J-horror fans, rejoice: Australia's Japanese Film Festival is back for 2023, and it boasts a couple of highlights for lovers of scary cinema. If you're a fan of Japan's contribution to frightening flicks, then The Forbidden Play is your first must-see. Behind the lens is Hideo Nakata, the director of 1998's iconic Ringu, aka the movie that helped spark a global obsession (and the American spinoffs, too). This time, the filmmaker tells of a son wanting to bring his mother back to life, so much so that he keeps chanting a resurrection spell that awakens something evil. This year's JFF isn't just about unsettling titles, but it does also feature Immersion, which hails from Ju-On: The Grudge director Takashi Shimizu (who also helmed the first US remake starring Sarah Michelle Gellar). In his latest effort, he's playing with grudges again, as well as traditional Japanese superstitions, virtual reality and a secluded island — which is never a good setting for a horror film. In Brisbane, the 2023 festival arrives in October — and in two parts. One of the delightful aspects about this film festival is its two-pronged approach, giving both recent and retrospective titles their own time to shine. So, classics will get a spin at QAGOMA from Friday, October 6–Sunday, October 8 and also on Wednesday, October 11, then new releases at Palace Barracks from Wednesday, October 18–Sunday, October 22. Officially opening the event for 2023: We're Broke, My Lord!, a character-driven story about an unexpected inheritance from director Tetsu Maeda (And So the Baton Is Passed). From there, audiences can also look forward to the aforementioned to J-horror pictures; the animated Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom; Citizen Kitano's tribute to actor, comedian and filmmaker Takeshi Kitano (Outrage Coda); and Yokaipedia, which is about three boys on a monster-filled quest. Fellow standouts include Yudo: The Way of the Bath, a comedy about bathhouse rituals; romance We Made a Beautiful Bouquet; Natchan's Little Secret, where three drag queens head to a funeral; and Single8, with director Kazuya Konaka's paying tribute to filmmaking before the digital era. And, in the special series — aka the fest's retrospective thread — post-war Japanese cinema figure Kо̄ Nakahira is in the spotlight. JFF will screen 1956's Juvenile Jungle and Milkman Frankie, 1957's Temptation, 1962's Danger's Where The Money Is!, and 1963's Mud Spattered Purity, as well as Flora on the Sand, Only on Mondays and The Hunter's Diary from 1964, plus 1965's The Black Gambler. Top image: © 2023 IMMERSION Production Committee.
When you've already got 2023's Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or-winner and Venice International Film Festival Golden Lion recipient on your lineup, what comes next? If you're the Brisbane International Film Festival, you fill out your program with impressive flicks from fests around the world, and featuring beloved talents. Two big standouts: All of Us Strangers, as led by Fleabag's Andrew Scott and Aftersun's Paul Mescal — plus Taika Waititi's new movie Next Goal Wins. Both sit on a bill that'll show River City cinephiles 42 features and 18 shorts across 11 movie-filled days in from Thursday, October 26–Sunday, November 5, taking over various Reading, Dendy and Five Star cinemas. Accordingly, BIFF will see the two of the internet's boyfriends grace its screens in the newest effort directed by Weekend and Lean on Pete's Andrew Haigh — and then come to a close with a Michael Fassbender (X-Men: Dark Phoenix)-starring soccer comedy based on the 2014 documentary of the same name. Also a massive highlight: BIFF becoming the latest Australian festival to show Strange Way of Life, aka the most-anticipated short of the year. As well as featuring The Last of Us favourite Pedro Pascal, the 30-minute flick is the newest work by inimitable Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar (Parallel Mothers) and co-stars Ethan Hawke (Moon Knight). The 2023 fest will open with Uproar from New Zealand — then showcase Palme d'Or-anointed Anatomy of a Fall, French director Justine Triet's (Sibyl) drama about an author (Sandra Hüller, Toni Erdmann) accused of her husband's murder; Poor Things from The Favourite's Yorgos Lanthimos, which gives Frankenstein a new take; and Hirokazu Kore-eda's Monster, the prolific helmer's latest on a lengthy resume that also includes Shoplifters and Broker. Other standouts span May December, which hails from Carol filmmaker Todd Haynes, is led by Natalie Portman (Thor: Love and Thunder) and Julianne Moore (Sharper), and dives into a scandal — and also The Royal Hotel from Casting JonBenet and The Assistant helmer Kitty Green, which turns doco Hotel Coolgardie into an Aussie thriller featuring Julia Garner (Ozark) and Jessica Henwick (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery). Hugo Weaving (Love Me) also pops up in that, as well as in The Rooster, which follows a hermit and a cop who form a bond during a crisis. Or, Brisbane movie lovers can check out Housekeeping for Beginners from You Won't Be Alone and Of an Age's Goran Stolevski; German filmmaker Wim Wenders (Submergence) heading to Japan with Perfect Days; Earth Mama, an A24 release by Grammy-nominated music video veteran Savanah Leaf; birth/rebirth, which also riffs on Frankenstein; and Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, a documentary about an Estonian log-cabin sauna. Body-horror film Tiger Stripes is set in the Malaysian jungle and won the 2023 Cannes Critics' Week Grand Prize, Riceboy Sleeps spends time with a Korean single mother and her son as they start a new life in Canada in the 90s, and Sunflower spins a coming-of-age tale in the Melbourne suburbs — plus Australia's You'll Never Find Me centres on a caravan resident, a surprise visitor and a thunderstorm. The list goes on, complete with the talk show-set horror Late Night with the Devil; The Ending Goes Forever: The Screamfeeder Story, focusing on of Brisbane's 90s indie-music favourites; You Should Have Been Here Yesterday's look at the early days of Aussie surf culture; the Randall Park (Strays)-directed comedy Shortcomings; and homegrown festive comedy A Savage Christmas. Peering backwards, BIFF's lineup also features retrospective sessions of 1950'sThe Munekata Sisters, 1963's Contempt and 2002's Rabbit-Proof Fence.
If pink drinks are your favourite beverages to sip — and basking in stunning river views is your favourite way to spend an afternoon, too — then a waterside date filled with tipples by Brisbane's ol' brown snake should definitely be in your future. That's all on the agenda at Customs House, which is celebrating the warmer weather by turning its terrace into a Moet & Chandon-pouring pop-up rosé garden. It's the Queen Street venue's latest seasonal makeover, and it comes complete with greenery and flowers aplenty (with pops of pink, of course) for you and your mates to hang out in — while peering at the river and knocking back a range of beverages. The drinks list heroes the rosé — sparkling, flat and in creative concoctions, but it isn't the only thing on the menu. You can also enjoy white and red wine, beer and boozy ginger beer. And those cocktails? One pairs sparkling rosé with Dom Bénédictine liqueur, lemon and honey; the other goes with vodka, lychee liqueur, raspberries and lychees. Open Thursdays–Sundays weekly throughout spring from Thursday, September 21 — from 4pm on Thursdays and Fridays and 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays — the walk-in-only pop-up is also serving up a selection of bites to line your stomach. Customs House's beloved Moreton Bay bug croissant is back, as it is every time these gardens return. Or, there's caviar with blinis, wagyu tartare, shellfish platters, oysters, duck terrine and scallop ceviche — and, to match all the rosé, a heap of cheeses.
Brisbane Festival's theatre lineup has been shining especially bright in recent years, after the world-premiere adaptation of Boy Swallow Universe played at the River City arts and culture festival in 2021, then fellow page-to-stage hit Fourteen did the same in 2022. Following them in 2023 is a musical comedy from the songwriting team behind Muriel's Wedding The Musical: Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, who are taking the fest to Bananaland. Created by the pair after their success treading the boards with everyone's favourite Porpoise Spit resident, Bananaland focuses on 21-year-old Ruby. She has her own protest band called Kitty Litter, which accidentally becomes a hit with preschoolers. Penned by Nuttall and featuring a score composed by Miller-Heidke, with the duo joining forces on the show's musical numbers, Bananaland promises a warmhearted but incisive exploration of chasing dreams — and an ode to performing live. Charting Kitty Litter's path to following in The Wiggles' footsteps, Bananaland is taking over QPAC's Playhouse from Saturday, September 16–Sunday October 1 [caption id="attachment_902687" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jo Duck[/caption] Production images: Darren Thomas.
First, King Street welcomed in Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq, Bowen Hills' new haven for getting retro over games and cocktails. Then, just for Brisbane Festival 2023, it became home to Esc. With Us, an inflatable installation that's also a nostalgic tribute to old-school gaming — complete with inflatable consoles. What's next? For one day only, an 80s-themed street party is taking over the precinct. Head by from 5–9pm on Saturday, September 16 to feel like you've skated back in time — and yes, there will indeed be rollerskating. As well as hitting up the arcade bar, then checking out puffy games in a space that takes its colour palette from the 80s — the latter courtesy of Melbourne-based art studio ENESS (Sky Castle and Airship Orchestra) — you can also strap on some wheels and go for a whirl thanks to Rolla Bae. This trip back four decades will span five 30-minute rollerskating sessions; prizes for best dressed, best moves and more; food and drink options from retailers on the street; and a disco vibe — plus tunes to match — with dancing highly encouraged. Also, entry is free, but you'll pay for whatever you eat and sip.
The art world's love affair with Andy Warhol has lasted far longer than 15 minutes. Australia's fondness for the iconic artist definitely hasn't been fleeting, either. In 2023 alone, not one, not two, but three different exhibitions Down Under have celebrated his work; however, only Instant Warhol is solely dedicated to his skills with a polaroid camera. On the Gold Coast in autumn, Pop Masters highlighted Warhol's pieces alongside works by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. In Adelaide around the same period, Andy Warhol & Photography: A Social Media honed in on the artist as a shutterbug. Obviously, Instant Warhol has the same idea as the latter, but it will only be filled with polaroid portraits — 59 of them. This time, Warhol's work is headed to Ballarat, displaying from Saturday, August 26–Sunday, October 22 at the Art Gallery of Ballarat during the Ballarat International Foto Biennale. The regional Victorian photography festival is never short on things to see, but Instant Warhol is quite the drawcard for the biannual event. [caption id="attachment_906816" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Andy Warhol self-portrait in drag, 1980. © Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. Artists Rights Society [ARS]/Copyright Agency, 2023.[/caption]The original snaps that Warhol himself took — when he wasn't painting Campbell's soup cans and images of Marilyn Monroe, of course — will be on display. Even if you haven't seen them before, some should be familiar. One of the reasons that the artist captured polaroids, other than loving them, was to turn some of the famous faces he snapped into his screen prints. Drawn from the thousands of photographs he took with the instant cameras between 1958–87, this selection of pictures will also feature images of Warhol himself. They're all coming to Australia thanks to The Brant Foundation, with founder Peter M Brant one of Warhol's early patrons, then a friend, and also the the producer of Warhol's films L'Amour and Bad. [caption id="attachment_906817" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Top image: Andy Warhol, Sylvester Stallone, 1980. © Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. Artists Rights Society [ARS]/Copyright Agency, 2023.[/caption]Top image: Photograph of Andy Warhol taking a polaroid picture while sitting with Jack Ford and Bianca Jagger on the Truman Balcony, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library via Wikimedia Commons.
When it comes to this cheap way to get a bite brought to your door across Friday, August 25–Sunday, August 27, Larry Emdur and Ian 'Turps' Turpie spring to mind: the price is indeed right. Across the three days, DoorDash is bringing back its $1 Weekend. Not that you'll be paying with actual gold coins, but that's all you'll need denomination-wise for a heap of dishes. Running across the country, this weekend special has enlisted Fishbowl, Lord of the Fries, Betty's Burgers and San Churro — and Soul Origin, Pizza Hut, Red Rooster and Oporto, too. Prefer Ribs and Burgers instead? That's also on the list, as is The Yiros Shop, Burrito Bar and Broken Hearts Burger Club. Each state has more than 2000 offers available across the three days, including Queensland. Of course, as there always is, there are caveats. The big one: the deal is available from 2–5pm AEST each day, so you'll either want a late lunch or early dinner. Another crucial point: there's a unique promo code for each day displayed on the DoorDash app for each store, which you need to use at checkout. And, you will 100-percent need to order via that app. Also, you can only get one $1 menu item per order — and one $1 special per day, too. Unsurprisingly, only some menu items are available for $1. And, some places will only let you get one $1 special across the whole weekend. Delivery and service fees are still applicable, and an order fee will be added if your subtotal is less than $15. Still, in this economy, a bargain is a bargain.
Plenty of different noises have echoed across Riverstage over the years, hailing from bands, festivals, Christmas carols, Matildas celebrations — complete with Nikki Webster singing 'Strawberry Kisses' to the champion football team — and more. The next sounds that the inner-city spot in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens will hear: the Ministry of Sound, thanks to its huge dance music orchestra show. When anyone hits 30, they tend to look backwards — to reminisce, lament leaving their twenties behind and avoid accepting that they've just hit a big milestone birthday. Ministry of Sound marked that occasion two years ago, and it's been getting nostalgic ever since. The brand that started as a London club night back in 1991 has been touring an orchestral gig around Australia for a couple of years now, in fact, that's filled with three decades of dance music bangers. Returning to Brisbane for the second year running, this time in a new location, Ministry of Sound Classical is the answer to a question you didn't know you had. Ever wondered what classical renditions of Basement Jaxx, Darude, Röyksopp, Robin, Underworld, Moby, Fisher and more would sound like played by an orchestra? On Saturday, October 14, you'll have the chance to find out. On the bill: the Ministry of Sound Orchestra, of course, as well as Sneaky Sound System and The Potbelleez performing live, plus Mark Dynamix and DJ John Course. Conductor Vanessa Perica will lead the musicians, while live vocals are also part of the show.
Earlier in 2023, Genesis Owusu hit the River City to play a huge gig with the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra. On Thursday, August 24, the ARIA-winning Ghanaian Australian artist is back — and taking to the microphone again. This time, he's putting on a free show to launch his new album, all while swapping Fortitude Music Hall for Bunyapa Park in West End. That record: Struggler, his sophomore release, which again showcases his penchant for hopping between different music genres. Recorded in both Australia and the US, it follows his breakout debut Smiling with No Teeth, with singles such as Leaving the Light and Stay Blessed also out now. Ahead of a world tour, Owusu will give Brisbanites a taste of his latest record in conjunction with West End's beloved Jet Black Cat Music. Catch him onstage between 3.30–5pm, and also hanging around signing copies of Struggler. If you need to get your hands on the album, obviously JBCM will be selling them across the road.
Is your wardrobe overflowing with clothes that you don't wear? We've all been there, and we've all been too busy to do anything about it. Through its op shops, Australian Red Cross finds a new home for your pre-loved outfits, shoes and accessories, with proceeds going towards its charity efforts — but we all know that wanting to donate your old threads is one thing and finding the time to do it is another. That's why Australian Red Cross has once again partnered with Uber for its annual Uber x Red Cross Clothing Drive. When it launched in 2018, it collected over 43,500 kilograms of clothing in that first year alone, which saw clothing items worth an estimated $800,000 donated. And you'd best take the drive part literally, as the ride-sharing service will actually drive to your house, pick up your unwanted clothes and accessories, and deliver them to Red Cross Shops. Even better: it's not only super easy to take part, but it's free as well. Brisbanites, make sure you're ready between 9am–4pm on Saturday, October 21. Once you've bagged up all of your old bits and pieces (items you'd happily give your best friend, and no toys, books, furniture or electrical objects) into a bundle that weighs no more than 20 kilograms, it's all incredibly simple. Open the Uber app during that seven-hour window, then find the 'package' option. After that, you need to click 'send a package', enter "Red Cross Shop" as the destination, and select one of the Red Cross Clothing Drive locations displayed An Uber driver will then stop outside your house, meaning that you just need to take your preloved goods out to their car. Voila, you've cleared out your closet and you've helped folks in need, all with the tap of a button.
Any weekend is a good weekend to shop for plants at the Brisbane Markets, the old faithful of the Brissie market scene. That said, Saturday, October 8 will be better than ever thanks to a returning event: Plantapalooza. It's the third time that the Rocklea spot has held a plant festival and, running from 6am–2pm, that's something to get excited about. You'll still find the venue's regular 150-stall-plus market array, but it'll be joined by thousands of extra indoor and outdoor plants, as well as plenty of flowers and succulents — and demonstrations on everything from composting and terrariums to growing herbs and arranging flowers to help you put your green thumb to work. Spring is well and truly in swing, so if you've been putting off getting into the garden, here's your motivation. Or, if you'd like to brighten up your house with a potted piece of nature, here's your chance as well. Remember: there's absolutely nothing wrong with giving a name to your favourite houseplant. Entry costs $2, or $6 with premium parking.
Ever found yourself eating your way through a high tea — spreading cream on scones, biting into a mini quiche and sipping a cocktail, probably — and realised that you could really use more cheese? Even if you haven't experienced that train of thought, you'll be pleased to know that La Valle Wine Bar and Bottle Shop has the answer. At its High Cheese events, the name is obviously self-explanatory. On the menu: dairy, and plenty of it. You'll be tucking into a tiered cheese tower, in fact — and, each Saturday in July and August, you'll be making the most of the venue's new truffle series. That means that your tastebuds can expect truffle manchego, truffle whipped mascarpone with focaccia, truffle brie slices, four-cheese croquettes with cheese aioli, arancini with truffle and truffle dipping sauce. For your $55 ticket, you'll also get two hours of bottomless wine — something to say cheers, not cheese, to. July's High Cheese sessions are slated for July 9, 16, 23 and 30, and August's on August 6, 13, 20 and 27 — you can make a cheese date for 11am, 12pm or 1pm. And, seating-wise, you can choose to sit in La Valle's laneway or get cosy inside. Update: August 1.
June 2022 marked 30 years since the High Court of Australia's groundbreaking Mabo decision, which confirmed native title and traditional ownership by Indigenous Australians. That's a milestone well worth commemorating, so the State Library of Queensland is spending a few months doing just that — and celebrating Eddie Koiki Mabo, the man behind it, in the process. Running until Saturday, October 8, Legacy: Reflections on Mabo features work by 24 Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, all in the spirit of reconciliation. As co-curated by Mabo's daughter Gail Mabo with Dr Jonathan McBurnie and Kellie Williams, the showcase highlights both established and emerging creatives, with a particular focus on North Queensland talents. The lineup of artists with pieces on display is impressive — starting with 2022 Archibald Prize-winner Blak Douglas plus Adam Geczy, and also including Elisa Jane Carmichael and Sonja Carmichael, Toby Cedar, Dian Darmansjah, Katina Davidson, Hayley Megan French, Marion Gaemers and Patricia Hoffie, among others. Free to attend at the South Brisbane cultural institution, Legacy: Reflections on Mabo does exactly what its moniker promises — and, yes, that's a broad-ranging mission. So, expect to peer at works that cover Mabo's life, activism and politics alike. Visitors can head by from 10am–5pm daily. Images: Lewis James Media, 2022.
If your Friday night usually involves hitting the dance floor to 90s R&B tunes, you're definitely not alone. But on Friday, July 8, Brisbane's Institute of Modern Art wants you to give your usual go-to a miss — and make shapes in its courtyard for NAIDOC Week instead. SHOW UP: A Celebration of Black Music will be playing classic hip hop tracks from 6.30pm, with Cherbourg man DJ Big Mike on the decks. That's just one part of this end-of-week party, which'll also see Meanjin-based First Nations hip hop dancers Ziggy Wade, Dylan Wotton and Damian Mulligan perform as well. In addition to marking NAIDOC Week, this free shindig will help see out IMA's Rebirth Is Necessary exhibition, with the showcase dedicated to Jenn Nkiru wrapping up on Saturday, July 9. A word of warning: you'll be outside for the entertainment, so rugging up is recommended. Back inside, though, IMA's exhibitions will remain open late — and the IMA shop as well. And, afterwards, there's an after party down Ivory Tusk if you're keen to keep on keepin' on after 9.30pm. [caption id="attachment_812379" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Top image: Maeve Baker, 'Do Your Chores, Try Not To Think Too Much, And Repeat', 2020, IMA Belltower Façade Projection. Commissioned by the Institute of Modern Art for 'Making ArtWork'. Photo: Charlie Hillhouse.[/caption] Top image: LIZANDBETTY, Final Friday, Institute of Modern Art, 2021. Photo: Marc Pricop.
Only one female filmmaker has ever been nominated for the Best Director Oscar twice. That woman: Jane Campion. The New Zealand talent won the coveted prize this year, for the phenomenal The Power of the Dog — and, while her exquisite revisionist western was the absolute best movie of 2021, it's not the only highlight on her resume. Campion's filmography is packed with must-sees, and see them you must — on the big screen, across one glorious month, all at the Gallery of Modern Art's Australian Cinémathèque. The venue is dedicating every Friday and Saturday in July to her films, as part of a season it's calling The Power and Passion of Jane Campion. Tickets cost $7 for members and $10 otherwise. [caption id="attachment_847709" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kirsty Griffin/Netflix[/caption] On the bill: The Power of the Dog, because watching it via streaming is nowhere near the best way to revel in its wonders; The Piano, the 1993 Oscar-winner that nabbed Campion her first Best Director nomination; In the Cut, a tremendous erotic thriller starring Meg Ryan; and Holy Smoke, with Kate Winslet starring opposite Harvey Keitel. There's also everything from 1986's Two Friends, 1989's Sweetie and 1990's An Angel at My Table through to 1996's Nicole Kidman-starring The Portrait of a Lady, 2009's Bright Star about poet John Keats and his romance with Fanny Brawne, and a selection of Campion's short films. Top image: Kirsty Griffin/Netflix.
Whenever the urge hits, stopping by Emporium's Piano Bar is never a bad idea. Until the end of winter, however, you'll be in for a surprise. The venue has given itself a ski chalet-style makeover, complete with a fireplace to get cosy by. Yes, you live in Brisbane. Yes, it really has been cold lately. Yes, you know you want to get toasty by the flames. Operating from Wednesday–Sunday weekly until spring hits, this snug setup also includes blankets — we told you it was cosy — as well as plenty to eat and drink. All the season-appropriate dishes are taken care of, including soup of the day ($9), three-cheese and truffle jaffles ($12), and macarons ($20 for a box). There's also fondue, of course. Go cheesy with gruyère and smoked cheddar fondue, plus parmesan cheese straws. Or, opt for dessert instead with white, milk or dark chocolate fondue accompanied by cookies, marshmallows, chocolate brownies and fruits. Both versions cost $30. As for the drinks, Mumm Champagnes is helping theme out the place, so that's what's on offer — including a few Aussie-exclusive drops. There's also a couple of cocktails — and yes, one uses champers, while the other can be served either warm or cold.
Despite its name, Fat Noodle doesn't just serve up the obvious. On chef Luke Nguyen's menu, you'll also find everything from grilled prawn skewers and banh mi to dumplings and caramelised barramundi with rice. Spotted the street eats influences among the home-style flavours? Of course you have — and Nguyen is leaning in even further in July, August and September. For three months, the Treasury eatery is hosting a Street Food Series, with dishes typically served on Southeast Asia's sidewalks in the spotlight. Each month will focus on a different country, starting with Vietnam in July, then heroing Thailand in August and finally showcasing Malaysia in September. Expect to tuck into bites that explore the absolute best street food flavours from each country — such as pumpkin flowers stuffed with prawns and dill first up. That's a dish that hails from the small city of Da Lat, in the central highlands of Vietnam. Or, there's also green tea smoked duck with vermicelli noodles, a northernwestern Vietnamese meal popular in the mountains of Sapa. The Vietnamese menu also includes chargrilled scallops in spring onion, pork and lemongrass skewers, and warm beef and watercress salad. Come August, the Thai range will feature drunken noodles with prawn and Thai fish cake — among other dishes — while the Malaysian spread in September will plate up chicken and prawn curry laksa, plus stir fry chicken and snake beans with chilli relish.
Where would we be without movies during the pandemic? Even when cinemas were closed during lockdowns, we all still sought out the joy and escapism of watching a flick — and truly appreciated how cathartic it is. Still keen to queue up a big heap of movies, and a hefty dose of couch time? Enter Movie Frenzy, the returning week-long online film rental sale. From Friday, June 24–Thursday, June 30, it's serving up a sizeable lineup of popular flicks from the past year, all from less than $3 per movie. On the lineup: the OTT stunts of Jackass Forever, the Oscar-winning poignancy of Belfast, Joaquin Phoenix turning in another fantastic performance in C'mon C'mon and The Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark. Or, bustin' can make you feel good (again) via Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and you can get some more sequel action via Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Sing 2. Female-led spy thriller The 355, Jennifer Lopez-starring rom-com Marry Me, ridiculous disaster epic Moonfall, Aussie zombie flick Wyrmwood Apocalypse and Liam Neeson's latest action effort Blacklight are also available, too. So are the oversized canine antics of Clifford the Big Red Dog, Cliff Eastwood glaring his way through Cry Macho and the literary world-set The Hating Game. (While some of these flicks are more worth your attention than others, we'll let you do the choosing.) You can nab the cheap movies via your digital rental platform of choice, including Apple TV, iTunes, Fetch, Google Play, Dendy Home Cinema, the Microsoft Store, the Playstation Store, Prime Video, Telstra TV Box Office and YouTube Movies — although just what's available, and the price, will vary depending on the service. And you won't need a subscription, unless you decide to join in the fun via the Foxtel Store.
It has been eight years since La Macelleria set up shop in Brisbane, gifting the city's residents with an array of inventive gelato and sorbet flavours. During that time, it has taught ice cream lovers how to make their own, served up all-you-can-eat sweet treats and expanded its footprint, including by nestling into Coorparoo Square. Indeed, that's the place to head to on Sunday, July 10 if you like the best kind of gelato there is — which is free gelato, obviously. From 12–3pm, La Macelleria is busting out its gelato cart, setting up in the centre's green space and scooping up freebies — 100 to be exact. That makes it a first-in-first-served kind of event, with only one scoop on offer per person until sold out. Yes, we know it's winter. Yes, we also know that it's never too cold for gelato in Brisbane anyway, let alone free gelato. Leave your wallet at home, get licking and, while you're enjoying a frosty sweet treat, there'll be live tunes as well, all as part of an event that the centre is calling Free Gelato on the Green.
What makes a burger? If you take two of the same baked goods, slap some fillings between them and then get munching, does that count? If doughnuts are involved — standing in for burger buns, obviously — then Donut King thinks so. And, it wants you to as well. The doughnut chain is currently running the Hot Cinni Showdown, a competition to discover the greatest doughnut hack — like eating bacon and eggs sandwiched between two hot cinnamon doughnuts. It isn't just calling for suggestions, rewarding the best with $10,000 and adding the top pick to its menu next year, though. On Monday, July 11 and Tuesday, July 12, it's heading to Brisbane's King George Square to hand out free bacon and egg doughnut burgers. There's no need to eat brekkie before leaving home, then — if you can get to the CBD spot as close to 7am as possible. When the City Hall Clock Tower chimes seven times, that's when Donut King will start serving. There's only 1000 available each day, however, which is why getting in early is a must. Your free burg will come with a coffee, too — making doughnuts, eggs, bacon and caffeine the breakfast of champions for two days. Just look out for the Donut King Trailer in that big inner-city space. The queue will probably tip you off.
Whisky lovers, rejoice — we've just found your next 80 drops and perhaps even more. The Queensland Whisky Expo doesn't just serve up a few drams or ten or several dozen, after all. It reaches for the 150 mark, actually, and comes mighty close. Returning for 2022, the two-day event is split into two sessions, although both offer attendees the same thing. You'll taste as many whiskies as you can, and you'll nab your own whisky glass just for that purpose. On the menu: newcomers, old favourites and everything whisky-wise in-between. You'll even get a free pen so that you can take notes about all of your favourites. We know, we know, free pens aren't exciting at all — but there is more than whisky on the menu, including a meal to line your stomach and chats with informative whisky experts. It all takes place from 6–9pm on Friday, July 15 and 1–4pm on Saturday, July 16, with the expo taking over Rydges South Brisbane. Tickets cost $125, and prepare to leave with plenty of new varieties on your must-drink list. And the event is hosted by the Queensland Malt Whisky Society — so you know they know their stuff. It's also the first expo after a two-year gap, due to the pandemic, so expect everyone to be mighty pleased to be there.
It's a great time to be a dinosaur fan — or, to be exact, a fan of prehistoric creatures rampaging across screens. David Attenborough's wonderful Prehistoric Planet has hit streaming queues, ready for a spectacular binge-watch. Jurassic World Dominion is in cinemas, even though it's forgettable. And King Street in Bowen Hills is doing a night of dino movies under the stars — beloved classics, too, and all for free. At King Street Movies in the Park — Dinosaur Adventures on Saturday, June 25, you'll head to Alexandria Park, watch dinosaur movies, get super nostalgic and hear plenty of roars. On the bill: the adorable animation The Land Before Time (at 5.30pm), and then the OG Jurassic Park (at 7pm). Is there a better dino-themed retro movie combo? We think not. Entry is free, but you are asked to register in advance for each session. This is both a dog-friendly (on a leash) and family-friendly event, so expect to have small and four-legged company. There'll also live music, a La Macelleria gelato cart so you can pair your movies with dessert and free popcorn — with one serve per person while stocks last. If you know you'll be hungry for more than movie snacks, you can also nab a $50 Luxury King St Eats Picnic Hamper for two, complete with a picnic basket and picnic blanket to use and then take home. Food-wise, it includes bites from your choice of El Camino Cantina, Xin Chao, Super Combo, Fat Dumpling, Welcome to Bowen Hills with Southern Smoke & Co, Beerhaus, Sushi & Nori and Six Acres Restaurant.
When One Fish Two Fish opened its doors in Kangaroo Point back in 2019, it gave the inner-city suburb a new neighbourhood fish and chip shop. It also levelled up eating seafood and slivers of potato, including via the joint's frequent events — which, if you like crab, crayfish, oysters, lobster, spritzes and more, you're probably already acquainted with. The latest special feast on the eatery's menu: Pasta Palooza. One Fish Two Fish isn't ditching the seafood, of course, but pairing it with carbs aplenty. Patrons will tuck into a four-course meal, with two sittings per day — from 12–2pm and 2.30–4.30pm between Friday, August 19–Sunday, August 21. First up, your $79 ticket covers a two-bite house-cured salmon pasta salad, as well as pan-seared prawn gnocchi and Fraser Isle spanner crab-filled pasta shells. They're actually the only three dishes with the ocean's finest in them, though — but you don't really want seafood for dessert, do you? Instead, your sweet tooth can look forward to dessert ravioli. Yes, that's how you make an already-ace style of pasta even better. This one features fried ravioli filled with ricotta, then topped with chocolate Jaffa sauce and candy floss. Bookings are recommended — and if you'd like to pair your meal with drinks, that'll cost you extra.
Some days, the only way to break free from the 9-to-5 grind is with some wings and a drink. Winghaus hopes that you feel like that most days, actually — but from Monday, July 25–Friday, July 29, it's giving you an extra incentive to head into its Brisbane CBD joint as soon as quittin' time hits. The occasion: National Wing Day, one of those dates that's all about a particular food, and is always jumped on by the places that serve them. Clearly, Winghaus fits the bill on this culinary celebration. While the day itself falls on the Friday, the bar chain is extending its wing-fuelled festivities across the entire working week. The more wings the merrier, naturally. Drop by between 5–7pm, which is when Winghaus does Wing Hour, and you'll be able to nab wings for just ten cents each. You do need to purchase a beverage, though, and there's a limit of ten per drink. Want more? Get sipping again. Winghaus is also doing six limited-edition special flavours, so you can expand your wing repertoire. On the menu, and included in the ten-cent offer: lemongrass and ginger, XO, Szechuan pepper and honey, honey mustard, satay and chilli beer varieties.
The team at CBD favourite Lennons Restaurant & Bar is getting ready to host two lavish nights of spectacular food and wine this August. The occasion? A celebration of the eatery's focus on local, seasonal produce and the delicious drops from City Winery. Diners joining the meal at the much-loved hotel restaurant within the five-star Hyatt Regency (which has just revamped its menu) will be treated to three courses of executive chef Krisztian Herczig's signature dishes. The menu features marinated king prawns, watermelon and crisped-up fennel to open the meal, and an elevated classic — filet mignon — as main. As you eat, you'll be sipping stand-out glasses from the nearby City Winery, the urban micro-winery that creates its vinos amongst the buzz of Fortitude Valley. Sourcing grapes from the vines of a number of Australia's renowned growing regions, the metropolis-made drops range from a crisp South Australian vermentino to a sunny riesling from Tasmania's stunning Freycinet coast. We hear Gerler's recent release — its much anticipated 2020 Reserve Shiraz — is on pour, too. The exclusive mid-week event kicks off at 6.30pm, and with limited spots available, you'd be best to secure your date and grab your tickets ASAP. The Lennons Wine Dinners will take place on Wednesday, August 24 and Thursday, August 25. Head to the website to nab your seat.
Brisbane might be tussling with a chillier-than-usual winter in 2022, but that doesn't mean that you should hide away indoors until spring hits. There's still plenty of ace outdoor events tempting folks outside — and listening to jazz for two days by the river is definitely among them. Make a date with Jazz on the Green at Southbank Parklands between Friday, July 29–Saturday, July 30, and you'll be in for plenty of live music — all for free, too. Running from 2–7.30pm on the Friday and 11am–7.30pm on the Saturday, this fest will pair cruisy tunes with a killer view, all on the Riverside Green. Brisbane Jazz Club is taking care of the music, with Emma Pask, Franky Smart, Victor Martinez, Bowery Hot Five, Shannon Marshall and Darren Percival among the acts taking to the stage. You can BYO snacks — or, thanks to South Bank's eateries, there's more than a few food and drink deals on offer. Olé Restaurant is doing prawn, chicken, calamari and chorizo paella for $12 per dish, as well as patatas bravas for $10, plus red wine sangria, mulled vino and cider for $12 a cup. Over at Vici Italian, you can pick up truffle arancini for $8, pick between beef meatballs and lasagne for $12 each, and grab spiked hot chocolates and negronis $12 per cup. And, Hop & Pickle is doing $12 cocktails as well, including warm buttered rum, mulled cider, mocha stouts and espresso porters.
There's no shortage of cheesy places in this food-loving town of ours, much to every dairy lover's delight. But King Street's Il Verde just might be the cheese haven of Bowen Hills — once a month at least. Before the pandemic, the King Street spot would regularly serve up pasta from a parmigiano-reggiano cheese wheel. In fact, doing just that helped put the eatery on Brisbane's culinary map. Now, from Wednesday, August 3, that delicious dish is back and tempting in diners on the first Wednesday of every month. Unsurprisingly, the venue is calling this tasty feast Take the Wheel. And, that cheese wheel pasta, which is served straight out of the wheel at your table, is just one part of the three-course $55 feast. You'll also get polenta chips and wood-fired focaccia to start with, plus seasonal panna cotta served for dessert — and a house wine or schooner of beer as well. Bookings are a must, for sittings between 5.30–7.30pm.
It's been 12 years since Inception melted our brains with dreams within dreams within dreams — and El Camino Cantina might've just come up with the margarita equivalent. Already known for its wild marg flavours, and for turning other beloved foodstuffs into frosty 'ritas, it's now swirling its latest batch of varieties together. So you might be sipping an ice block within a margarita within a swirled cocktail, for instance. First, the flavours. Calippos and pine lime splices aren't just for eating now, with El Camino's calypso crush and pine lime Splice varieties interpreting the beloved icy treats. Or, there's also mango strawberry, watermelon mint, and both lychee colada and lychee lagoon. Yes, lychees feature in a big way. Available from Tuesday, February 1–Monday, February 28, this whole margarita special is called Summer of Swirls, and costs $20 for a 15-oz glass, $24 for the 20-oz size and $35 for a tasting paddle of four 220-millilitre glasses. In Brisbane, you'll find them quenching your summer thirst at El Camino in Bowen Hills, South Bank and Chermside in Brisbane; Robina on the Gold Coast; and Sunshine Plaza on the Sunshine Coast.
Some festivals stick firmly to their set dates, making you cram your fun within a set tight timeframe. Others let parts of their program flow on for longer, spreading and sharing the love for longer. At the 2022 BrisAsia Festival, exhibition In Transit falls into the latter category, filling the Museum of Brisbane from Monday, January 31–Sunday, August 7. Across its three-month-long stay, this immersive installation explores growth and healing, all through works about intersectionality, language, displacement and reclaiming history. To be specific, it's all about how that latter list can help growth and healing, with Filipino-Australian artist Rhanjell Villanueva and MoB's new Artist in Residence Naavikaran creating pieces and experiences to sit on City Hall's third level. From Villanueva, visitors will spy an eye-catching entranceway, which mixes queer-coded digital imagery and video, as well as work that dives into pre-colonial history in the Philippines. From Naavikaran, expect performance-based responses that'll activate the space, as well as events and workshops — starting with poetry sessions on Saturday, February 5. Top image: Rhanjell Villanueva. Halo Halo 2020. Courtesy the artist. Updated June 17.
When something has been a part of the pop culture landscape for a whopping 33 years, there really isn't much it won't have done. And The Simpsons has done plenty — over 700 TV episodes and counting, a 2007 movie, its own albums and singles, and video games, books and comics as well. Yes, the list goes on. Until now, however, even the most diehard fans of television's favourite Springfield-dwellers mightn't have seen the titular family take to the stage in a burlesque and drag parody. But come Saturday, April 16, for one night only at The Tivoli — with sessions at 5pm and 8.30pm — Brisbanites can choo-choo-choose to watch exactly that. In case the show's name didn't make it plain, The Stripsons also claims to "put the strip in Springfield" — so, as iconic as Homer's blue pants and white shirt combo is, and Marge's green dress, too, you can expect to see them wearing much less. That's what happens when The Bad Collective takes on a childhood favourite and turns it into a firmly adults-only stage show of the highly satirical kind, as it has already done with Shreklesque. In a production that's also obviously in the same vein as The Empire Strips Back, The Stripsons doesn't just give Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie the comedic treatment, but also Millhouse, Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, Mrs Krabappel, Mr Burns and Smithers as well — because The Simpsons has always been about more than its eponymous characters. The cast of burlesque, drag, musical theatre, dance and music talent donning yellow makeup includes Trigger Happy, Bebe Gunn, Lulu Lemans, Baron von Envy, Barbie Banks and Betty Lovecat, plus newcomers such as Indea Sekula, Kimi Young and Ella Nagel. The soundtrack for the two-hour show: all of the songs that you've had stuck in your head over the years thanks to The Simpsons, all accompanying a blend of dance, comedy, drag and striptease. (If "Dr Zaius, Dr Zaius, ohhhhh Dr Zaius" or "Who holds back the electric car? Who made Steve Guttenburg a star?" just popped into your brain right now, then you know what we're talking about.) And, that likely means everything from 'See My Vest' to 'Monorail' to 'We Put The Spring in Springfield' will get a whirl. Cross your fingers that 1991 hit 'Do the Bartman', which reached number one on the Australian charts, also shows up. [caption id="attachment_841043" align="alignnone" width="1920"] KTB[/caption]
Easter in Sydney doesn't just mean chocolate, hot cross buns and whatever other sweet treats the city's eateries happen to come up with at this time of year — it also means the Sydney Royal Easter Show. And, while you won't find the latter at El Camino Cantina's Tex-Mex joints in Brisbane, of course, the chain is getting into the spirit of the event nationwide with its limited-edition margarita menu, which it has dubbed 'the Royal Rita Show'. For its latest batch of creative flavours, El Camino Cantina is serving up Jelly Belly, Warhead, Chupa Chup and Kinder Surprise margs. There are Trolli Lolli and Rainbow Nerd versions, too. Basically, it's the candy and booze combination you obviously didn't know you'd someday want when you were a kid. These lolly-flavoured ritas are on offer from Tuesday, April 5–Saturday, April 30, costing $20 for a 15-oz glass, $24 for the 20-oz size and $35 for a tasting paddle of four 220-millilitre glasses. And if you'd like to pair them with tacos, you'll find a Royal Rita Show food menu on offer as well; think tacos with popcorn chicken, chorizo and potato hash, slow-cooked barbecue brisket, and prawns with bacon. In southeast Queensland, you'll find both the margs and tacos tempting your tastebuds at El Camino in Bowen Hills, South Bank and Chermside in Brisbane; Robina on the Gold Coast; and Sunshine Plaza on the Sunshine Coast.
For the folks at Albion's Fonzie Abbott, nothing stands in the way of a great coffee — not even Brisbane's recent bout of horrific weather. The caffeine fiends' Fox Street headquarters was affected by the floods, but it's still brewing up cuppas in a van outside. And, it has also set up a pop-up retail shop so that you can pick up some merchandise, too. Drink the coffee, then buy the shirt, cap or other merch — or pick up some beans, other bites, or something from Fonzie Abbott's range of beer and spirits to take home with you. Whichever you choose, you'll be doing a local business that's been impacted by the past week's chaos a huge solid. Fonzie Abbot and its famous lightning-strike logo have been a part of Brissie's coffee scene for more than a decade now, so every Brisbanite who likes caffeine has drunk its brews at least once. Also, its Albion base is a roastery, brewery and distillery in one — so pop it on your must-visit list again once it's back up and running. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fonzie Abbott (@fonzieabbott) Top image: Atlanta Bell.
When Dolly Parton sang about pouring herself a cup of ambition in the giddily catchy 80s hit '9 to 5' — the song that accompanied a film of the same name four decades back, now echoes in a stage musical as well and will never, ever get old — she wasn't talking about wine. But Zimbabwean quartet Joseph Dhafana, Tinashe Nyamudoka, Marlvin Gwese and Pardon Taguzu have lived up to those lyrics one glass of top-notch vino at a time, despite not drinking alcohol as Pentecostal Christians. Clearly, these men have quite the story to tell. It starts with fleeing their homeland under Robert Mugabe's rule, and then sees them each make new homes at considerable risk in South Africa, where they all also eventually found themselves working with the grape. In the process, they discovered a knack for an industry they mightn't have ever even dreamed of contemplating entering otherwise — and, in 2017, they took Zimbabwe's first-ever team to the World Wine Blind Tasting Championships in Burgundy, France. In the words of the always-great and ever-quotable Parton again, Joseph, Tinashe, Marlvin and Pardon waited for their ship to come in, and for the tide to turn and all roll their way. '9 to 5' doesn't actually have a single thing to do with Blind Ambition, the film that splashes through the Zimbabwean sommeliers' story, but their against-the-odds journey is equally infectious and uplifting. The Australian-made documentary about the foursome has also been likened to another on-screen underdog tale, this time about Black men seeking glory in a field that isn't typically associated with their country of birth. Blind Ambition isn't the wine version of Cool Runnings for numerous reasons — it hasn't been fictionalised (although it likely will be at some point) and it isn't a comedy, for starters — but the comparison still pithily sums up just how rousing this true story proves. The reality is far more profound than a Disney flick, of course. Making their second wine-focused doco of the past decade, Warwick Ross and Rob Coe — the former the co-director of 2013's Red Obsession, the latter its executive producer, and both sharing helming credits here — decant emotion aplenty from the moving and inspiring Blind Ambition. It flows freely from Joseph, Tinashe, Marlvin and Pardon's plights, which the film begins to drip out individually, harking back to before the quartet had even met, then blends together. Getting across the border was especially harrowing for Joseph, for instance, while ensuring that his new life honours his parents back home is particularly important for Pardon. Overcoming poverty and adversity echoes through their stories, as does the hope that their newfound affinity for wine brings — including via Tinashe's desire to plant vines on his grandfather's land one day. From those histories grows a keen eagerness to turn vino into their futures, and amid those dreams sits the World Wine Blind Tasting Championships. The activity that gives the competition its name is serious business; the first word isn't slang for getting black-out drunk or even just knocking back drinks to the thoroughly sozzled stage of inebriation, but describes how teams sample an array of wines without knowing what's rolling over their palates. Every national squad, all with four people apiece, is given 12 drops. From the six red and six white varieties, they must pick everything they can just by sipping — the grape, country, name, producer and vintage — to earn points. And, they also need to spit out the answers quickly, within two minutes of taking a taste. Yes, it's an event that you need to train for. No, it doesn't involve getting sloshed. As stressed verbally and visually throughout the doco, there's a specific — and very white — crowd for blind wine-tasting. It's also a pursuit marked by wealth and privilege, and by the access to a vast selection of different wines that springs far more easily when you come from or have access to both. Accordingly, Team Zimbabwe instantly stands out, not that its members ever let that stand between them and their next tasting glass. While Blind Ambition could've just stuck to the feel-good angle that gushes from Joseph, Tinashe, Marlvin and Pardon's efforts as outsiders within this insular realm, it smartly dives further, knowing that anything else would be too superficial and tokenistic. Accordingly, while the film celebrates their achievements, it also ensures that the racial and class divides that are as inherent to this part of the wine world — and to the wine world in general — as grapes fermented into alcohol remain as prominent as a red wine stain on a white tablecloth. That makes Blind Ambition a multi-layered movie with something to say as well as a heartwarming true tale to share, aka the kind of real-life situation that documentarians fantasise about. Heralding diversity and exposing its historical absence rank high among Team Zimbabwe's feats, and the footage that follows them training in South Africa and navigating the competition in Burgundy speaks volumes about the Eurocentric and money-driven industry they've plunged into. Competitive blind wine-tasting is a sport that requires coaches, too, and developments arise when both South African coach Jean Vincent Ridon and French wine expert Denis Garret become involved. All the way through, however, Joseph, Tinashe, Marlvin and Pardon's contagious joy, pride and enthusiasm for the field, for competing at the Olympics of the wine world, for the fact that their journey has taken them from refugees to finding a new calling, and for opening up the world to African vino, is never anything less than resonant. Like any standout plonk, wine or otherwise, Blind Ambition leaves viewers wanting more, though. Ross and Coe cover plenty in the film's 96 minutes, including postscript glimpses into the team's lives following their World Wine Blind Tasting Championships debut, but wishing for deeper notes at several stages along the way — the tension of the contest and its ins and outs, noticeably — is the prevailing aftertaste. While moderation is a wise approach to imbibing, parts of the film feel like just a sample themselves. It's still a delightful doco drop that lingers long on the cinematic palate, but another pour wouldn't go astray.
The next time that you tuck into a pie, you could be doing a local business a solid. That's always the case if you're picking up your pastries from a neighbourhood bakery, of course — but head to King Street Bakery on Tuesday, March 1 and Tuesday, March 2 and you'll be helping out the Bowen Hills favourite at a tough time for the city. After a weekend of torrential rain that's led to widespread flooding, nothing is normal in Brisbane at the moment — as everyone in the city well and truly knows. For the King Street Bakery team, it's been a couple of days without access or power to their central kitchen, so they're now hosting a bake sale. Expect pies and sausage rolls galore, plus make-at-home meals, coffee and juice as well. You'll need to swing by King Street by 5pm, so that's either lunch, a snack or something for dinner later all sorted. Updated March 2.
Tibet is the type of place that everyone wants to visit at least once — and the kind of destination few of us will actually make it to. Don't worry, the Festival of Tibet offers up the next best thing. It'll either help ease the pain of not jumping on a plane, or make you book a ticket overseas as soon as you can. 2022's festival lineup is a little different from normal, however, adapting to the world we now find ourselves in. So, you can head to Brisbane Powerhouse on Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2 for two different concerts — one from Tibetan Grammy-nominated artist Tenzin Choegyal alongside Matt Hsu's Obscure Orchestra, the other pairing Choegyal with Camerata – Queensland's Chamber Orchestra — and then enjoy the rest of the event online. The virtual program is still being finalised, but the Festival of Tibet usually hosts sessions on how to practice meditation and do yoga, all Tibetan-style; celebrates Tibetan songs; and finds other ways to showcase of the country's way of life. This year's fest will run from that first gig on Friday, April 1 through to Sunday, April 10. [caption id="attachment_761351" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brisbane Powerhouse[/caption] Top image: Festival of Tibet.
You can never have too much greenery in your life, both inside and outside your house. And, whether you're decking out your interiors or setting up a luxe outdoor hangout zone, you can never have too many homewares either. At least that's what you'll keep telling yourself while you're browsing around The Home Collective's wares. At its next event, the northside market will be offering up an array of plants, pots, furniture, cushions, art, ceramics, candles and other items that belong in your house or garden. If you're keen for a sneak peek, or some design inspiration, check out the event's Instagram page. That'll motivate you to head along, we're certain. Taking place at the Wavell Heights Community Hall from 7–11am on Sunday, February 27, the market will kit out your abode with plenty of choices — usually, there's more than 55 stalls ready for you to peruse. Sure, there's an excuse to boost your garden and homewares cred every weekend in Brissie, or so it seems, but you just can't have to much of a good thing. Entry is via gold coin donation, which'll go to the folks at Animal Welfare Queensland. And there'll also be caffeinated beverages on offer to help perk up your Sunday morning — plus bites to eat from a range of food trucks.
They're just humble cucumbers left to ferment in vinegar, but pickles certainly get plenty of attention. We love them on sandwiches, and to munch on individually. We love drinking whisky, then chasing it down with a shot of pickle brine. Sometimes, folks even make beer that showcases the zesty pickle flavour. If you're fond of all of the above, then get your pickle-loving self to Pickle Fest. Hosted by The Woods Bar, the event celebrates its eponymous ingredient in a whole range of guises. In other words, it's an excuse to eat pickles, drink pickle brine and sip pickle-flavoured brews. And, to eat reuben sandwiches, aka the go-to food when anyone thinks of pickles (and a great way to line your stomach, too). Also on the menu: deep-fried pickled jalapeños galore, as well as loaded bloody marys. Obviously, if you don't like that sour, tart, put-a-spring-in-your-step pickle taste, this fest isn't for you — but if you can't get enough of it, head to Mitchelton from 12pm on Sunday, February 20. The one-day festival takes place on Sunday, December 1, with the Mitchelton watering hole getting into the pickled spirit from from 11am. Image: The Woods Bar.
If you and your partner have a little (or a lot) of pent-up energy, and you're looking for a different outlet to help ease it, here's an option: Brisbane's axe-throwing joint Maniax is hosting Valentine's date-night sessions from Friday, February 11–Friday, February 18. The Newstead joint is doing two-hour public sessions that'll cost you and your other half $100 in total to hurl hatchets — and will let you do something different to mark the occasion. Also, that price also includes a beer, wine or canned spirit each afterwards to celebrate. For the uninitiated, Maniax gives you the chance to very safely throw a hunk of sharpened steel attached to a flimsy handle, and compete with your partner and/or friends to see who has the most Viking blood coursing through them. Chuck those axes, sink a bullseye, and then calm down after all the hatchet-lobbing excitement with a drink with your significant other.
UPDATE, MARCH 3, 2022: Due to weather conditions, the Scenic Rim Farm Gate Trail has been postponed from Sunday, March 6 to Sunday, March 13. This article has been updated to reflect that change. When the Ekka was cancelled for the second year in a row in 2021, no one got to throw a ball in a clown's mouth. Hopping on rides, seeing fireworks and browsing for showbags were all scrapped, too. That's obviously no fun at all; however, for the farmers who were due to exhibit at Brisbane's annual show, the impact cut far deeper. So, in response, an idea was born: the Scenic Rim Farm Gate Trail. It first appeared twice in 2021, encouraging Brisbanites to head south, hop between properties and enjoy local wares — and it's back again in 2022. Fancy throwing a little love towards the Scenic Rim's primary producers? Keen on a day out of town? Farmers in the region will be rolling out the welcome mat from 9am–3pm on Sunday, March 13. Follow the itinerary, and you'll be hitting up the likes of Scenic Rim Mushrooms, Scenic Rim Brewery, Tommerup's Dairy Farm, Bee All Natural Honey, Witches Falls Winery, The Overflow Estate 1895 and Tamborine Mountain Distillery. That's just a taste of the list of producers involved — and if you'd like to get up close to some camels and alpacas while you're in that part of southeast Queensland, that's on the cards, too. The full a trail route covers 22 stops, firmly taking care of ideas on where to start, where to venture next and what to see. [caption id="attachment_823620" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] Top image: Sabine Bannard.
Once a year, for one night only, a New Farm street transforms into a fashion party. That'd be James Street — and, given that the stretch of road boasts plenty of boutique selling designer threads, you know that they know how to put on a sartorial celebration. That's what James St Up Late is all about: exploring the precinct's many outlets, stocking up your wardrobe, getting tempted by specials and browsing the latest collections. In 2022, it's marking ten years of doing just that, in fact, so expect it to be on helluva shindig. From 5–8pm on Thursday, March 31, the after-hours event will feature all of the roadway's boutiques getting in on the action — Gail Sorronda is even hosting a shop-in-shop with labels Romance was Born and Gary Bigeni — plus all of the local bars and restaurants, too. As soundtracked to DJs, there'll be bargains to buy, one-off menus to eat your way through and cocktails to sip. Also a part of the fun: party bags, with 1000 up for grabs featuring goodies from James Street's Silk Laundry, Jardan, St. Agni, Camilla, Lee Mathews, Gelato Messina, The Green, FINEPRINTCO and Priceline, as well as bits and pieces by pals like Assembly by Aiko, Collective Hub, Clif Bar, Yes You Can, Eye of Horus, Proper Crisps, Mirror Merch, Pinot and Picasso, Seed & Sprout and The Daily Edited. And, to help raise funds for flood relief, there'll also be a Fashion Flood charity pop-up thanks to fashion re-seller Label Pig. Images: Andrew Cois.
It has been six years since Ballistic Beer Co started serving up its yeasty goodness to Brisbanite's brew-loving masses, and that means two things. Yes, time really does fly when you're sinking — and making — cold ones. Also, the brewery is celebrating the occasion in style and throwing a huge shindig. While the beer company has three locations across the city, this one is happening at its home base in Salisbury. Anyone hankering for a beverage will find the brewery's usual tasty tipples and a heap of special-edition beers on offer across the weekend of Saturday, March 19–Sunday, March 20, so prepare to settle in for a celebratory two days. In between sips, there'll be cake, plus activities to keep all attendees occupied (even those too young for a brew). Think: cake, live tunes, giveaways and a petting zoo. And, because a hard-earned thirst needs a chilled drink and a hungry stomach needs something to line it with — other than dessert — expect a heap of food trucks and a barbecue as well.
UPDATE, May 16, 20222: Due to Brisbane's wet weather, Paniyiri 2022 has been postponed from Saturday, May 21–Sunday, May 22 to Saturday, October 15–Sunday, October 16. This article has been updated to reflect that change. For two days each year, most of Brisbane heads to Musgrave Park to pretend that they're in the Mediterranean. Well, before the pandemic hit and upended our regular routines, that's what usually occurred — and in 2022, it'll finally be happening again. After two pandemic-interrupted years — with the 2020 event cancelled and the 2021 fest opting for a scaled-down and largely online format, plus a delay due to wet weather — Paniyiri is returning to its usual full range of celebrations in October 2022. Once again, the city's massive Greek festival will take over West End with quite the array of food, drink, partying and more. Yes, there's a reason that more than two million people have gone along over the years. In 2022, more than four decades since the fest first began back in 1976, the fun will take place across Saturday, October 15–Sunday, October 16. Brisbanites can expect the usual array of Greek revelry — aka grapes to stomp, coffee to sip, olives to consume and plates to smash, plus TV stars to rub shoulders with and cooking demonstrations to watch. Food-wise, more than 20 stalls will serve up bites from 11 Greek regions, including an abundance of loukoumades, souvlaki, haloumi and barbecued calamari. If devouring as much as you can is your idea of fun, the festival's regular food contests usually keep stomachs satisfied. Then, to wash all of that down, there'll be Greek wine, Greek beer and Greek-inspired cocktails as well. Of course, it wouldn't be Paniyiri without entertainment. While the full event program hasn't yet been revealed, dancing is always a big feature thanks to Greek Dancing with the Stars and the Hellenic dancers — so fingers crossed they return this year. In addition to celebrating all things Greek in Musgrave Park, Paniyiri also takes over The Greek Club — and given that it's marking its first regular fest in more than two years, expect both venues to host one massive shindig.
One huge day, 18 designers, 180-plus outfits, oh-so-much fantastic fashion. That's what's on the agenda at the first-ever BrisAsia Festival Fashion Program, which was originally slated to take place in February during Brisbane's annual BrisAsia fest, but is now happening on Friday, March 25 — after an Omicron wave-inspired delay. This extremely well-dressed event has one big focus: showcasing local design labels with Asian, Indigenous and international heritages. Whether you're the most stylish person you know (and the most modest, too) or you're keen to get some tips, heading along means supporting a heap of homegrown talent and celebrating culture through fashion. Labels in the spotlight include Akira, Native Swimwear Australia, Joteo, Moreno Marcos, Anannasa and Murrii Quu Couture, as well as Pagoni, M7 by Miu Tsujikawa, Hestia by Yip Wing Chi, Liz Clift and Mode Voyage. Also popping up: DAN STUDIO, SAJO, MYKA Studio, Nevidebla, Luna + Sun, Fancynators and Hopevale Arts & Cultural Centre. And, there are multiple ways to slide into the couture-focused fun. Hit up either or both of the group shows (one at 6pm, the other at 7.30pm), stay for the afterparty (at 8.30pm) or, beforehand, hear some insights at the daytime fashion forum (from 2–4pm). At the latter, designers Akira Isogawa, Sher Lo from Anannasa and Natalie Cunningham from Native Swimwear will chat about their work, and about how their heritage has shaped their vision. [caption id="attachment_847527" align="alignnone" width="1920"] @thebrisbanegirl[/caption]
Summer might be over, but the sun still shines and the weather is still toasty for most of the year in Brisbane. So, if you're keen on finishing up your weekend with a few drinks outdoors — and by the water, because that's one of the great things about living in a river city — that's still well and truly on the agenda. At Byblos at Portside, throwing in a few cocktails over Mediterranean bites is also on offer, with the bar hosting weekly Sunday Sessions. Stop by from 3pm, pull up a seat with a riverside view and get sipping — and listening to either live R&B tunes from Vibe Creators or the vocals of Lady Red. Entry is free, but bookings are essential. And, given the location and the timing, sticking around while the sun sets is heartily recommended. Also, when there's a cocktail called Hugo Weaving on the drinks list (a mix of Hennessy VS, elderflower, sparkling rosé cordial, mint and soda), that's worth a visit alone.
For decades, Brisbane's 4064 postcode has been synonymous with alcohol for one big reason: the XXXX brewery that no one can miss thanks to the sign and the yeasty smell. But it isn't the only place in the area that's making its own tipples, with everywhere from Newstead Brewing Co and Common Ground Brewing to Milton Rum and Warehouse 25 also getting in on the action. And, to celebrate, those four boozy outfits are hosting their own festival. The 4064 Festival is all about two things: drinks and the postcode responsible for plenty of them, obviously. Running from 3–8.30pm on Saturday, September 10, it'll span beverages, food, tunes, games and prizes. While four different boozemakers are behind the event, it's only happening in one spot: Newstead Brewing Co's Milton home on Castlemaine Street, in its beer garden to be exact. That's where Aunty Stan, Waiting Room DJ's and Paolo Ji will hit the decks; attendees can try their luck in a ping pong contest; and free tastings and food specials will also be on offer. This is 4064 Festival's first outing, with entry free — and you'll pay for what you eat and drink, tastings aside, from there. That said, if you live or work in the postcode, and you bring your ID or business card, you can nab one free beverage token.
"Your nose like a delicious slope of cream / And your ears like cream flaps / And your teeth like hard shiny pegs of cream." Le Diner en Blanc — like Howard Moon's poem — will have you in all white. But sorry, Booshers: this Brisbane event is just for the sophisticated. Now popping up all around the world, the Diner en Blanc began in Paris more than three decades ago thanks to François Pasquier and friends. In 2022, Brisbane's creme de la creme will once again dress in all-white on Saturday, October 22 and flock along, with the event held at a predictably stunning location that remains secret until the very last moment. Following an evening of elegance, fine dining and live music, the 2000-plus foodies then pack up their crystal, dinnerware, tables, chairs and litter. Like ghosts (white 'n' all), they leave behind no sign of their rendezvous. That said, don't get any ideas — a white sheet thrown over your figure will not do for an outfit. Le Diner en Blanc guests must either be invited by a member from the previous event, or get on the waiting list for a ticket — with the latter open for registrations now. And, if you're wondering what the event entails — other than eating, drinking and wearing white and white only — you'll need to bring a table and two white chairs with you, as well as your own picnic basket, glassware, white tablecloth and white dinnerware. You can order a catered picnic, though, if you don't want to bring your own. Booze-wise, you'll either need to opt for wine or champagne via the event's e-store, or be happy bringing your own non-alcoholic beverages. Wondering where Le Diner en Blanc might pop up this time? In past Brissie outings, it has brought its all-white setup to Eagle Farm Racecourse, New Far Park, Roma Street Parklands and the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens. Images: Balvin Productions.
Vinyl fiends, rejoice: your annual excuse to boost your collection is here once again. No one ever needs a specific reason to stock up on records, but Record Store Day gives you just that anyway. It's a celebration of the medium, the stores that sell it and everyone who visits the latter to pick up the former. In Fortitude Valley on Saturday, April 23, Record Store Day is also a daytime party — and a shopping session, of course. Head into the Brunswick Street Mall from 10am–3pm for markets, record store pop-ups and live tunes, plus DJs spinning the obvious. Thanks to Suitcase Rummage, you'll be browsing for records — naturally — as well as vintage threads, books, jewellery, shoes, badges and more. On the decks will be DJs from the Valley's Catalog Music, QUIVR and 4ZZZ, and radio folks will be on MC duties, too. Spreading the vinyl love far and wide, there'll also DJ sets in Bakery Lane and a label showcase in Winn Lane as well.
It doesn't snow in Brisbane. Sometimes, if it gets cold enough, the skies can whiten around the Granite Belt; however, that isn't Brissie. For six days in Fortitude Valley, however, you will be able to surround yourself with the best thing that winter has to offer without leaving the city — and there'll be 50 tonnes of the stuff, in fact. Yes, all that snow will be real. You'll find it at The Prince Consort as part of the venue's Snow Week, and it'll be falling from the sky from Tuesday, June 28–Sunday, July 3. The Wickham Street spot is turning into a winter wonderland, because it's that time of year. And, it's hosting a heap of snow-themed festivities to help you make the most of the event. Fancy a round of Snow (Drag) Queen Bingo? Have an ugly sweater you'd like to bust out at a party dedicated to terrible woollen wares? Fancy pretending you're at a ski resort? They're all options throughout the week. So is attending a shindig dedicated to Canada, to celebrate Canada Day — poutine included. Also on offer: nooks to get cosy in, art installations, live performers and DJs, and special food menus to suit the occasion. Rugging up is recommended, obviously.
There's no bad place to slurp oysters, no matter which bar or restaurant around Brisbane you pick — but there's just something extra enticing about tucking into the seafood favourite when the actual sea is in sight. Fancy getting your fix on a boat, while cruising over to Moreton Island touring an oyster farm? Yes, of course you do. Tour outfit River to Bay is doing champagne and oyster trips — so you won't just be slurping, but also sipping. These voyages are setting sail on Thursday, June 23 and Friday, June 24, and include a three-hour tour, half a dozen oysters, three glasses of French sparkling, and plenty of dolphin, turtle, stingray and dugong spotting. Did we mention that those oysters will be coming straight from the ocean? And, you can pre-purchase more if you think six won't be enough, or you'd like to take some home with you. You can also buy extra champers, too. The cruises set off from Northshore Harbour Cafe at 2pm on the Thursday and 3pm on the Friday, and prices start at $149 per adult — with $289 discounts for couples also available.
When a Brisbane icon gets a revamp, it's always worth stopping by to see the results. Since late 2021, that's been the case with Woolloongabba's now 134-year-old Princess Theatre. And if you haven't yet found the right reason to make a visit, here's an ace one: the new Hot Dreams Festival. Taking over the venue from 2pm on Saturday, June 11, this music fest hails from the crew behind Nine Lives, including West End record store faves Jet Black Cat Music. But, it's hitting up The Princess rather than The Tivoli. And, it's also doing so in winter — because 2022's inaugural event wants you to ditch your coats, shimmy on over to the dance floor and heat things up by enjoying live tunes. On the bill: Lucy Dacus, Cate Le Bon and Andy Shauf, all heading to Brisbane from the US and Canada, plus Aussies Glass Beams, Pinch Points, Girl And Girl and Scraps. And, out in the courtyard, Moktar, Andras, Shandy and Scalymoth will be doing their thing on the decks, and taking the party into the evening.
