All good things evolve and change, and regular chances to browse and buy are no different. Since 2015, Metre Market has been setting up shop around town and hosting curated markets — and now it has gone and had a makeover. It's time to bid farewell to Metre Market and say hello to The Market Folk — and to head along to the latter on Sunday, November 3, Sunday, November 17 and Sunday, December 1, too. Run by Brisbane entrepreneur Sarah Malengret, the event's focus is the same, but the change of name reflects its growth over the years. First started as a rack sale, letting stallholders sell their pre-loved clothes in a metre of space, it now features everything from fashion and food to arts, homewares and design items. Eastsiders will find all of the above at Coorparoo Square from 10am–2pm, plus plants, skincare, accessories, bespoke jewellery and a soundtrack of live tunes. Fashion still features heavily, as does the chance to clear out your wardrobe, send your old outfits off to a new home and make some cash. Of course, if all you want to do is scour the tables for the best things money can buy from local up-and-coming designers, artists and makers, there's plenty of that on offer too.
It's been nine years since Jet Black Cat Music set up shop in West End — so, to celebrate, it's hopping over to the other side of town and throwing a huge block party. Come Sunday, March 1, 2020, Brisbanites will find Fortitude Valley's Costin Street overflowing with tunes, markets and food at the day-long Nine Lives Festival, which'll kick off at 11.30am and run right through until late. On hand to help: Aldous Harding, Angie McMahon, Julia Jacklin, Allah-Las, Kevin Morby, Kikagaku Moyo and Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, with music taking over three indoor and outdoor stages. Dance in The Tiv's main space, catch female and gender non-conforming artists at What's Golden, and check out a heap of other bands in the carpark. While you're outdoors, you'll also be able grab a bite from a food truck or at the onsite sausage sizzle, browse the stalls and go trawling the crates for records. And, while the fest takes its name from a famous (but completely fictional) feline trait, this is a dog-friendly affair — so you can book your pooch a ticket, too. They will have to stay outside, though. Tickets go on sale at 11am on Friday, October 25, with human tickets starting at $99.90 and doggo tickets costing $19.90.
Trivia nights mean gathering your mates around, enjoying a few beverages and trying to convert your respective stores of knowledge into glory. At this particular trivia night, you'll do all that, but there'll be a particular emphasis on your pals. Given that the topic of the evening is a certain sitcom about a band of best buddies, celebrating your chums is the thing to do. Yes, Friends is in the spotlight at The Elephant's battle of pop culture tidbits, all to commemorate the show's 25th anniversary. If you think you know everything there is to know about the series that caused viewers to agonise over whether Ross and Rachel would get together, wish that Joey and Chandler lived next door and get their hair cut like Jennifer Aniston, here's your chance to prove it. Given that it has been a quarter-century since Friends first started on TV, this contest isn't just a test of trivia, but a workout for everyone's memories — although we're betting you've binged the show more than once thanks to the wonders of streaming. Friends 25th Anniversary Trivia takes place from 6pm for a 7pm start on Thursday, October 24. Tickets are free, but registering in advance is required. And no, no one told you that watching endless television reruns could turn out this way.
For the past few years, the One Day crew has been hitting the road, bringing its famous daytime block parties to live music venues around Australia. Now it's time for another round, with DJs from the beloved Sydney hip hop collective bouncing back to Brisbane for a One Day Sundays session on December 8. Taking place at — and taking over — X Cargo, One Day Sundays will see the One Day crew team up with local DJs and artists as they roll through the Fortitude Valley shipping container hangout. Expect food, booze, live graffiti and a whole bunch of hip hop, with Nerve, Jesswar, Creed Tha Kid and Iiiconic all playing live, plus Sir Likwish, Cheq and Y2X on the DJ bill. Tickets go sale at 10am on Friday, October 18, starting at $15. That's a cheap day out — and bring your wallet to grab a few drinks, as well as a bite to eat. Making shapes is hungry and thirsty work, after all.
In every sip of whiskey sits an inescapable clash. The bite, the flavour, the way it makes the back of your throat feel like you really have had a stiff drink: they all make you want to savour each mouthful. The warm feeling in your stomach, the intoxicating aroma: well, they make you want to sample as many varieties as possible. Head along to an event that offers both on Thursday, October 24, when A World of Whiskey takes over the Regatta's Walrus Club. Relishing the unique tastes of quite the number of amber spirits is on the agenda here, all to the strains of a live jazz soundtrack. In fact, $65 gets you a taste of 50 top tipples, plus canapes to line your stomach, and your own Glencairn glass to take home. What makes a classy drinking session even better? A classy drinking session that comes with its own souvenir.
Looking for a luxe but relaxed way to welcome in the last public holiday until Christmas? Like sipping drinks in a decadent underground cocktail lounge? If you're after all of the above — and you love 90s R&B tunes — then head down to The Boom Boom Room's retro shindig on Sunday, October 6. Given the venue's moniker, you can probably bet that one old-school track will get a spin: DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince's 'Boom! Shake the Room'. There'll be more where came from, because the 90s is the decade that just kept on giving when it came to R&B. The fun kicks off at 5pm and, while you can just mosey on in whenever you feel like it, you might want to book in advance if you're keen on nabbing a booth — or splashing out on a vault spot. The bar already has a music-inspired cocktail list, so you can sip drinks inspired by famous musos and their hit tracks (including Stevie Wonder's 'Isn't She Lovely', Marvin Gaye's 'I Heard it Through the Grape Vine' and Bruno Mars' 'Locked Out of Heaven') while you're there — even if they don't necessarily fit the R&B vibe.
Your next stint of Sunday shopping just got boozier, all thanks to City Winery Brisbane and BrisStyle. The former is Fortitude Valley's resident winery, the latter hosts markets around town, and the two are joining forces for another Sip & Shop Pop-Up event. Between 11am–4pm on Sunday, November 17, Brisbanites are invited to browse stalls, buy handmade wares and enjoy a few wines in the process, all at City Winery's James Street digs. If you've always thought your market experience needed a bit of vino, then you're in luck. If you've always wished your next wine-sipping afternoon would also involve shopping, you're in luck as well. Focusing on Queensland artisans, the pop-up will feature jewellery, art, clothing and homewares, with BrisStyle highlighting some of its popular online sellers. Plus, City Winery won't just be serving up beverages, but bites to eat as well. Image: BrisStyle.
UPDATE, August 19, 2020: Birds of Passage is available to stream via Stan, Google Play, YouTube Movies and iTunes. Thanks to Narcos, Blow and plenty of similar films and television shows, the term 'Colombian drug drama' conjures up a particular image. But that's not what viewers will find in Birds of Passage, a movie that falls into the same broad category while carving its own niche. Forget Pablo Escobar, piles of cocaine and cartels fighting against the US. Forget the genre's usual slick and shiny sheen, too. Instead, Ciro Guerra and Cristina Gallego (Embrace of the Serpent) immerse their feature within a highly insular indigenous tribe, watching as its way of life is forever changed after getting into the marijuana business. The result: a multigenerational crime saga that's as much a portrait of Colombia's Wayúu community as it is about dealing in illicit substances. If the above description didn't already distinguish Birds of Passage from other drug-fuelled gangland affairs, then its visuals achieve that feat. As they did with their last picture (which Guerra directed and Gallego produced and helped edit), the filmmaking duo take an ethnographic approach, as seen in each of the movie's vibrant images and scenes. Showcasing traditional locations, clothing and ceremonies, the pair don't just present these details — in every shot and sequence, they revel in them. With ample assistance from returning cinematographer David Gallego, Birds of Passage is filled with dusty plains far removed from the Colombian drug trade's stereotypical jungles, intensive rituals used to initiate courtships and striking jewellery that has more than a decorative impact. Indeed, to see the absorbing and engrossing film's frames flicker by is to walk through the Guajira region of in the country's north, bear witness to its first peoples and explore their intricacies. While it should go without saying, other dramas that do this aren't just rare — they're non-existent. It's this specificity that both marks and shapes Birds of Passage, especially as its story purposefully winds down a recognisable path. Guerra and Gallego want their audience to take in everything that makes the Wayúu who they are, but they also want to highlight that devastation can and will plight any culture, even this one, once it's steeped in a destructive cycle of power, wealth, death and bloodshed. When the feature opens in a desert village, such matters appear far from everyone's minds. Emblazoned in red from head to toe, local beauty Zaida (Natalia Reyes) is the centre of attention, with young men lined up to win her heart — and willing to dance until they drop to do so. Rapayet (José Acosta) doesn't falter; however, although Zaida is instantly smitten, her mother Ursula (Carmiña Martínez) is hardly convinced. The formidable matriarch sets a high dowry of 30 goats, 20 cows, five necklaces and two decorative mules, expecting that the determined suitor won't be able to pay. But after a chance meeting with weed-seeking American Peace Corps volunteers, Rapayet and his pal Moisés (Jhon Narváez) discover a way to make all the money they need (and all the goats, cows, necklaces and decorative mules as well). Set across a two-decade span from the late 1960s to the early 1980s, Birds of Passage charts the ups and downs that ripple throughout the entire Wayúu enclave, as seemingly simple choices have far-reaching consequences. It's not difficult to guess where Zaida and Rapayet's tale is headed across its five chapters, or that of their entire tribe — or to foresee that Ursula's fears about her possible future son-in-law will prove well-founded. That said, it's worth noting that she's also obsessed with dreams and omens, interpreting everything around her for signs about her family's future, a technique that Guerra and Gallego also deploy with their narrative. It isn't difficult to discern what'll happen at each turn, but that's the basis of this epic film's sweeping tragedy: audiences can glean what happens next, just as Ursula tries to, and yet everyone remains thoroughly powerless to stop it. The same idea bubbled through Gabriel García Márquez's landmark novel One Hundred Years of Solitude, and the same haunting feeling of inevitability, too. Tint the Colombian author's awarded and applauded 1967 tome with an extra layer of shattering bleakness, bring it to the screen with breathtakingly vivid images and set it in a unique gangster world, and that's Birds of Passage — almost. One of the wonders of this stunningly shot and performed movie is how it nods to literary greats, to on-screen crime sagas like The Godfather and The Sopranos, and even to Shakespeare's darkest accounts of misfortune, and yet remains a wholly distinctive work. In plunging viewers into a specific way of life, beholding its beauty and watching how something so fragile can crumble when plagued by corruption, Guerra and Gallego peer closely and systematically, while also seeing the bigger picture. That's what great ethnographers do — and great filmmakers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhQsCz0X4Vw
Spring is here, the weather is glorious and if you're feeling the urge to head out of town, well, you're not alone. From 2–5pm on Saturday, November 9, you can enjoy all of the above by venturing to Spring Mountain Lagoon Park. It's at Greenbank, so not that far out of Brisbane — and as your reward for making the trek, you'll be surrounded by a whole heap of animals. At Spring Day Out, you can pat cute pooches, and even take your own pupper along to an agility and obedience demonstration put on by the RSPCA. If you're fond of native critters, then get up close and personal with snakes, bearded dragons, lizards and green tree frogs, as well as a tawny frogmouth owl, a squirrel glider and even a baby crocodile. Feeling a little stressed? Karmably will be hosting one of its animal yoga sessions, so you can bend, stretch and bliss out while surrounded by baby goats and lambs. Entry is free, and there'll also be a free barbecue and free ice cream from Ruby the Little Red Ice Cream Van. And if you're wondering what's behind this afternoon shindig, it's to promote the new Spring Mountain Acreage Estate in the area. Image: Karmably.
It's vegan Christmas time, with, Brisbane Vegan Markets getting festive from 12pm on Sunday, December 2. Prepare to celebrate in healthy, sustainable, cruelty-free, meat-free and vegetarian style. On the second Sunday of each month, BVM celebrates ethical eating choices in the best way that anyone can: bringing together all of the stalls selling all of the vegan products. Given the season, this 2019 outing will feature multiple food stalls and vendors for all of your Chrissie culinary needs, plus plenty of gifts to put under the tree. The extra present, of course, is your own peace of mind. [caption id="attachment_755499" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brisbane Vegan Markets[/caption] Stallholders always changes each and every month, but there'll be plenty this time around. Based on past markets, expect guilt-free grab bites and wares from a rotating range that has previously included I Should Coco, Grassfed, Tibetan Momo, Kings Indian Fusion, Fire & Dough, Tapioca Traders, Organic Frog Doughnuts, Chai Cart, Vegan Van, Vurger, Green Street Foods, Flour of Life and Popcorn Downunder — and they're just some of the Brissy traders known to sell their animal-free goods.
Orange juice is a tried and tested breakfast staple. Orange juice mixed with champagne? Well, that's a brunch classic. It still makes you feel like you're eating brekkie and getting a big dose of vitamins — while delivering an extra boozy kick. Yes, we're talking about mimosas. Yes, they're on the menu at Block House's brunch offering, which is particularly great news for northside residents. Head to the Nundah spot and you can spend 90 minutes sipping bottomless drinks, including brews as well. Food-wise, you'll eat your way through four or five share courses, again within that hour-and-a-half window. The $79 deal is a regular part of the cafe's menu, so it is available daily. You'll need to take a least one mate with you, because there's a two-person minimum. And if you rock up with a group, everyone at your table must partake in the boozy brunch special (not that they should need much convincing).
Tibet is the type of place everyone wants to visit — 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. Learning how to practice meditation and do yoga, all Tibetan-style, will do that of course. So will Tibetan songs, as well as a talk about the the Buddhist approach to living and dying. And there's more where that came from, with the event celebrating the resilience and optimism of a people and culture under threat, all through a showcase of the country's way of life — and for the 12th year running. [caption id="attachment_761351" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brisbane Powerhouse[/caption] Hitting up Brisbane Powerhouse from Friday, April 17–Saturday, April 18, the 2020 festival lineup includes both ticketed and free sessions. Top image: Festival of Tibet.
It has only been three short years since Call Me By Your Name first hit cinemas; however the yearning romance instantly cemented itself as an all-time great. Adapting André Aciman's novel of the same name, every element of the film hit exactly the right note — including the tender love story, charting a summer dalliance between Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer), as well as director Luca Guadagnino's gorgeous use of the story's Italian Riveria setting. Hammer's awkward dance moves, Michael Stuhlbarg playing the dad everyone wishes they had, the use of peaches — you can remember this heartwrenching movie for any or all of the above. Actually, because there's never a bad time to revisit Call Me By Your Name, you can also re-experience it all again on the big screen on Valentine's Day. Palace James Street is doing the honours, kicking off at 6.45pm on Friday, February 14. Tickets cost $15, or $10 if you're a Palace member. If you really feel like diving in, you can also purchase peach cocktails. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9AYPxH5NTM
Feel like you've experienced every date option that Brisbane has to offer? If glitz, glamour, drinks, dinner and feeling like you're in a speakeasy several decades ago amount to your idea of a good — and novel — time, then make a beeline to Cloudland's Big Band Cabaret. It's a regular event, but in honour of February 14, the next one is Valentine's-themed. Taking place in the Valley venue's Rainbow Room, the decadent shindig will have you and your loved one dancing to the Franky Smart Big Band and lapping up performances by Jacqueline Furey's Burlesque Ensemble, all while eating your way through a three-course meal and enjoying a three-hour package of beer, wine and sparkling. [caption id="attachment_757163" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Cloudland[/caption] The event has been such a hit over the last couple of years, it's no wonder that Cloudland keeps bringing it back. Head along on Friday, February 14 from 6.30pm. Tickets aren't cheap at $110 per person, but it's certain to liven up your Valentine's Day with something more than a little different.
Last year, VEND Marketplace added a new space dedicated to plants. Its mission: to help you fill your home with all types of greenery. And to help you do just that, it's hosting a huge sale. Welcome to the Greenhouse, as the area is aptly known. The place where gardeners' dreams come true, it's upping the ante from 8am on Saturday, January 25. That's when the 250-square-metre indoor garden will be slinging its green babies at a special one-day event — and yes, there'll be succulents, cacti, indoor plants, hanging plants, outdoor plants, pots and more. Plenty of plants will be on sale for less than $12, and there'll also be juice, smoothies, tea, coffee, beer and wine to drink. Plus, if you can find a hidden jungle animal, you'll nab yourself a free piece of greenery. VEND is also doggo-friendly, should you want to bring your four-legged pal with you. Image: VEND Marketplace.
Every week over at its Gasworks store, Salt Meats Cheese serves up all-you-can-eat pizza. Yes, it's as delicious as it sounds. If you're a vegan and you've been holding back, the eatery has you covered too. SMC mightn't ditch animal products as often, but when it does, it's something special. Next occurring on Tuesday, February 11, SMC's bottomless vegan pizza feast is in full swing again in 2020 — and again, it includes unlimited vegan pasta as well. All you need to do is book a table in advance, with sittings available from 5pm. The pizza and pasta free-for-all will set you back a highly affordable $25, and while you'll also have to buy a drink, you can choose from both boozy and non-alcoholic options. For an extra $5, you can also opt for all-you-can-eat gluten-free vegan pizza too. Finding decent slices that cater to dietary requirements is hard enough, let alone devouring as many as you feel like in one sitting, so expect this to be popular. Updated February 7.
Move over, craft beer — it's craft spirits' time to shine. Everyone's been to a day dedicated to the former, but from 1–4pm on Sunday, May 31 you can spend an afternoon with all the whisky, gin and vodka you could ever want with more than 30 exhibitors and master distillers showcasing over 100 craft spirits at 2019's Indie Spirits Tasting. For the fifth time, the Indie Tasting folks are bringing their spirit celebration to Brisbane for the type of event that whiskey, gin, rum, vodka and tequila-lover's dreams are made of. We'd keep listing different kinds of spirits, but we're getting thirsty. Taking place at The Triffid, tickets are $65 — and not only include samples of the best Aussie and international indie brands on offer, but free bar snacks and access to seminars across the afternoon too. And for those particularly eager, early bird tickets are available until May 15 for the discounted price of $45.
Whoever first thought to pair bacon and eggs was a smart person indeed. It's an all-time classic food combination, whether just served by themselves, accompanied by mushrooms and tomatoes for breakfast, plonked on a stacked burger or dished up atop a juicy steak. But will the duo work in dessert form? La Macelleria wants you to find out, with the Brisbane gelato joint serving up bacon and egg gelato for one day only. It's made from smoked bacon-infused, egg-based gelato, then filled with maple syrup candied bacon pieces. Whether you're salivating or horrified, you're intrigued by the savoury-sweet blend — admit it. Grab your scoop, or several, on Sunday, January 26. It'll be available at the chain's Teneriffe, West End and Coorparoo stores all day. (King Street won't be open on the day.)
UPDATE: October 9, 2020: Just Mercy is available to stream via Netflix, Google Play, YouTube, iTunes and Amazon Video. When Walter McMillian was arrested in 1987 for the murder of a white teenager Ronda Morrison, the African American man was immediately sent to Alabama's death row. Before his was convicted and sentenced — before his trial even started — he spent 15 months among men condemned to die for their crimes. This move, orchestrated by the Monroeville sheriff's office, was extraordinary. It also speaks volumes about the way McMillian was treated from the moment he was cuffed. It's a minor detail in Just Mercy, the legal drama that tells his story, and McMillian is by no means the only person the tactic was used on — but if a suspect is saddled with such a fate before their day in court, how can justice ever truly prevail? That's one of the questions that lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) both ponders and seeks to redress in Just Mercy, with the movie exploring his tale as much as McMillian's (Jamie Foxx). Another issue the crusading attorney tackles: why black defendants are instantly assumed guilty, but the same rarely applies to white culprits. This is a film filled with fervour, charting the Stevenson's efforts to save a man facing execution. It's also an indictment of the inequities of America's legal system, and of US society as a whole. Those two aims are intertwined, of course. The minutiae of McMillian's case remains heartbreakingly familiar, as does Stevenson's accompanying battle for fairness — because in situations like this, the names may change but the details usually stay much the same. When the feature introduces Stevenson, he's an idealistic Harvard student meeting his first death row prisoner. Realising how much he has in common with the incarcerated young man — and seeing the difference lending a kindly ear makes — he commits to fighting against unjust death sentences when he graduates from college. After securing federal funding, crossing paths with the similarly passionate Eva Ansley (Brie Larson) and starting an organisation called the Equal Justice Initiative, he moves to Alabama in 1989 to do exactly that. McMillian's case is still the talk of Monroeville and, although it takes time to convince the imprisoned man himself, it's soon Stevenson's priority. Even audiences with zero prior knowledge of McMillian's plight can guess what comes next. A plethora of evidence proves his innocence, while just as much illustrates how little the folks that put him behind bars cared about his legal rights — or about true justice. Confronted with these facts, everyone involved in the local legal system sports an uncaring attitude, including the new prosecutor (Rafe Spall) who refuses to reopen the case. Adapted from Stevenson's own memoir by writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton with his The Glass Castle co-scribe Andrew Lanham, each of Just Mercy's revelations, speeches and courtroom showdowns plays out as expected; however, that's actually part of what makes this earnest movie pack a punch. Just Mercy boasts much that other films would envy, such as an emotive true tale, serious subject matter that's sadly still relevant today and a top-notch cast. Eyes blazing, his voice calm yet commanding, and compassion driving his every move, Jordan is especially fantastic as Stevenson — and he's matched by a restrained but no less resonant Foxx as a man resigned to the lie of the land in the deep south. But the feeling that this has all been seen before is used to particularly compelling effect here. It's something that Cretton is clearly cognisant of, as he was when he focused on troubled teens living in a group home in the excellent Short Term 12. Layering in other cases, such as that of fellow death row prisoner Herbert Richardson (Rob Morgan), the filmmaker draws attention to the unending spate of real-life stories such as these. That's not a new revelation, but it bears heavily on a movie that's already weighty anyway. Indeed, in the feature's most powerful scenes, Cretton makes viewers face the ultimate consequences of a legal system predicated upon prejudice rather than justice. His is a measured and polished film both visually and tonally, but it purposefully lingers as one character inches towards their state-sanctioned end — lurking over every step and staring at the pain in the condemned man's expression, all to evoke a concerted sense of discomfort. This approach is far from understated, although neither is Just Mercy in general. Sincerity and deliberation don't have to go hand-in-hand with subtlety, after all. These types of tales might've reached pages and screens so often that they've become standard (McMillian's hometown of Monroeville was also the place where To Kill a Mockingbird's Harper Lee grew up, as the feature points out repeatedly), but this one firmly demonstrates why the fact they've become so routine also remains undeniably rousing, moving and devastating. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78k9Mhgzy74
Like karaoke? Fond of singing in public in general, whether you're solo or in a group? Then it's time to up your crooning game. Pub Choir is exactly what it sounds like — aka a gathering of folks belting out a tune, together, in a boozy environment. It's basically what happens whenever someone puts 'Wonderwall' or 'Weather With You' on the jukebox, but in a far more organised fashion. Specifically, each session features a particular song, which attendees learn in three-part harmonies. Talented professionals are there to show you the ropes and lead the way, so all you need to do is show up and get singing — and drinking. Doing the rounds of Brisbane venues since early 2017, Pub Choir has become mighty popular, with tickets getting snapped up very quickly for each monthly show. As a result, it's heading to the Riverstage for its biggest gig ever at 6pm on Sunday, May 9. And, although specific names haven't been announced, it'll have some sizeable Aussie music stars taking to the stage. Yes, the CBD will be alive with the sound of music and the sounds of plenty of folks singing and sipping, because both go hand-in-hand here. And if you're not usually the type of person to unleash their inner Beyonce in front of the masses, don't worry. The great thing about choirs is that everyone is singing, so you are literally a voice in the crowd. In fact, you might just find joining in the fun cathartic. If you can't feel free when you're crooning along with hundreds of others, when can you? Tickets for Pub Choir at the Riverstage are on sale now for $45.
How many hours have you spent playing the best karting game ever made? Too many? We'll throw a shell at that idea. When it comes to Mario Kart, there's no such thing as too much. In fact, you should race on out of the house and down to B. Lucky & Sons to show off your skills. From 5pm on Tuesday, March 10, the Fortitude Valley bar will become a haven for everyone that knows just when to sling a ghost at their opponents — and just how to press buttons in the right order to get an early boost. If you're keen to feel the need for speed playing Mario Kart, you can do so at the venue for free as part of its MAR10 is Mario Day celebrations. While both entry and mashing Mario Kart buttons are free, you will need your wallet for beverages. [caption id="attachment_694672" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Zennieshia[/caption] There'll be prizes on offer, too — including if you dress up as Luigi, Peach or whichever other Mario Kart character takes your fancy. We're assuming that there won't be any banana peels to throw around the place, but maybe watch where you're walking anyway.
After initially launching in early March, then shutting down due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival is making a comeback — in line with cinemas reopening in Brisbane. Returning to finish its 2020 event, it's heading back to Palace James Street and Palace Barracks from July 14–August 4. And, when it restarts on Bastille Day, it's bringing most of its originally announced program with it. In one of the films on the 2020 bill, Eva Green (Penny Dreadful) rockets into space, playing a single mother who's also the only woman in the European Space Agency's astronaut training program. In another flick showing at the fest, voodoo, a secret literary society and a Haitian teen all combine. In other words: no matter what kind of French film you're looking for, you'll likely find it on the event's 31st lineup. If you're eager to catch the two aforementioned movies, then put Proxima and Zombi Child on your must-see list — but there's more where they came from, of course. Also on offer is Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano's The Extraordinary, which dramatises the real-life efforts of Frenchman Stéphane Benhamou — who runs his own Parisian shelter for autistic youth who aren't cared for by the system otherwise. And, there's also comedy The Bare Necessity. In the Cannes-premiering title, a radio show agony aunt in a small village is completely unaware that her adult sons have been calling in with their own problems. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIsEZ2tTavU Other highlights include Oscar-nominee Les Misérables, about clashes between cops, teens and gangs in Montfermeil; as well as the 1968-set How to Be a Good Wife, which sees Juliette Binoche run a housekeeping school that prepares teenagers to become housewives. Or, French film lovers can catch Farewell to the Night, where The Truth's Catherine Deneuve is forced to deal with her grandson's radicalisation; plus rom-com Room 212, the latest movie by Sorry Angel's Christophe Honoré. Elsewhere a secret manuscript sparks a twisty whodunnit in The Translators, and life in 90s Afghanistan gets animated in book-to-screen adaptation The Swallows of Kabul. The Alliance Française French Film Festival screens at Brisbane's Palace James Street and Palace Barracks from July 14–August 4. Session times are yet to be announced — keep an eye on the festival website for further details.
There's always some sort of party going at Welcome to Bowen Hills, and while doggos are always welcome, the venue's Tiny Dog Festival will see the space swarmed by pups of the super small variety. If it's an adorable little barking creature, it'll be in the spotlight on Saturday, March 14 — so bring your own or prepare to pat plenty of others. The site's food trucks and bars won't just be catering to humans, either. Expect puppacinos and other doggie treats, plus there'll be beer (for you) and bone (for your four-legged friend) deals on offer. As part of the all-round celebration of pint-sized pooches over a few pints, the fest will also feature a best dressed tiny dog competition. If your pupper great style, then you'll want to take part. Plus, Welcome to Bowen Hills also wants to find Brissy's tiniest adult dog, so prepare to spend a date staring at cute pooches that could fit in your pocket and saying "awwwwwww".
All dogs go to heaven, or so 80s animated movies have taught us. All Brisbane dogs and their pooch-loving owners can also go to the city's one-day canine-centric market, aka Paws-Fest — aka pupper heaven on earth. A non-profit affair raising funds for RSPCA Queensland, this market will be filled with more pet fare than a furry woofer can shake its tail at. There'll be more than 50 stallholders slinging their wares, so your cute pooch won't go home with empty paws. Expect everything from treats to toys, plus food trucks serving snacks for humans, when the event takes over Eagle Farm's Paws & Relax from 9am–3pm on Sunday, June 7. [caption id="attachment_762797" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Paws-Fest[/caption] All two-legged attendees are invited to pay a gold coin on entry, and to bring their four-legged besties on leashes, too; however if you're a person in need of a pooch, the RSPCA will be on hand. We're not saying that this is the excuse you need to adopt a pupper, stock up on everything it needs, contribute to a very worthy cause and then start living your best dog-filled life – but we're not not saying that either.
If it's the knockoff frothies you're missing the most, tuning into the new live stream programming from The Crafty Pint and Ale of a Time should provide some hopped-out, fizzy relief. The two Aussie beer publications have joined forces and launched a new YouTube channel, where they're broadcasting a series of daily virtual beer-sipping sessions. The Beer Together videos are here to help during a time when the pub's off-limits, inviting a roll-call of industry mates to your screens for some good ol' beer appreciation, education and banter. Each session varies, though they're mostly focused on celebrating great local beer, with guests from some of your favourite breweries and venues. You can keep an eye on what's to come over at Ale of a Time's Facebook page. We've had an on-couch tasting party with New Zealand's Behemoth Brewing Co, a sit-down with Sparkke Brewing's Carla Naismith, a cooking class with Casey Wall of Falco Bakery and now a regular beer quiz helmed by The Crafty Pint's Judd Owen, streaming 8.30pm AEST every Sunday. And of course, if you miss any of the live streams, the videos are sticking around on YouTube for you to view any time you like. Hooked and want more? Jump on the mailing list for links to the post-video after-parties. Top image: Kate Shanasy
Like plenty of other booze-making companies around the country, Brisbane Distillery has jumped into the hand sanitiser game, using its high-class alcohol to pump out the product no one can get enough of at the moment. If that sounds like just the kind of thing you'd like to slather all over your digits, you can pick up some at Get Sanitised — Woolloongabba's short-term hand sanitiser pop-up. Yes, 'short-term hand sanitiser pop-up' is a term no one could've or would've ever dreamed up just a few short weeks ago. Yes, it's a definite sign of these strange times. And yes, it's likely to be popular, as you'd expect of anything selling non-gel hospital-grade hand sanitiser made from 80-percent alcohol. A collaboration between Brisbane Distillery and carpark outfit Get Parked, Get Sanitised is setting up a drive-through at 73 Ipswich Road, so you can pick up some sanitiser without getting out of your car. Head along from Thursday, April 9–Sunday, April 12 between 9am–4pm, which is when you'll find three different sizes on offer. Nab a 500-millilitre bottle for $24.90, opt for hefty five-litre container for $149.90 or go for a whopping 20-litre pack for $425 — all of which can be pre-ordered online in advance. Because this pop-up is being held over the Easter long weekend, you can also score a treat with your hand sanitiser if you drop by on Sunday, April 12. Every pickup on the day will come with free Easter eggs — well, while stocks last. And, to maintain social-distancing requirements, those eggs will be rolled into your car via a 1.5-metre tube. If you won't be in the vicinity of Brisbane's inner east over Easter, look out for future Get Sanitiser pop-ups elsewhere — with plans afoot for future events in north Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Get Sanitised will pop up at 73 Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba from Thursday, April 9–Sunday, April 12 between 9am–4pm daily.
Love pasta, but never quite mastered the art of making your own gnocchi? Always wanted to whip up your own soap and shampoo bars — or maybe some soy candles? Perhaps you've dreamed of fashioning bangles, macrame key rings and clay planters yourself. Or, you could harbour a lifelong dream to get into calligraphy. Whether you're keen to get stitching and sewing, build a terrarium, or paint a portrait of your pet pooch, ClassBento's new Craft Box workshop series has a session for you. Moving its classes online, it's now live-streaming all manner of 30–60 minute creative seminars. They're taught by a range of artists and teachers across Australia — and you can either enrol in one of ClassBento's public classes, or round up some pals (virtually, of course) and book in for your own private session. Given the broad selection of classes on offer — including punch needle embroidery, making edible wafer paper roses for cakes and shibori dyeing, just to name a few — dates and prices vary. For the latest details on your session of interest, head to Class Bento's website. [caption id="attachment_766964" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Paint Bar[/caption] Plus, if you're wondering about all the different tools you'll need to learn to weave, make a kokedama hanging moss ball or create paper mache collage bowls, each class comes with a craft box. Once you've chosen your session, it'll be delivered to you in advance — so, when class time comes, you'll be ready to go.
If you're a Brisbanite with a fondness for trivia — and a head full of otherwise pointless tidbits just waiting to be scribbled down quickly — then you've likely been to one of Man vs Bear's events. Usually, its slate is filled with both general and themed trivia evenings at plenty of pubs and bars around town; however, when COVID-19 restrictions hit, it took its questions online for everyone everywhere to enjoy. Meet Isolation Trivia. No, all the questions won't just be about staying indoors — but because that's what we're all now doing, these trivia nights will be live-streamed. Man vs Bear and Not On Your Rider's Aimon Clark will play quizmaster, you'll jot down your answers at home and everyone can compare scores virtually — and battle for trivia supremacy. Isolation Trivia will be popping up regularly, with the next trivia nights live-streaming on Tuesday, September 22 and Friday, September 25 — at 6.30pm AEST. To play along, head to the event's Facebook page. Top image: Not On Your Rider
Cheese and pasta go together like few food combinations. As great as they both are individually, a particularly enticing alchemy of flavours occurs when they join forces. But simply sprinkling grated mozzarella or ground parmesan over your spaghetti is yesterday's news. Eating pasta served out of a cheese wheel is what it's all about now. Salt Meats Cheese is hopping on everyone's current favourite Italian culinary bandwagon with its weekly night dedicated to the dish. Drop into the chain's Gasworks eatery on Wednesdays from 5pm, and you'll tuck into the cheesiest bowl of pasta you're ever likely to taste — for $25, plus $5 for toppings. Flavour-wise, there's a few available, because even a meal like cheese wheel pasta can use a few additions. Just classic cheese is still on the menu, as are two other varieties each week. In the past, everything from truffle and carbonara to pesto genovese, gorgonzola and smoked mozzarella have been dished up, so arrive hungry. Bookings are essential and can be made here.
National Reconciliation Week happens every year, with the purpose of educating all Australians about our shared history and celebrate the culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The (very fitting) theme this year? In This Together. Running from May 27 to June 3, the festival's dates signify two important milestones in our reconciliation: the 1967 referendum and the Mabo decision, which saw the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples land rights. This year, the program will centre on ideas of moving forward as a nation and working toward a shared future. Of course, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the week-long program will look a little different. It'll launch with an Acknowledgement of Country from 12pm on Wednesday, May 27, with Australians paying their respects via social media. Then, a panel discussion hosted by Larissa Behrendt (Speaking Out) will take place on Thursday, May 28 from 12–1pm. She'll be joined by parliament members Ken Wyatt and Linda Burney, plus Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine and University of Wollongong Lecturer Summer May Finlay to discuss the historic bridge walks of 2000 and the role of reconciliation since then. For more information and to stream, check out the Facebook event here. Also on the bill is a Virtual Indigenous Film Festival and an hour-long concert, featuring Busby Marou, Alice Skye and Jimblah and hosted by Christine Anu, no less. It'll go down at 9.05pm on Friday, May 29 and you can tune in via ABC Radio or head to Reconciliation Australia, ABC Sydney or ABC Australia Facebook pages. The National Gallery of Victoria will be hosting its own events to celebrate Reconciliation Week, including an introduction to Indigenous art, a look at the artworks of Destiny Deacon, and 'Curating Indigenous Art', which is a collaboration between the NGV, ACMI, Koori Heritage Trust and Deakin University. Sydney's AGNSW currently has an interview with artist Gail Mabo you can watch as part of its Together in Art series. The Sydney Opera House has a five-day program lined up, too, including recorded concerts, talks, dance performances, Badu Gili and the First Nations Arts Awards 2020. Red Room Poetry is hosting its annual Poetry in First Languages. https://youtu.be/T5hs5MLVqUM Images: Badu Gili, Sydney Opera House; Regalla (2013) by Reko Rennie, NGV courtesy of blackartprojects.
Keen to make your next night in a big one? Now that you can invite five mates round (with sensible social distancing in place, of course), you can make it a real party. So, if you're keen to cut some serious shapes this weekend, ring up five of your nearest and dearest and dust off that disco ball because a new one-off party with pumping tunes and bad fashion is taking over your living room on Saturday, May 23. Yep, Canadian Club's annual Bad Sweater Party is going virtual. Hang on, a Bad Sweater Party? The major point of difference for this party is that you've got a dress code. Don an ugly jumper — it's OK, you're partying at home. And, yes, you'll get pretty sweaty with all those killer moves you'll be busting. Hot Dub Time Machine will be bringing the dance-worthy tunes, which will have you pushing your furniture aside and starting a makeshift dance floor in no time. Expect everything from 50s rock 'n' roll tunes to disco hits like ABBA's 'Gimme Gimme Gimme' and Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September'. Once you hit the more recent decades, there's often glam rock, a bit of 90s grunge, Darude's epic 'Sandstorm' and 'Toxic' by Britney. As you dance your way through the decades, you'll be working up quite the sweat (you'll be in a sweater, remember), so you'll also want some cold ones nearby. Get into the spirit of things by mixing up some CC 'n' drys. Or save yourself the trouble and grab a case of the stuff. It'll all kick off at 7pm and you can tune in to the live set via Hot Dub's Twitch account.
Feel like scoring a dose of da funk on a Friday night, losing yourself to dance and getting lucky? Of course you do. You'll be burnin' up the floor, getting derezzed and giving life back to music in no time at The Brightside from 8pm on Friday, March 12 — and if you do so harder, better, faster and stronger, you'll be doin' it right indeed. If you haven't guessed just who is in the spotlight at One More Time: A Daft Punk Appreciation Party, then you probably need to take your helmet off and prepare to give some of the best albums of the past two decades a spin one more time. There'll be robot rock, plenty of digital love and you might even think you've been around the world while you're throwing shapes. Yep, indulging your instant crush on the electronic duo best known as Daft Punk is easy as the Fortitude Valley venue works its way through the French headpiece fans' discography. The dance music-fuelled party will help you work through your feelings about the duo recently calling it quits, too. Entry starts at $11.65, and a selection of other electro artists will pump through the speakers between Daft Punk tracks, including Fat Boy Slim, MGMT and more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmi60Bd4jSs
If you're starting to feel like a new season hasn't truly started until Finders Keepers has come to town, you're not alone. The ever-expanding art and design market has been bringing us face-to-face with some of the country's most quirky and creative designers for over a decade now — and it's set to do it all over again when it returns from Friday, April 23–Sunday, April 25. The focus remains, as ever, on helping you discover and connect with the next wave of independent and emerging artisans. Expect to find everything from jewellery, fashion and ceramics to leather goods, body products and items for your pets. Many of the market's seasoned vendors will also return — so, if you've been kicking yourself since last round that you didn't pick something up, you're in luck. And, you're covered when the inevitable shopping-induced hunger strikes, with food trucks and coffee spots on offer. Tickets are $5, which you'll need to buy online this year in advance — whether you're planning to head along on Friday from 3–9.30pm, on Saturday from 10am–7pm or on Sunday from 12–5pm. Keen to start creating your shopping list now? You can head to the Finders Keepers market lineup to see the full scope of vendors. Images: Samee Lapham.
If your working week runs from Monday–Friday, then we know exactly what you look forward to while the 9–5 grind ticks by. Everyone loves Friday afternoons — that glorious time when you can stroll out of the office, stop thinking about everything that's filled up your brain for the week, and kick back and relax. Two days off awaits, after all. For many, even now that 2021 is well and truly underway, adjusting to life back in the office is still an ongoing process. So if that's left you extra eager to celebrate the weekend, that's understandable. Thankfully, Cloudland will help you do just that at its Bubbles and Oyster Pop-Up, which runs from 5–7pm on, April 30, May 28 and June 25. Your $30 ticket gets you a flight of four splashes of sparkling (in 60-millilitre servings). You'll also be able to slurp up four oysters — two served natural, and two with Italian vinaigrette. While you're enjoying both the sparkling and the seafood, all you need to do is sit down with your mates and celebrate the weekend. Yes, that's something worth saying cheers to.
Roll up, roll up, the big top is here — but when you step into Infamous' spiegeltent, you're not stepping into an ordinary circus. A blend of acrobatics, clowning, dancing, comedy, cabaret and burlesque, this is strictly an adults-only affair. Think performers getting a little risqué, acrobats with ripped abs and displays of raunchy dancing, as well as death-defying acts with a devilish dash and plenty of cheeky laughs. Yes, this is a show that comes with a word of warning, so prepare for a two-hour stint of naughtiness that ramps up the indulgence and the hedonism — and the sauciness as well. After packing out previous seasons throughout southeast Queensland, Infamous hits Rocklea between Thursday, April 8 and Sunday, May 30. You'll find its big top at the Showgrounds, with performances running from Thursday to Sunday during its almost two-month stay — and with tickets ranging from $52.30 all the way up to $247.35 for the best seats in the house.
Australian cinephiles are well and truly accustomed to seeing the rest of the world via the big screen but, after the past year, 2021's Spanish Film Festival really couldn't be more welcome. And, it won't just transport movie buffs to the country that gives the annual filmic showcase its name. Twenty features from Spain are definitely on the bill, but so are nine from Latin America. That gives Brisbanites plenty of movie-watching options come Wednesday, April 18, when the fest kicks off its local season for this year. You'll have until Sunday, May 16 to head to Palace Barracks and Palace James Street, tuck into some popcorn, enjoy everything from award-winning rom-coms to twisty thrillers, and pretend that you're somewhere other than your own city. Highlights include road movie Wishlist, starring Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!'s Victoria Abril; romantic comedies Rosa's Wedding and The Wedding Unplanner, because matrimony seems to be a theme; Goya Award-winner Schoolgirls, which took out the gong for Best Film; and While At War, the latest film from The Others director Alejandro Amenábar. Heroic Losers serves up a charming heist comedy starring the always engaging Ricardo Darín (Everybody Knows), while the 1950s–70s-set The Moneychanger delivers a satirical twist on crime epics. If you're only going to see one movie, though, make it Ema — not just because it stars Gael García Bernal and is directed by No, The Club, Neruda and Jackie filmmaker Pablo Larraín, but because this tale about a dancer (Mariana Di Girolamo) is a simply stunning piece of cinema. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpt6Vffhtik&feature=emb_logo
It's that time of year, Brisbanites: time for every patch of this city to play host to festive-themed markets. No matter where you're moseying, you won't be far from a collection of stalls selling plenty of gifts — including Woolloongabba's South City Square from 9am–1pm on Saturday, December 5. That's when The Market Folk is taking over the place, putting on a Christmas Pop-Up Market that'll be filled with stocking-stuffers. We hope your loved ones like clothes, jewellery, ceramics, plants, pots, homewares and art, because you'll find it all here. With In Black The Label, Georgina Dunn Jewellery and Harrison Ceramic Studio among the stallholders, the markets will have a big focus on design, so you won't be browsing and buying just any old wares. As well as the shopping, there'll be live music and Christmas wreath workshops. There'll be bites to eat as well — and, if you like soft serve ice cream or cupcakes (or both), you will be able to nab a few freebies. The Soft Spot will be giving out 50 free desserts and Coloured Butter Cupcakes will be doing the same, on a first in, first served basis.
Since cinemas reopened in Brisbane, Dendy has been celebrating by hosting a number of themed film festivals. So far, it has focused on excellent anime, top-notch queer cinema and big-screen musicals — and now, for its last movie showcase of 2020, it's heading into the obvious festive territory at both Coorparoo and Portside. Don't go thinking that the Naughty & Nice Christmas Film Festival is only playing jolly and merry movies, though. If you like your seasonal cinema shenanigans with a tad more darkness than Home Alone's hijinks, your tastes are catered for, too. Yes, Home Alone is on the bill. Of course it is. But so is Finland's out-there Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, a Die Hard and Die Hard 2 double feature, the Mel Gibson-starring Fatman and musical zombie flick Anna and the Apocalypse. In the more jovial camp, you can also watch The Nightmare Before Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, Love Actually, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and Miracle on 34th Street — plus The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Santa Clause, Elf and The Man Who Invented Christmas. Each title plays at different times on different days during the fest — and some only at Coorparoo — so make sure to check the session schedule before hopping in your sleigh and heading along. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ9DDU4R5QI
Southeast Queensland does pretty well in the craft brew stakes and, in 2019, it officially (and finally) welcomed GABS to the area. For those who haven't heard of the boozy annual celebration — which made its presence known in Melbourne and Sydney first — we're talking about the Great Australian Beer SpecTAPular. And while its 2020 Brisbane event has been postponed until April 2021, it's giving brew-lovers something to celebrate when January rolls around if you're keen to head up or down the coast. Consider the GABS Summer Craft Beer Festival a highlights package, taking place on the Sunshine Coast Stadium Foreshore precinct on Saturday, January 2 and the Great Lawn at Broadwater Parklands on the Gold Coast on Saturday, January 9. A huge selection of beverages will be on offer, and they're really not the kind of brews you'll get to sip every day. In fact, there'll be two GABS Invitational Bars, each taking over a 40-foot container and pouring from 120 taps apiece, as well as a dedicated New Zealand Festival Bar focusing on 10 breweries from across the ditch and unique beers they've brewed specifically for the fest. Split across two sessions on each day — 11.30am–4pm and 5.0–10pm — the GABS Summer Craft Beer Festival isn't just about brews. It's mainly about them, but you'll be able to hop on a giant ferris wheel, listen to jazz and soul performers, and sip vino at a champagne and wine bar on the lawn as well. Also on the agenda: tucking into bites to eat from local food businesses and listening to panel discussions with industry folks.
It's vegan Christmas time, with Brisbane Vegan Markets getting festive from 9am on Sunday, December 13 — as it does every year. Prepare to celebrate the season in healthy, sustainable, cruelty-free, meat-free and vegetarian style. On the second Sunday of each month, BVM puts the focus on ethical eating and buying choices in the best way that anyone can: bringing together all of the stalls selling all of the vegan products. Given the season, this 2020 outing will feature multiple food stalls and vendors for all of your Chrissie culinary needs, plus plenty of gifts to put under the tree. The extra present, of course, is your own peace of mind. Stallholders always changes each and every month (and, when it comes to the Christmas market, each year), but there'll be plenty this time around — as there always is. And, they'll all filled to the brim with animal-free goods. Also, if you'd like to bring your pooch along for a spot of festive shopping, you can. [caption id="attachment_755499" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Brisbane Vegan Markets[/caption]
Already known for its bottomless vegan pizza and pasta feasts, Italian restaurant chain Salt Meats Cheese has been upping its cruelty-free food game at a series of monthly special events this year. Called Soul Meets Cheers, it serves up an entirely plant-based menu, featuring vegan versions of Italian classics — and it's doing just that for its Christmas edition. For the feast's December outing — taking place at all Brisbane venues from 5pm on Tuesday, December 22 — it'll be focusing on festive dishes. Think roast pumpkin stuffed with lentils and cranberry, a star-shaped pizza topped with porcini and semi-dried tomatoes, and panforte with fruit and nuts for dessert. And yes, that just a few of the dishes on offer. Your $49 ticket also includes a glass of vegan wine or beer upon arrival. Or, you can pay an extra $15 and go bottomless with your vegan booze.
As part of the flurry of new streaming services competing for our eyeballs, FanForce TV joined the online viewing fold during the COVID-19 pandemic — with the pay-per-view platform not only screening movies, but pairing them with virtual Q&A sessions as well. Now, between Wednesday, November 11–Sunday, November 15 it's also hosting an online film fest: its second Virtual Indigenous Film Festival. The returning event coincides with NAIDOC Week, and will showcase five films: In My Own Words, The Song Keepers, The Flood, Wik vs Queensland and Westwind: Djalu's Legacy. That means you can watch your way through an array of Aussie movies focused on Indigenous stories, spanning both dramas and documentaries — and exploring race relations in the process. Sessions will also feature guest speakers, such as The Flood's writer/director/producer Victoria Wharfe McIntyre, The Song Keepers' filmmaker Naina Sen and Ben Strunin from Westwind: Djalu's Legacy. Viewers can tune in on a film-by-film basis, or buy an all-access pass to tune into everything. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY3O5LtMo9Q&feature=emb_logo Top image: Westwind: Djalu's Legacy
Last-minute shopping, over-indulging at celebratory shindigs, and pretending not to be annoyed about receiving another pair of socks: they're all a part of every Christmas. For kids and adults alike, so is many a seasonal-themed movie. If it has Santa or Christmas in the title, it's optimal viewing at this time of year. The folks at South Bank certainly think so, and have thrown together their yearly Christmas Cinema Series brimming with merriment. But these free films aren't just for families. Any Yuletide movie held under Brisbane's starry skies and by the water at River Quay Green at this summery time of the season is perfect for, well, everyone. Pack a picnic and enjoy double features every night from Friday, December 18–Wednesday, December 23. The familiar but still festive and fun lineup includes Arthur Christmas, The Polar Express, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation — and, in case you're already feeling positively jovial and jolly enough, some non-Christmas fare as well. So, you can also watch everything from Happy Feet, The Castle and Paddington to Hunt for the Wilderpeople, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Little Women. Attending is free, but you'll need to register first in line with the event's COVID-19-safe practices. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTk3DpccpUY
By this time in October, with the end of the month closer than the beginning, you're well aware that spring is here. But if you'd like to celebrate the almost two-month-old season anyway — because it's sunnier and warmer than Brisbane's mild winter, or because there hasn't been much to celebrate in 2020 so far — then Portside Wharf is happy to oblige. From Thursday, October 22–Tuesday, November 3, the inner-north spot is hosting a spring pop-up — with four things on the menu. You'll walk through floral displays, listen to live piano, grab a bite to eat and sip a few beverages. If there's a fifth thing on offer, it's feeling mighty relaxed. Those flowers are blooming around the precinct, while you'll hear the ivories being tickled on Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as Saturday and Sunday around lunchtime. Belvedere Bar and Grill is serving up confit of duck and Mr & Mrs Jones has opted for lemon tarts with viola flowers, while Sono Japanese restaurant is pouring yuzu cocktails. At Byblos Bar, you can work your way through its spritz menu — and Gusto da Gianni Moretti is hosting a pop-up bar by the water.
When it comes to watching some of the most entertaining movies ever committed to celluloid, Dendy Coorparoo is taking Grease's advice — by giving viewers more. From Thursday, October 29–Wednesday, December 2, the venue is dedicating a heap of sessions to big-screen musicals. Yes, we expect that you'll hear some singing from the audience while you're watching. Called The Show Must Go On, this retrospective season will work its way through a huge 23 films, all screening multiple times on different dates. Basically, it's serving up a mini-history of the genre — including classics such as Singin' in the Rain and The Sound of Music, cult favourites like The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and more recent fare such as Mamma Mia! and Rocketman. While the Moulin Rouge! stage show is hopefully still coming to Australia in the near future, if COVID-19 doesn't get in the way of its plans, you can catch the Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman-starring movie on the big screen first. Also on the lineup: Grease (obviously), Little Shop of Horrors, My Fair Lady, Annie, New York, New York, Fiddler on the Roof, Hello, Dolly!, Calamity Jane, Meet Me in St Louis and Oliver! (if you haven't noticed, musicals like exclamation marks), plus 42nd Street, West Side Story, All That Jazz, A Chorus Line, Chicago, La Vie En Rose and Once). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTm5DWgL-MU
The course of true love never did run smooth, William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream told us — and, for three weeks in February 2021, the Gold Coast will be home to a pop-up museum that explores that inescapable truth. At the Heartbreak Hotel: Museum of Love and Disappointments, trinkets, relics and remnants from real-life relationships will be on display. Each one tells a story, whether it's a treasured item that once belonged to someone's ex, a reminder of an existing couple's first date or a pile of passionate notes. For $10 a ticket, you'll see everything from a wedding garter worn half a century ago to a pilfered Playstation. The latter comes with a note: "you broke my heart so I stole your Playstation — how are you going to play FIFA now?". It'll all grace the QT Gold Coast's walls from Monday, February 1–Sunday, February 21, and your entry fee also includes a drink at the onsite Fixx Cafe or Stingray Lounge. If you happen to be checking in for a night's stay (take your special someone — it'd be fitting), you can see the exhibition for free. Everyone has their own reminders of past and present loves, of course. If you'd like to donate your own to go on display, you can do that, too, by contacting the venue. You'll need to share a story to go with it — or, you can keep whatever object makes you think of your partner or ex and just submit your story.
For the past year, BrewDog has been serving Brisbanites plenty of cold ones, with the Scottish beer behemoth making this sunny city of ours its Australian home. Over that time, you've probably sat by the river and knocked back the company's brews — but at its new festival, you'll be encouraged to try yeasty bevvies from other breweries. Called Collabfest, the weekend-long event will celebrate brews from four other beer-making outfits from across southeast Queensland: Currumbin Valley Brewing, Black Hops, Brouhaha and FICK. They'll be brewing brand new (and unique) beers for the occasion, too, so expect to taste something that you haven't sipped before. There are two parts to the shindig. First, it all kicks off with a Thursday night launch, where you'll be able to chat to the brewers. Then, until Sunday, you'll be able to drop by and drink their wares whenever you like. The whole event runs across Thursday, November 19–Sunday, November 22 — and, although BrewDog is making a big deal of it, it's simply an expansion of its current approach. Already, its DogTap taproom serves up other tipples from the Sunshine State including Range Brewing, Black Hops, Brouhaha, Aether and Sea Legs. But when it comes to beer, any excuse for a party will do. Images: Pandora Photography
Already known for its bottomless vegan pizza and pasta feasts, Italian restaurant chain Salt Meats Cheese is upping its cruelty-free food game at a monthly special event. Called Soul Meets Cheers, it serves up an entirely plant-based menu, featuring vegan versions of Italian classics. For the feast's November outing — taking place at all Brisbane venues from 5pm on Tuesday, November 10 — it'll be focusing on bites to eat inspired the coastal region of Liguria in Italy. Think cauliflower steak with salsa verde, celeriac puree and burnt lemon; kale pesto with sun-dried tomato chips and pine nuts; and a tiramisu made from drunken cherry compote and toasted coconut. And yes, that just a few of the dishes on offer. Your $49 ticket also includes a glass of vegan wine or or Young Henrys beer or cider upon arrival. Or, you can pay an extra $15 and get bottomless vegan wine and beer.
What's better than grabbing a meal from a food truck? Trying to choose from a lineup of meals-on-wheels vendors at a food truck pop-up, of course. That's what's on offer at Bulimba Riverside Park on Saturday, February 20, with the event rounding up some of Brisbane's standout mobile eateries for a tasty afternoon. Yes, given the location, this inner east get-together is pairing a few bites with a waterside view, too. Micasa Burger Truck, Rolls Pho Mi and Bubbo Dessert will all be in attendance, so you can pick different types of cuisine for your dinner — or indulge in a bit of mixing and matching by grabbing something from all three. Fittingly, this get-together is called the Bulimba Food Truck Pop-Up, and it takes place from 5–7.30pm. Bring your wallet and your appetite, obviously.
Time flies when you're flipping silver balls around a pinball table, pumping tokens into Pac Man and mashing buttons on retro consoles — and enjoying a board game over a brew as well. And so it has been four whole years since Netherworld first opened its doors. Yes, it's celebrating. Of course it is. Expect all the good stuff that the Fortitude Valley venue has been serving up for the past 48 months, plus some extra fun to mark the occasion. On the agenda at the Netherworld Turns Four shenanigans: drinks, games, tunes and free limited-edition pins for everyone who rocks up (although they're only available until they run out). Just by attending this birthday shindig, you'll also score the chance to win a custom-built arcade cab filled with games of your very own. And, if you'd like to buy more tickets for he raffle, the proceeds will go to Happy Tails Animal Rescue Inc — who'll be the recipients of the karma keg tapped on the day, too. The revelry kicks off at noon, running through until 5pm. [caption id="attachment_622335" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Sarah Ward[/caption] Top image: Cole Bennetts.
