Evermore record could. A heart-stopping masterwork deserving of maximum volume it’s their finest effort yet, and a hint of great things to come.
Brisbane's artistic history is filled with talented and trailblazing women, from Daphne Mayo and Vida Lahey in 1920s, to Margaret Olley to Tracey Moffat, to the likes of Davida Allen, Naomi Blacklock and Rachael Haynes, too. The list keeps going — and so does the impressive roster of works by pioneering ladies that'll be on display during the Museum of Brisbane's new exhibition on the subject. Running from Friday, September 13 through until Sunday, March 15, New Woman celebrates the exceptional efforts of Brisbane's female artists over the past 100 years. More than 110 works will be on display from over 80 creatives, spanning painting, photography, sculpture, performance and installation. If it sounds huge, that's because a retrospective of pieces by the city's arty women hasn't ever been staged before on this scale. The free showcase will step through the enormous contribution these groundbreaking, game-changing ladies have made not just to Brissie's art scene, but to Brisbane itself as it has changed over the past century. As well as highlighting each artist's role in the city's cultural life, and the challenges they faced over the years, New Woman will offer a snapshot of this town of ours through their eyes. Image: Caroline Barker, Untitled (life class model), c1925, oil on canvas, gift of the artist, 1982, City of Brisbane Collection, Museum of Brisbane. Photo Carl Warner.
Imagine a space bustling with bartenders creating new drinks and learning innovative techniques. Then, imagine a space where you can pull up a stool to be whisked away on a tasting journey. This is the scene Orion Leppan Taylor and Mitch Bloomfield are envisioning with their new Cocktail Lab in Wollongong. The 26-year-old south coast locals pitched the concept to Idea Lab — an initiative run by Beam Suntory, which awards grants to change-making hospitality ventures. The pair won $20,000 to help turn their plans into reality. The pair currently work at Wollongong's Breakout Bar and Escape Rooms, which is where they're planning to build the new Cocktail Lab. "It'll be a space where we can educate the bar scene of Wollongong from an industry perspective," says Leppan Taylor. "But also, where we can run classes, educate and broaden [the public's] palates." While Leppan Taylor is now the bar manager at Breakout, he was brand new to hospo when he joined the venue three years ago. "As a bartender, I've had to self direct. But a big part of that has been [being connected to] the great community we have here," he says. "There are people I can reach out to if I'm hitting a wall, or running into problems, who are very open with volunteering their time and expertise." Bloomfield was also a fresh face behind the bar when he first came to Breakout. With a background in entertainment, he was more familiar with the escape room side of the business. "I got thrown straight into a Christmas hospitality period, which I had never experienced before. So it was very much the deep end," he says. A previously under-utilised space at Breakout will become the new Cocktail Lab, which will be fitted out with sleek prep benches and storage cages filled with bar equipment like centrifuges. With a little luck, Bloomfield says the Cocktail Lab should be open by March 2021. "We're familiar with the idea of Heston Blumenthal going very technical and science-y to try and do interesting things with ingredients," says Leppan Taylor. "At the end of the day, flavours, aromas and everything that goes into a drink is just a different series of chemical compounds," he says. When the lab opens, the pièce de résistance will be a rotary vacuum — a tool for redistilling liquids, which can infuse drinks with exciting new flavours. During the week, bartenders will be able to come in and use the space and equipment for research and development. "Or, to create ingredients they can take back to their own bars," says Leppan Taylor. However, for those who don't work in the industry and just want a fun, new place to go come Friday night, the public will be able to come to the Cocktail Lab for spirit tastings, cocktail classes and well-made tipples. "The goal is also to broaden the customers' vocabulary a little bit. So when they see something on a menu that has 'centrifuged' it doesn't look intimidating. It'll be something they're excited to try." The team hopes the venue will attract interest from bartenders further afield, too, as the local bar scene evolves. "There's a bit of an underdog mentality in the community," says Leppan Taylor. "Part of the reason we all like to support and help each other is because we have this feeling we're all in it together. We want to show we have the knowledge, expertise and experiences comparable to anywhere else in Australia." Top image: Mitch Bloomfield (left), Orion Leppan Taylor (right) in the new Cocktail Lab space in Wollongong.
We've seen some cool ideas for putting solar cells in novel places, and everyone agrees that being able to better harness the sun's energy would go a long way to solving our energy problems. But perhaps it's time we thought a bit bigger than solar-charging furniture... a lot bigger. Like, evil-scientist scheme big. It just so happens that scientists at Japan's Shimizu construction corporation (who aren't evil — probably) have been thinking big for us. They are proposing that we use the moon as a giant solar farm, laying the surface with a ring of photo-voltaic cells to capture some of the 13,000 terawatts of solar energy that hits the moon each day, then beaming it back to earth via laser or microwave. Although LUNA RING sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, the technology required for such a project already exists. What keeps the project from becoming a reality immediately is the, pardon the pun, astronomical cost. Such a massive venture would have an incalculable benefit for the entire world, and would probably require the co-operation and support of the entire world. Given that the world can't organise a football tournament without a few problems, this might be one world-saving project that never gets off the ground. Which would be a great shame. [via geeksaresexy]
Drinking a beverage and watching a band ranks among life's simplest pleasures. Enjoying one of 300 craft beers and ciders from 53 independent brewers and cideries, while being entertained by Ball Park Music, City Calm Down and more — now that's how you take something great and make it even better. Ensuring a good time is had by all is part of the aim of the Beer InCider Experience in its 2017 iteration over September 22 and 23. Well, that and showcasing the best in brews and music, plus throwing in some delicious food and fun entertainment options. And, this year, the tasting festival has moved to new surroundings at Brisbane Showgrounds. To line the stomach, 18 ten local food-slinging folks such as Mac From Way Back, This Little Piggie, Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers and I Heart Brownies will do their bit, with everything from burgers to bratwurst and ribs to doughnuts also on offer. Those looking for something a bit different might want to head to the ginger beer bar or espresso martini bar, or relax under the garden bar's towering fig trees. Then, work off all that sipping and eating with a bout of Berlin-style ping pong or putt putt, or go for it with giant Connect Four. Yes, this truly is the ultimate in drinks-focused festivals.
If you're planning on spending a Saturday with a beer in your hand, then one Fortitude Valley establishment has you covered. Admittedly, serving up pints is what Bloodhound Bar does every day of the week; however in honour of Brewsvegas, it's bringing back their beloved beer fest, adding it to the city-wide celebration, and making an extra special occasion of it. At the fifth Hopfields, they're also making an occasion out of showcasing hops, without which we wouldn't have the brews we know and love. With that in mind, expect all the tasty ales from around the world that you could dream of — and plenty you've likely never heard of, too — including limited releases, launches of new beers and one-offs brewed especially for the event, plus a slew of classics. Over 20 breweries will be invited to take part, so start salivating. Last year, names like Sparkle Muffin, Alligator Tugboat, Unicorn Tears and 'Morning Blend' Coffee Milkshake IPA were on the menu — and if this year can match it, you're going to want to try them all. Save some room for the creative concoctions though, with the humble hop flower given its moment to shine in all its forms.
Take a trip to A Midnight Visit and you're guaranteed an eerie night out. Imagine a fully immersive theatre experience with a choose-your-own-adventure twist — and lots of macabre nods to Edgar Allan Poe — and you'll have some idea of what to expect. It's been delivering exactly that to Brisbanites since July, all in a disused Fortitude Valley warehouse; however, it has something a little special up its sleeves for Halloween. Between Friday, October 29–Sunday, October 31, the captivating part performance, part playground and part film set experience is hosting a Halloween Festival. There'll be more characters prowling its halls, and more circus, dance and music, too. Halloween-themed cocktails, DJs and live tunes at the onsite Raven's Rest bar, and even fortune-telling and magic are also on the agenda. Obviously, this is the perfect time to plunge into A Midnight Visit's unsettling 36-room setup, and to soak in the show's intricate design, epic scale and explosive energy. It's all brought to life by a team of 100-plus creatives, including actors, circus performers, musicians, dancers and burlesque artists, plus a crew of innovative sound, film-set and costume designers. Expect an air of David Lynch, some Stanley Kubrick vibes and even a hint of Stranger Things, with a spot of steampunk thrown in for good measure. It's the largest immersive theatre piece to be staged in Australia so you can expect the experience to be a wild ride. And yes, because it's Halloween, donning costume is recommended — complete with prizes for the best-dressed patrons. Images: A Midnight Visit by Anna Kucera and Tim Da-Rin.
Prominent giggers up and down Brisbane and the Gold Coast Thin White Lines are just back from a set of dates across New Zealand. A tight, aggressive act known for their dynamic sound and stage presence the four-piece play loud and unabashed punk. Brisbane’s Question Everything are forever on the rise in their home city, with their solid live performances and catchy, old school pop-punk tunes attracting new fans everyday. Influenced by bands like New Found Glory, The Starting Line and All Time Low, Set The record are all colours pop-punk, with catchy vocal melodies, tight guitars and punchy drumming.
Netflix's algorithm has clearly figured out one of the most obvious facts about humankind: we all really love dogs. That was obviously the idea behind the streaming platform's 2018 canine-centric documentary series — and the show sent viewers so barking mad that it's coming back for another season. Called Dogs, the thoroughly feel-good series follows different puppers in different places around the world, as well as the two-legged folks who care for, groom, dress and even fish with them. Of course, the adorable balls of fluff are the real drawcards. The six-episode first season dedicated its frames to canines in Syria, Japan, Costa Rica, Italy and the US, each with their own stories to tell. One episode explores life in a dog sanctuary in the Costa Rican rainforest, and another relays the tale of a Siberian Husky trapped in Syria after his owner was able to flee to German. Yet another jumps into Japan's love of cute pooches — dog strollers are a common sight on the streets of Tokyo, after all. In a statement provided to Variety about the show's renewal, executive producers Amy Berg (Deliver Us From Evil) and Glen Zipper (The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned from a Mythical Man) championed Dogs' human impact — especially "the ability to explore some of the most important human stories through relationships with our best friends". They continued: "it's been amazing to see how much these episodes have touched audiences and critics across the globe. Most importantly, our fans have become part of our extended family and we are honoured to bring them a fresh set of stories that will allow us to connect with them yet again." Check out the first season trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pLCmLgjiJ8 If you can't get enough when it comes to cute canines, you won't be complaining about the show's impending return — although when it'll drop, and how many episodes the second season will span, hasn't yet been revealed. And if you have your own pooch who deserves some Netflix attention, the series is also on the lookout for canine talent. Just hit up the show via Twitter or Instagram. Australia and New Zealand didn't feature the first time around, after all. Dogs' first season is now available on Netflix. Via Variety. Images: Netflix.
Some events feel like they've always been part of Brisbane's cultural scene, and Stones Corner Festival is one of them — even though it'll only host its seventh fest when it returns in 2022. That's the sign of something special, with this street party swiftly becoming one of the city's must-attend festivals. It's been sorely missed during the pandemic, too. Come Sunday, May 1, Stones Corner Festival will once again unleash a day of food and music on the inner east when it finally makes a comeback after a two-year hiatus. And when that happens, the event is going big. On the lineup: Sneaky Sound System, The Porkers and Quentin & The Tarantino's, as well as Good Will Remedy, Jollee, Full Power Happy Hour, Sofia Isella & Cheap Date. That's who you'll be listening to — or dancing in the street to, to be more accurate — however, the music bill is only part of the Stones Corner Festival fun. You can also expect more than 20 craft breweries pouring beers, including Little Creatures, 4 Pines, Slipstream, Balter, Eumundi, Brookvale Union, Mountain Goat and Green Beacon. Four Pillars Gin, Your Mates Brewing Co, Heads of Noosa and Better Beer will be on hand as well, so you'll have sipping options. Eating-wise, a heap of food trucks will pop up to keep your stomach lined — including with burgers, paella, tacos and pizza. And as for what else awaits on the corner of Logan and Old Cleveland roads — and during the Labour Day long weekend, handily — there'll also be market stalls via The Market Folks. If you're planning a big one, that public holiday the next day is oh so convenient. Also, entry remains free, but giving a gold coin donation to the MND and Me Foundation is recommended.
What do Saturday Night Live and film festivals have in common? Plenty. No episode of the long-running sketch-comedy series or iteration of a film fest is ever the same twice. Both always feature a helluva cast. At their best, each feels like anything could grace the screen. Here's something else that unites the two in Brisbane in 2024: when the Brisbane International Film Festival returns for this year, it'll open with Saturday Night, the new backstage comedy that recreates how SNL's first-ever episode came to be. BIFF is back, running from Thursday, October 24–Sunday, November 3 — and launching with a film about SNL's premiere that's directed by Juno, Young Adult, Tully and Ghostbusters: Afterlife's Jason Reitman. The Fabelmans' Gabriel LaBelle plays Lorne Michaels, leading a cast that includes Dylan O'Brien (Fantasmas) as Dan Aykroyd, Ella Hunt (Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1) as Gilda Radner, Matthew Rhys (IF) as George Carlin and Matt Wood (Instinct) as John Belushi as well. Also featuring in Saturday Night: Finn Wolfhard (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire), Rachel Sennott (The Idol), Kaia Gerber (Palm Royale), JK Simmons (The Union), Cooper Hoffman (Licorice Pizza), Lamorne Morris (Fargo), Nicholas Braun (Dream Scenario) and Willem Dafoe (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice). The full BIFF program for 2024 will be unveiled on Thursday, September 26, but the fest has dropped a few other details for now. While Saturday Night will launch this year's cinema celebration, the Australian premiere of documentary Unbreakable: The Jelena Dokic Story will close it. The tennis star herself chats about her experiences, including as a refugee and in her chosen sport, with Pam Shriver and Lindsay Davenport among the other interviewees — and Dokic will be at the screening. BIFF has also revealed where it'll be screening, bringing its lineup to six cinemas around the city. Movie lovers, you'll be heading to Palace Barracks, Dendy Coorparoo and Dendy Powerhouse — so, outdoor screenings must be on the bill — as well as Reading Newmarket, Five Star Cinemas New Farm and Angelika Film Centre. 2024 marks 32 years since BIFF first launched in 1992, as well as its fourth year under Film Fantastic, which is also behind the Gold Coast Film Festival. After a stable first 20 years, the fest has been through a chaotic past decade. It was unceremoniously cancelled after its 2013 fest in favour of the short-lived Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival, then revived by Palace Cinemas in 2017, and then run by the Gallery of Modern Art from 2018–20 before falling under Film Fantastic's remit. The 2o24 Brisbane International Film Festival runs between Thursday, October 24–Sunday, November 3 at Palace Barracks, Dendy Coorparoo, Dendy Powerhouse, Reading Newmarket, Five Star Cinemas New Farm and Angelika Film Centre. For further information, or to buy tickets, head to the festival website — and check back here on Thursday, September 26 for the full program.
We all like to feel like a rockstar every once in a while. It's why we suit up to head to the theatre, to that new restaurant, or for a night out with your favourites. But true rockstars also live the lifestyle at home, not just in the VIP room of a nightclub. With help from our partner Moët & Chandon, we've come up with seven creative ways to lift your hosting game at your next dinner party or take your chilled out night on the couch to absolute baller status. Just think of us as your personal assistant, which is very Mick Jagger of you. [caption id="attachment_657569" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Trent van der Jadt[/caption] ORDER IN, BUT MAKE IT GOURMET A low-key night at home bingeing the latest season of Peaky Blinders or Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (no judgement here) doesn't have to mean a microwaved dinner and a $7 bottle of wine. When you're living it up, the world is your oyster — or your perfectly cut rectangle of raw tuna. Order a sushi or sashimi platter, edamame and all, from your favourite Japanese joint (check out our picks of the best ones in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne), and instead of pairing it with a beer, pop open a bottle of Moët & Chandon Rosé Champagne. The minerality and acidity of the wine pairs well with the freshness of the fish. To make the night extra special, hook up one of those little projectors to your laptop and, voila, you have your own in-house cinema. [caption id="attachment_758794" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Daria Shevtsova[/caption] DIY YOUR NEXT BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH Bottomless brunches are all the rage right now. It seems like every bar or cafe offers a similar deal, but instead of arranging to meet your mates in the city we're betting you can do it one better at home. Invite your crew around for a feast with stacks of fluffy pancakes, bowls of fresh fruit, sticky maple syrup and bottles of rosé champagne. Keep the pancakes warm and fresh by covering them with a clean tea towel and popping them in a 90-degree oven until you're ready to eat. Keep the bubbles on ice and don't forget the strawberries for your pancakes. [embed]https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX1tyCD9QhIWF[/embed] GET SOME SWAG TUNES GOING Whether you're having people round for brekkie, lunch, dinner or wine and cheese, it's crucial to pick the right tracks to create the right mood. Put together your own list of tunes, or have a scroll through Spotify. There really is something for every occasion — like this selection of bossa nova covers for your next dinner soiree, or these summer jazz jams ideal for when you're sipping bubbles on your balcony on a warm afternoon. For something a little louder, there's a poolside party mix, all of rock's biggest legends in one playlist, and these bangers (above) that'll make you feel like a boss. Don't be shy with the soundsystem and crank up the music. [caption id="attachment_758750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Erik Dungan[/caption] TAKE YOUR CHARCUTERIE PLATTER TO THE NEXT LEVEL The high life is about having the best of the best, so head to your local deli for some proper charcuterie — try La Parisienne Pates in Melbourne, Omeio Artisanal Deli in Sydney and Brisbane's Rosalie Gourmet Market. Moët & Chandon Rosé Champagne pairs remarkably well with cheese and red meat, as it's made by mixing pinot noir and meunier grapes the flavour combinations work with mortadella, jamon and prosciutto, as much as they would with strawberries, olives and a fragrant goat's cheese. [caption id="attachment_758779" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Rene Asmussen[/caption] HIRE A PRIVATE CHEF Save yourself from a cooking disaster and hire a professional to get the job done. Do you think Post Malone, Lizzo or the guys from Metallica do their own cooking when hosting a dinner party? Definitely not. There are plenty of services around Australia that will help you find a personal chef for your occasion, and the prices often match what you'd spend on a meal at restaurant — except this time there's no reason to rush you through your courses. Plus, you have the benefit of looking like a rockstar to all your guests. Check out At Your Table or Take A Chef, who operate around the country, or Intertain, which is available in Sydney and Melbourne only. [caption id="attachment_734878" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mud Australia[/caption] GO OTT WITH YOUR TABLE SETTING It's not enough to hire a private chef and pick the perfect playlist if you're going to serve food on a mismatched selection of op-shop plates. Start with a dark linen tablecloth, cloth napkins and personalised place cards, so your guests feel like rockstars too. Make sure you have matching crockery — you can get some gorgeous sets to suit all budgets from places like Kmart and Ikea, but when you want to invest in quality tableware we suggest shopping at Made In Japan or Mud Australia. Finish it off with candles, metallic cutlery, fresh-cut blooms and, if you're dining al fresco, Moët & Chandon rosé goblets. [caption id="attachment_758791" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bruce Mars[/caption] TURN LEFTOVERS INTO A MIDNIGHT SNACK FIT FOR A KING Nothing makes you feel like a grub quite like snacking straight from the fridge in the middle of the night. It's time to give midnight snacking the respect it deserves. It doesn't have to be a three-course meal, but you can easily revamp your leftovers by reheating them in the oven (never the microwave), throwing together an omelette, casserole or salad — or just sticking with cold pizza. Whatever you come up with, do yourself a favour — set the table, pop on some tunes, use a plate and pour yourself a glass of rosé champagne (if you didn't already polish off the bottle). Moët & Chandon's Rosé Impérial is a fruity and elegant champagne with gooseberry, raspberry and wild strawberry notes. Find out more here.
Celebrities use Twitter to rave about who they're sitting next to at the Oscars, teens use Twitter to 'follow' the celebrities, and the remaining account-holders use Twitter to let everyone else know exactly what they're doing at any given moment of the day. However this January and February Twitter became much more than a social network to let your friends know what you had for breakfast — just ask the thousands of young activists in Egypt whose tweets resulted in an unprecedented method of recording history as it happened right before their eyes. Tweets from Tahrir documents each day of the violent revolution in Egypt that ended hundreds of lives, focusing on the uprisings in Cairo's Tahrir Square. The twist: every word and picture of the book is taken from tweets posted by Egyptians either in the heat of conflict or prior to staging a revolution, capturing instant reactions to the demonstrations like no other form of journalism has been able to. Quite the change from updates about Lady Gaga's outfit. Activists Alex Nunns and Nadia Idle edited the 160 pages full of uncensored fear, distress and eventually the excitement of victory, and have organized the 140-character tweets into chronological order, allowing readers to fully grasp the ups and downs of the historic events as they happened. This groundbreaking compilation of 'citizen journalism' will be published on April 21, and readers will be able to experience the drama and ecstasy of the story as it unfolded.
Art galleries come in so many different forms these days. Big and small, independent or state run, well publicised as well as secretive. It’s hard to know where to begin for those who wish to observe the work of the creatively inclined. However if you are looking for a gallery to peruse without the fuss of a major exhibition, paid parking and waiting lines, West End is currently housing Addition 2 – and we literally mean housing. Located in the Addition Artist-Run Initiative on Hardgrave Road this exhibition will be showcasing the work of local artists Kiah Reading, Pirrin Francis and Felix Fox, as they explore the vast ideas of balance, reverence and imagination. Opening night will also involve a special workshop led by Nat Koyama and Kathryn Danger Sawyer as they discuss the developed pieces with the three artists, offering a glimpse into their personal creative minds - something bigger galleries often lack.
Rooftop bars — who doesn’t love 'em? Climbing up to the highest reaches of a building (preferably by elevator), grabbing a drink and kicking back while gazing out over the city below. Bliss. Brisbane already has its fair share of lofty establishments, however The Point is raising the stakes with their new rooftop bar. Coming soon, Eagles Nest is the newest member of the high-flying Brisbane bar scene. Those eager to wind down their weekends with an applaudable view will be flocking to Kangaroo Point to sip chilled champagne, enjoy the river breeze and take in that glorious sunset. After renovations in 2011, the hotel destined to become the favourite haunt of many continues to impress; with Eagles Nest its latest feature. A certain feather in The Point's cap, the top floor space offers Sunday afternoons of refreshing beverages and live music by duo 3rd Above, all set against a stunning panoramic backdrop of the city, the Story Bridge and New Farm. Other bars enjoy vantage points looking out over Brisbane, sure, but nowhere else has a view like this. Opening at 4pm on February 15, Eagles Nest is purely a Sunday affair, but that doesn't mean they're not making their one trading day of the week something special. Partnering with Moet and Chandon, Moet 'Ice' Imperial — the first champagne created to be served on ice — is the venue's drink of choice. Those with a taste for other tipples can choose from contemporary and classic cocktails, a comprehensive wine list, and local and imported ales. Find Eagles Nest Brisbane on the top floor of 21 Lambert Street, Kangaroo Point. Visit their website for more information.
Brisbane movie lovers, prepare to be spoiled for choice when it comes to getting your next big-screen fix. With Sydney out of lockdown and Melbourne likely to do the same this month, cinemas across the country are being inundated with high-profile features — and, with film festivals showing them. One such event getting the projectors whirring is the annual British Film Festival, which'll bring its 31-movie lineup of Brit flicks to Palace James Street and Palace Centro between Wednesday, November 3–Wednesday, December 1. Gracing the fest's titles is a who's who of UK acting talent, so if you're a fan of The Crown's Olivia Colman, Claire Foy and Josh O'Connor — or of everyone from Jamie Dornan, Colin Firth, Judi Dench and Benedict Cumberbatch to Helen Mirren, Michael Caine, Joanna Lumley and Peter Capaldi — you'll be spying plenty of familiar faces. The festival will open with true tale The Duke, starring Mirren and Jim Broadbent, with the latter playing a 60-year-old taxi driver who stole a portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. From there, highlights include the Kenneth Branagh-directed Belfast, about growing up in 1960s Northern Ireland; Last Night in Soho, Edgar Wright's new thriller featuring Anya Taylor-Joy and Thomasin McKenzie; romantic period drama Mothering Sunday, with Colman, Firth and O'Connor; and Best Sellers, a literary comedy with Michael Caine and Aubrey Plaza. Or, there's also Stardust, a biopic about the one and only David Bowie — and The Electrical Life of Louis Wan, about the eponymous artist, with Cumberbatch and Foy leading the cast. Opera singing in the Scottish highlands drives the Lumley-starring Falling for Figaro, which also features Australian Patti Cake$ actor Danielle Macdonald; Benediction marks the return of filmmaker Terence Davies (Sunset Song), this time focusing on English poet and soldier Siegfried Sassoon; and Firth pops up again in World War II-set drama Operation Mincemeat with Succession's Matthew Macfadyen. Plus, To Olivia dramatises Roald Dahl's marriage to Oscar-winning actress Patricia Neal, Stephen Fry explores bubbly booze in documentary Sparkling: The Story of Champagne, and novelist Jackie Collins also gets the doco treatment. And, as part of the British Film Festival's retrospective lineup, Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange and Barry Lyndon will grace the big screen — the former in a 4K restoration to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
What do Alfred Hitchcock, Jennifer Lopez and the Fast and Furious franchise all have in common? And Stanley Kubrick, Ryan Gosling, Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino, too? The heist genre, that's what. Whether focusing on scams, swindles or just good ol'-fashioned thefts, heist flicks just keep gracing cinema screens — from applauded filmmakers, starring dazzling talent and slotting into blockbuster franchises. Here's something else that all of the above names share, too: they're each on the bill at The Art of the Heist, the Gallery of Modern Art's two-month season dedicated films about thievery. From Friday, April 29–Sunday, June 26, screening on Wednesday and Friday nights, plus Saturday and Sunday during the day, this Australian Cinémathèque movie season will showcase 35 pictures that see folks get light-fingered in various ways and places. Some serve up heist capers, others deliver heist comedies, and more still overflow with heist thrills. There's even two Steven Soderbergh-directed heist standouts — Ocean's 11 and Logan Lucky, of course. Other highlights include classics Rififi, Bob le Flambeur and Bande à part; high-profile 60s hits The Thomas Crown Affair and The Italian Job; the original (and best) version of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three; and the sublime 1981 masterpiece Thief. Or, there's Australia's own Malcolm, QT's Reservoir Dogs, Al Pacino in both Dog Day Afternoon and Heat, and the recent likes of Hustlers, Widows and Kajillionaire. This season is ticketed — but costing between $7–10, those tix feel like a steal.
Brisbane artist Timothy L is inviting you into the world of outsiders, the fringe dwellers and those who live on the edge. These are the lives little known to us that exist in ‘the middle’, these are stories of those who live in worlds that are unknown, out of bounds or forgotten. Stories of people who dwell behind locked doors, in darkened subway tunnels, in drains and alleyways. Using photography, visual artworks and the written word, artist Timothy L has captured the stories of those lesser known. The outsider stories Timothy has captured include those of DIY artists, skateboarders, birdwatchers, train spotters, squatters and freight hoppers, asking audiences to ponder ‘the norm’, and the way in which we define our existence. Timothy asks viewers to explore notions of space and place - and the function of them - to ask what makes certain people outsiders and others not. Originally from Melbourne, Timothy L has written and photographed for a range of diverse publications, he has also painted schools in Cambodia, squatted in Barcelona and recently painted for Brisbane’s Flipside Circus and as part of the Valley Fiesta.
You might think you know Richard Ayoade from his time as Maurice Moss in the British comedy The IT Crowd. But did you know he's also an acclaimed director of quirky indie films full of deadpan humour? After smashing it with his debut feature, Submarine, Ayoade's now back with The Double. Based on the novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Double follows Simon James, the timid and nerdy office clerk whose life is completely unenviable. Played by Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Simon reaches breaking point when new co-worker James Simon appears on the scene. Also played by Eisenberg, James excels in all the ways that Simon cannot, being a daring extrovert with confidence and charm. Simon is both James's double, and as it turns out, his polar opposite. Also starring Aussie actor Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, Stoker, The Kids are Alright) and Wallace Shawn (Clueless), The Double premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival and went on to Sundance. It's been praised in early reviews, including by the Playlist, who wrote: "Totally bonkers, hilarious and wickedly clever, The Double is special and singular filmmaking at its best." The Double is in cinemas on Thursday, May 8, and thanks to Madman Films, we have 15 double in-season passes to give away. To be in the running, subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter (if you haven't already), then email us with your name and address. Sydney: win.sydney@concreteplayground.com.au Melbourne: win.melbourne@concreteplayground.com.au Brisbane: win.brisbane@concreteplayground.com.au https://youtube.com/watch?v=_klCoDTHKGg ',width:'1150',height:'700'" width="1150" height="700" align="" />
Cookie-cutter watering holes complete with identical menus, the same five beers on tap and a 1:1 pokie to punter ratio are an increasing scourge on our proud publican tradition. It’s a sad state of affairs but luckily with a little digging there are still plenty of unique experiences to be had in the realm of the 'public house'. This is the beginning of a short series of treks taking in the finest drinking and dining experiences Brisbane has to offer from the comfort of a bar stool. This is the Discerning Person's Pub Crawl - Southside Passage edition. Begin at The Brisbane German Club 416 Vulture Street, Woolloongabba, 3391 24 34, www.brisbanegermanclub.com For maximum effect this journey should begin on a Saturday in the mid-afternoon. That means come 3pm you should be basking in the glorious afternoon sun in the German Club’s front beer garden. This journey contains a few stops, which means sneaking in a pub meal is essential and for quality and price, the German Club is nigh impossible to beat. If you’ve missed lunch the signature Pork Knuckle ($25.90) will satisfy any hunger or delve into any of the other fantastic traditional options including the classic Bratwurst ($16.90). For a sunny afternoon a crisp lager is in order, try the Löwenbräu or the Fischer Helles, both on tap. Stroll 900m to the Brewhouse Brisbane 601 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba, 3891 1011, www.brewhouse.com.au Home to the Brisbane Brewing Co., the extensive roster of microbrewed beers on offer will leave thirsty patrons spoilt for choice. With the sun still up, a refreshingly light-bodied Brisbane Pale Ale is hard to pass up. For the more adventurous beer drinker, the award-winning Up Yer Kilt Scottish Ale, also microbrewed in Brisbane, may be more rewarding. If you gave the food a miss at the German Club, why not try one of seven variations of the humble fried potato from French Fries with Tomato Sauce ($8) to Crispy chats topped with eye fillet strips in mushroom gravy with baby tomatoes, spinach, gravy & goats cheese ($14). 600m Down Stanley Street to The Ship Inn Corner Stanley and Sidon Streets, South Brisbane, 3844 8000, www.theshipinn.com.au Constructed in 1864 and originally point of call for salty sea farers, this venue is now an established dining experience. Housed in a beautifully refurbished vision of it’s original self, this stop offers a fantastic sunset view of the Brisbane River in it’s central South Bank location. The beverage’s on offer are a pretty standard affair, so take this opportunity to cleanse your beer palate with a classic beer you know and love, no judging for reaching for the XXXX here. The food options are a classy take on traditional pub fare and if this is the meal stop for you try the Lamb Shank ($27). 500m through South Bank to The Plough Inn Building 29, Stanley Street Plaza, South Bank Parklands, 3844 7777, www.ploughinn.com.au Another fantastic view awaits at the Plough Inn, also located along South Bank. Pull up a stool in the beer garden and enjoy a beer courtesy of one of Australia’s bigger craft beer houses, Matilda Bay. The Fat Yak or the cloudy I.G.P Ale (Itchy Green Pants, incase you were wondering) are both solid options. If you haven’t eaten by this stage, Hickory Smoked BBQ Pork Ribs ($38) are a must for more than one reason. 800m walk to the Fox Hotel 71/73 Melbourne St, South Brisbane, 3844 2883, www.thefox.com.au Recently renovated, the Fox Hotel is no longer a $2 rubber steak, mass production, overcrowded, poor excuse of a pub. The Meatball Company is in control now and that means fantastic bar food for the discerning man. You can’t go wrong with the beef meatballs served in a smokey tomato sauce ($14) and once you wash it down with something nice and simple from the standard tap choices it's onwards you go. 850m up Boundary Street to your final destination Archive Beer Boutique 100 Boundary St, West End, 3844 3419, www.archivebeerboutique.com.au A fitting end to a journey through the southside of Brisbane, Archive Beer Boutique is perhaps Brisbane's most lauded server of all things yeast, hops and water. The taps at Archive are constantly changing so your best bet is to ask the man in the know, the bartender. If it’s on, the Stone and Wood Pacific Ale is a fantastic way to end your evening. Archive’s bistro menu is full of classic pub food and its hard to pass up the Chicken Schnitzel ($18). Southside Passage complete.
Australia’s answer to Ladyhawke, Catherine Kelleher, aka Catcall, will be making her way to Lambda this month as part of her first headlining national tour to promote her highly anticipated debut album, The Warmest Place. From humble beginnings in DIY punk group Kiosk, Catcall has refined her talents to become one of Australia’s finest pop artists. With sublimely catchy songs, Kelleher has gone from strength to strength and has even been featured on some of the most influential indie music blogs and sites such as Gorilla vs Bear, Rose Quartz, Fader and Mess+Noise gaining widespread praise. Her live shows live up her shiny sound with a tightly knit band and an energetic stage presence. Expect old favourites such as the hazy and soulful ‘Swimming Pool’ and the twinkly-pop ‘Satellites’ as well as brand spanking new tracks such as ‘The World is Ours'. This is no ordinary pop music. The songs have deep meaning and will linger with you long after you hear them. Start practicing your dance moves and head on out to Lambda to this Thursday night to embrace the 80’s pop child within.
With the Greater Brisbane area about to head into a new lockdown from 5pm on Monday, March 29 until the same time on Thursday, April 1, home cooking and takeaway is back on the menu. Fancy the latter more than the former? Spent too much time baking during January's similar stint at home? Eager to order in for any reason possible? If you fall into any of the above categories, and you're keen to both support local eateries and keep an eye on your bank balance, Deliveroo is ditching its delivery fees for orders from most restaurants for three days. From 5pm on Monday, March 29 until the end of Wednesday, March 31, the service is doing free delivery from a hefty range of Brissie restaurants. And we mean hefty, with the deal available across more than 1000 eateries in the Brisbane area. The aim: to encourage Brisbanites to help local restaurants during this second 2021 stay-at-home period and, because that's the world we live in, to help stop panic buying at supermarkets as well. To ensure that all of the eateries involved aren't missing out on revenue or left out of pocket, Deliveroo is footing the bill for the discounted amount, too. If you're suddenly hungry, you'll need to place an order via the Deliveroo app from 5pm today. And if you're what's on the menu, Sushi Kotobuki, Arrivederci Pizzeria and Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers are some of the eateries participating in the free delivery deal. Deliveroo is doing free delivery from 1000-plus Brisbane eateries from 5pm on Monday, March 29 until the end of Wednesday, March 31. To make an order, head to the Deliveroo app.
Keen for an overseas holiday as soon as you can possibly take one? Aren't we all — and Australians can now add Singapore to their list of international destinations. A quarantine-free travel arrangement between the two countries was first floated back in March, and it'll finally kick in on Monday, November 8. At present, this'll be a one-way setup, allowing double-vaccinated Australians to enter Singapore without quarantining. Dubbed a 'vaccinated travel lane (VTL)' by Singaporean authorities, it'll commence just a week after Australia's international border restrictions ease to once again permit Aussies to leave the country for holidays. Here's how the VTL will work: if you've had two jabs, you can enter Singapore without quarantining, although you will need to undergo COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing. If you're travelling with kids aged 12 years and under who aren't vaxxed, they'll be allowed to enter Singapore, too — as long as you're double-vaccinated. Obviously, double-vaxxed Aussies will be allowed to return back to Australia after their Singapore trips; however, Australia isn't opening up to overseas holidaymakers as yet — which is why it's a one-way arrangement Singapore has already established VTLs with a range of countries, including Germany, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom and the US. Switzerland will also join the arrangement on November 8, with South Korea following on November 15. When it was first suggested at the beginning of 2021, the Australia–Singapore arrangement was expected to start in July, but that clearly didn't happen. Then, in June, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison met with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong, with the pair releasing a joint statement affirming that they were working towards the travel arrangement. Singapore follows countries such as Fiji and Thailand in revealing when they're reopening to holidaying Australians. If you're currently thinking about booking flights, Qantas has already announced fares from Sydney from Tuesday, November 23. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
In Blackrock, a night of beachside booze-swilling fun ends with more than a hangover when a young woman is found dead the next morning. Many a murder-mystery and crime thriller has started this way, but Nick Enright's stunning classic isn't any old tale of lives lost, witnesses scared and a community scrambling — it draws its drama from real-life events. Enright first penned a play called A Property of the Clan back in 1992, which was inspired by the murder of a 14-year-old in 1989. It became Blackrock, which was initially staged in 1995, and then turned into a movie in 1997. Indeed, the latter marked the first credited film appearance of Heath Ledger. Now, two decades after the film adaptation, La Boite is joining forces with QUT Creative Industries for a new version of one of the most powerful pieces of Aussie theatre from the past three decades. The uni's final year acting students join forces with veteran performers to bring the haunting tale back to life, creating a must-see production that touches upon everything from small-town malaise to cultures of violence to class and generational conflicts.
Pastry fans of Brisbane, it's time to get excited — because Lune Croissanterie will launch its first-ever Brissie shopfront in early August. It's been a big nine years for the brand, after starting a tiny store in the Melbourne suburb of Elwood in 2012. Since then, Lune has grown into a converted warehouse space in Fitzroy (with perpetual lines out the front), opened a second store in the CBD and was even dubbed "the finest you will find anywhere in the world" by The New York Times. Late in 2020, founder Kate Reid, who co-owns Lune with her brother Cameron and restaurateur Nathan Toleman (Dessous, Hazel, Common Ground Project), confirmed that the brand had signed the lease on space in South Brisbane to expand their empire to the Sunshine State — and permanently. Now, that new venue is set to open on Fish Lane before winter is out. The Brisbane site will mark Lune's first outside of Melbourne, and will serve up the pastries that have earned it such a following down south. An ex-Formula 1 aerodynamicist, Reid brings scientific precision to her craft, including the climate-controlled glass cube that Lune croissants are made and baked in, and the time-consuming process used to perfect each flaky pastry. The Brisbane store will become the chain's Brisbane's flagship store — obviously with a menu of Lune Croissanterie favourites. Coffee will be on offer as well, and Brisbanites can look forward to a range of specials that'll rotate monthly. The Lune team also has plans in the works to open a Sydney store, but they have been pushed back due to COVID-19 restrictions. Our mouths and stomachs are ready for twice-baked croissant aux amandes (stuffed with almond frangipane and generously topped with flaked almonds) and the Ferrero cruffin: a muffin-croissant hybrid filled with hazelnut and chocolate custard, dipped in chocolate ganache and sprinkled with roasted hazelnuts. Oh, and Lune's perfectly flaky traditional croissant, of course. Lune Croissanterie's flagship South Brisbane store will open its doors in Fish Lane in early August 2021. We'll let you know when an exact date is announced. Images: Marcie Raw.
Did you know Australia is the world's seventh-largest market for champagne? And, because we never do anything by halves, we're also the largest consumers of champagne per person outside Europe. We also seek quality over quantity, with drinkers choosing sparkling and champagne from vineyards with high quality vines. Avid champagne drinkers may have noticed an increasing number of rosé champagnes in their favourite bars and bottle shops, too. This is thanks to a rosé revolution — a surge in popularity for not only still pink wines but also for sparkling and champagne rosé — which is why we've partnered with Moët & Chandon to bring you a quick guide to the complex drink that can range from amber to hibiscus pink in colour, and from red currant to strawberry in flavour, and pair surprisingly well with sashimi and roast chicken. Read on to find out why your next glass of champagne should be pink. [caption id="attachment_760242" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pinot meunier grapes; Fred Laures[/caption] PINK CHAMPAGNE IS MORE COMPLEX THAN YOU THINK It's also drier and has layers of flavour. Winemakers use red wine grapes pinot noir and pinot meunier as the basis for rosé champagne; they take the intensity and structure of the pinot noir and combine it with the opulent flavours of meunier — think wild strawberry and cranberry characters — which creates a champagne that has freshness as well as layers of flavour. [caption id="attachment_758615" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lasseter Winery[/caption] IT'S THE ONLY TIME WINEMAKERS ARE PERMITTED TO BLEND RED AND WHITE WINES No, really. Making rosé champagne is the only time when it is permitted to blend still red wine and still white wine together to make rosé. The process is called rosé d'assemblage and winemakers combine a percentage of red wine (usually pinot noir or meunier) with the cuvée. Taking it a step further, Moët & Chandon trains its winemakers to master the specific techniques necessary to make red wines, giving them a devoted space, amenities and resources to allow them to focus on the nuances of crafting red wine. No other rosé champagne producer in the Champagne region has taken comparable steps. ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE DATES BACK TO THE 1700s The first documentation of rosé champagne was on March 14, 1764. It was discovered in entries from historic champagne house Ruinart's accounts book, which detailed a shipment of "a basket of 120 bottles", 60 bottles of which were Oeil de Perdrix ("Eye of the Partridge"), refers to "a delicate pink coppery colour." Some champagne houses like Moët & Chandon are celebrating their 43rd vintage of rosé champagne. IT PAIRS WITH MORE THAN JUST OYSTERS Rosé champagne comes alive with food. There's a common misconception that both champagne and rosé champagne should only be drunk at the beginning of a meal (with oysters or as an aperitif), but ask any sommelier or champagne lover and they will tell you that the vibrancy and delicate lines of acid are perfect for freshening the palate after foods like roasted pork, cured meats, or even after devouring a delicious burger. It makes the ideal brunch wine alongside fruit platters, which highlight the wine's natural fruit characters, and its minerality and acidity pairs well with a smoked salmon blini. Get creative and come up with a few unusual pairings at home. [caption id="attachment_762305" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anna Kucera[/caption] THE POP PRESSURE IS INTENSE The pressure in a bottle of rosé champagne (or any champagne for that matter) is equivalent to three times the pressure in your average car tyre (around 96psi) — which is why you should never take your hand off the cork when opening a bottle. This pressure is created through the process of fermentation within the bottle; when the yeast eats all the natural sugar in the grapes to produce alcohol, carbon dioxide is the by-product of this process and it gets trapped within the bottles of champagne. In rosé champagne the result is delicate pink bubbles that dance on your tongue. TWENTY PERCENT OF MOËT & CHANDON CHAMPAGNES ARE PINK One in five bottles (or around 20 percent of champagne production) from Moët & Chandon House is rosé. It takes the crafting and production of the blend very seriously. Its focus on higher quality champagnes shines through in the wine, which shows various vinous characters in different vintages with each new release. The non-vintage (NV) styles are made to a 'house style' and are consistent from year to year. [caption id="attachment_760219" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moet and Chandon Vineyards at the Loge Mont Aigu[/caption] IT'S (SURPRISINGLY) EXCEPTIONAL VALUE FOR MONEY Truly. Hear us out. Only the most outstanding pinot noir grapes, harvested from the House's own highly rated premier crus and grands crus vineyards (read: highly rated in French classification terms), are made into the red wines to be blended into Moët & Chandon's Grand Vintage Rosé Champagne. So you're always guaranteed incomparable quality every time you pop a bottle open. Moët & Chandon's Rosé Impérial is a fruity and elegant champagne with gooseberry, raspberry and wild strawberry notes. Find out more here. Top image: Boudewijn Boer.
What do you do when wild weather hits, Brisbanites? Watch the radar to see just when and where it'll strike? Stay glued to your couch? Come up with a new festival of contemporary dance? We're guessing only two folks can claim the latter, although everyone can enjoy the end result. Yes, things are about to get stormy on the stage instead of in the sky (although, given that it's summer, the latter is still likely to happen too). From February 18 to 25, SUPERCELL: Festival of Contemporary Dance Brisbane will take over the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, as co-founded and curated by Kate Usher and Glyn Roberts. The fresh venture celebrates Queensland's place in the dance world by bringing together local and international artists, performances, workshops and conversations. Highlights include a five-woman piece from Switzerland's Simone Truong; a triple bill by Australia's Bridget Fiske and the UK's Joseph Lau; dancers from China, Indonesia and around Australia; and a three-day workshop with Gold Coast outfit The Farm. SUPERCELL: Festival of Contemporary Dance Brisbane runs from February 18 to 25 at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts. For more information, visit the festival website.
From Monday through till Friday each and every week, the aroma of freshly made coffee wafts from Botero House. Come Tuesday, June 1, we expect that it'll smell a little stronger. Just for this specific date, the CBD cafe will be serving up free brews — so expect its baristas to be busy. The free coffee is in honour of winter. It's no longer coming — it's here. Really, that's as good a reason as any to share the hot caffeinated beverages around, although Botero's new app is also launching as well Unsurprisingly, there is a caveat: to nab the coffee, you need to download the app from the App Store or via Google Play. The first 1500 people to do just that will get a $7 credit in their account to use for their free coffee — but only on June 1. Still any free coffee is better than no free coffee, especially when you're on your way to work, craving your morning hit and not really feeling like you're awake just yet. And if you're an early bird, good news — the Adelaide Street cafe opens at 6.15am on weekdays. [caption id="attachment_590382" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Botero[/caption]
As well as having a catchy name, Kangaroo Point's One Fish Two Fish always serves up a decent catch. If you're fond of shellfish, you'll particularly agree with that statement throughout April and May. Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the end of the autumn, the seafood eatery is focusing on crab and crayfish. Unlike in previous years, the special is available for lunch in 2021 — so get ready to treat yo'self with a fancy five-course midday meal. There are two Crab and Cray Cray options: with booze or without. The first costs $69, and the second $99 — with the latter covering a two-hour beer and rosé package. Whichever one tempts your tastebuds, you'll tuck into Fraser Isle spanner crab bisque, crayfish rolls with saffron mayonnaise and brown butter, more spanner crab — but in a warm soba noodle salad — and blue swimmer crab with potato and bacon hash. For dessert, a warm white chocolate blondie with raspberries and passionfruit is on the menu (and yes, that's the one course that doesn't include crayfish or crab). Bookings are essential by contacting the venue, with sittings from 12–2pm and 2.30–4.30pm.
Is it just us or has the concept of romantic dinner dates gotten a little stale? When did dating get pigeonholed to just romantic dinners anyway? While we're all for enjoying a good meal, when it comes to scheduling your next date, we recommend opting for something a bit more adventurous instead. Brisbane is brimming with plenty of options to get your heart racing and take your relationship to the next level. Whether it's your first date or your 31st, inject a little excitement into your next outing with your special someone. We've taken care of the heavy lifting with this adventure-packed itinerary, in partnership with Adrenaline. You and your lover can thank us later. [caption id="attachment_720391" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Matthew Taylor, Tourism Events Queensland[/caption] START YOUR DAY WITH A SUNRISE HIKE There's no better way to start a full day with your bae than watching the sunrise with the cityscape in the background. Kick the date off nice and early with a hike up Mount Coot-tha. Just a short drive from the CBD, Mount Coot-tha is home to some of the most scenic hiking trails in Brisbane. Our favourite is the Summit Track, which will take you all the way up to the observation deck. The view alone makes for a great reward after sweating it out on the hilly terrain below. Time it perfectly and you'll bear witness to a killer sunrise as the city wakes up. [caption id="attachment_694715" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sean Fennessy[/caption] REFUEL WITH BRUNCH ON JAMES STREET All that exercise is sure to get your appetite up, or at least have you in desperate need of a caffeine hit. Make your way to James Street, where the people-watching is equally as impressive as the dining and shopping. Head to Lobby Bar, on the ground floor of The Calile Hotel — easily one of the most celebrated (and photogenic) hotels our city has — for a breakfast that's as delicious as it is aesthetically pleasing. Here, plush interiors are rivalled only by the menu — think fresh seasonal fruit platters, granola, and house-made crepes served with your choice of Nutella, strawberry compote, or salted caramel. TAKE A SCENIC HELICOPTER FLIGHT TO A WINERY How does the thought of arriving at a winery in your own personal helicopter sound? Bougie, right? Take your romance — and your lunch plans — to new heights with a scenic helicopter flight to Sirromet Winery. As you depart from Archerfield Airport, travelling at a deceivingly steady 270 kilometres-per-hour, take in the incredible views of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Mount Cotton and even the Gold Coast in the distance. It sure makes for one scenic flight. Once you arrive at Sirromet, you'll have 90 minutes to spend as you please. You can opt to dine at one of the two on-site restaurants or enjoy a leisurely wine tasting, where you'll expand your knowledge as you sample the award-winning Granite Belt wines — try the 2019 Tempo Verita Montepulciano. Or, you could do a full winery tour. The choice is yours, but these are an additional cost, so make sure you make a reservation before you take off. GET COMPETITIVE WITH A ROUND OF DARTS There's nothing wrong with adding a little healthy competition to your date. And what better way to really get to know your partner than with a friendly game of darts? At Oche, it's not about the game, it's about the experience. But this is no ordinary darts board you'd find in your local pub. Oche is a high-tech alternative that takes the simple game to the next level. Rustic yet luxe interiors — we're talking dark wood panelling, red leather bench seats, and 14 cosy booths to take your pick from — really add to the vibe. Once you've been assigned a booth, it's game on. The best part? Since it's all electronic, you don't have to keep track of your score, which also means less opportunity for cheating. And should you need a little extra energy to hit the bullseye, there's an extensive food and drinks menu on offer. FINISH YOUR DAY WITH SUNSET DRINKS We're spoiled for choice when it comes to new bar and restaurant openings here in sunny Brisbane. And the latest to arrive on the scene certainly doesn't disappoint. Perched on the legendary Kangaroo Point cliffs, Joey's is the perfect spot to unwind from your action-packed adventure date with a cocktail in hand — there are five spritzes, three margaritas and a bunch of other cocktails to choose between. Be transported to Palm Springs with the charming decor, while you take in the unparalleled 180-degree view of the city skyline. Feeling peckish? Take your pick from woodfired pizzas, prawn sandwiches, or mezze boards perfect for sharing. To explore all of the Adrenaline experiences available in Brisbane and beyond, head over here. Top image: Oche
Gelatissimo brought us ice cream for dogs, a Weet-Bix flavour and a 100-percent vegan range and, now, for Easter it's getting suitably paschal. It's not only releasing a new flavour, but it's giving it away for free. The gelato chain has just launched a new Choc Cross Bun flavour, which, like its name suggests, combines traditional hot cross bun spices, chocolate gelato and chunks of actual chocolate hot cross buns. You can pick this up from one the gelato chain's 37 Aussie stores nationwide, or get it delivered to your door via UberEats, Deliveroo or DoorDash (yes, it's almost as omnipresent as God himself). It's giving away free tubs of this new flavour, too. In a new initiative called Scoop It Forward, Gelatissimo is inviting you to nominate someone who deserves some free dessert. So, if you've got a friend or family member who is working as a health professional, had to cancel their holidays or has just had a tough week, now may be the time to brighten up their month with a little bit of sweetness. You just need to head on over to the Gelatissimo website between now and midnight on Monday, April 13, add in some details about the person you think deserves free Choc Cross Bun gelato and the company will deliver as many boxes as they can to deserving folk across the country. It'll also be kicking off its Easter giving by donating some tubs to the nurses at the Prince of Wales Hospital. To nominate someone for free Choc Cross Bun gelato, head over to the Gelatissimo website before midnight on Monday, April 13. You can buy some for yourself over here.
Why drink at one watering hole, when you can head to two, three, six or nine? That's always been the motivation behind everyone's favourite boozy journey, aka a pub crawl. And, it's the exact same type of thinking behind the Urban Wine Walk. Taking another wander around Brisbane, it's the bar-hopping excuse every vino lover needs — if you need an excuse, that is. From midday until 4pm on Saturday, November 20, you'll saunter around the CBD — and between the likes of La Valle, The Prince Consort, Savile Row, Bisou Bisou, Gerard's Bar and more — sampling wines and having a mighty fine time. As for the tipples at each of the nine spots, they'll be taken care of by a heap of top wineries such as Gerler Wines, Noisy Ritual, La Petite Mort and Clandestine Vineyards, so prepare to get sipping. Tickets cost $79.99, and are on sale now, with places limited. This moving cellar door will not only serve up around 27 wine tastings, but also your own tasting glass — plus a voucher for some food.
Coming up at the University Art Museum at the University of Queensland is an exciting exhibition fresh from the National Gallery of Australia. Defying the traditional divide between gallery and ‘other’ art, the UAM will present Space Invaders, an Australian street art retrospective. Think of street art and the mind most likely jumps to international street artists Banksy, Blek le Rat, Shepard Fairey and Swoon, whose works embrace the stencilling technique so common among street artists of today. Lesser known is that Australia itself has a strong street art culture and has produced a number of innovative and now internationally recognised artists. Whilst street art is certainly a slightly newer phenomenon in Australia as compared to the United Kingdom and the United States, Australian street art has grown out of a hip-hop graffiti culture that has been around since the 1980s. Artists utilise mediums such as stencilling, paste-ups, stickers and posters, often to challenge paradigmatic social norms and initiate social and political change. This is done either through overt methods (Meek’s Keep your coins, I want change) or through the strategic positioning of works in an urban environment. Space Invaders will bring together 150 works from over 40 Australian street artists, including Reks, Anthony Lister, Adrian Doyle, Sync, and James Dodd.
Spending your Saturday night in a laundromat isn't most people's idea of a good time. Understandably so, but let The Ironing Maidens convince you otherwise. You won't be doing any washing or drying from 7pm on June 16 — rather, you'll be catching an electronic music performance that's based around housework, complete with on-theme advertising samples, actual laundry sounds and lyrics that probe gender roles. The Ironing Maidens have won awards, toured local and international festivals, and generally wowed crowds by using ironing boards as instruments — and now they're hitting up the Morningside Laundromat on Wynnum Road. It's part of their latest tour, which, as you might've guessed, only involves places where you'd normally wait for your clothes to finish their spin cycle. As for their story, The Ironing Maidens main duo Patty Preece and Melania Jack have taken inspiration from British composer and electronic music pioneer Daphne Oram, the first woman to direct an electronic music studio back in the 1950s. Accordingly, you'll not only witness an inventive and unique live performance, but you'll be paying homage to a part of history you probably didn't know about.
