Pedro Almodóvar has made many a fantastic film over the past four decades. In 2019, however, the Spanish director added one of his greatest movies yet to his resume. We're talking about Pain and Glory. If you saw it, you likely loved it. And, if you hadn't already watched your way through the inimitable auteur's back catalogue before then, the Academy Award-nominee should've inspired you to do just that. You've had a couple of years to start your viewing, of course — and plenty of time over the past 12 months, in fact. But whether you still have some gaps or you're fond of the big-screen experience, Dendy Coorparoo is giving you a chance to check out eight of Almodóvar's standouts in a cinema. Until Wednesday, April 7, you can swoon over his emotionally charged dramas and rove your eyes over his colourful frames. No one makes movies quite like him, as this retrospective shows. Get ready to spend plenty of time staring at two of his favourite actors, too, with Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz each popping up regularly in the director's work. On the lineup: Banderas being exceptional in Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, The Skin I Live In and the aforementioned Pain and Glory, plus Cruz at her stellar best in Volver, Broken Embraces and Oscar-winner All About My Mother. Almodóvar's second most recent movie, Julieta, is also on the bill, so you'll be getting an impressive cross-section of his career. As always with Dendy's retrospectives and film seasons, different movies play on different dates and at various times — so head to the cinema's website for the full session details. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jtrl8Ei15AE
If the current wave of boozy exercise classes has taught us anything, it's that alcohol is a great motivator. If it has taught us anything else, it's that we mightn't be too far away from a future where the alternative — aka getting active without a drink in your hand — seems strange. Add Gin and Yang Tuesdays to the list of sessions making the case for simultaneous sipping and stretching. Here, you'll strike your best yoga pose while knocking back some juniper spirits. And, thanks to its midweek, post-work timeslot, you'll brighten up an otherwise ordinary Tuesday in quite the relaxing fashion. Unsurprisingly, something this ace is likely to prove popular (when Stretch Yoga has held similar sessions before, they've often sold out). Running monthly, this cocktail-fuelled class next takes place on Tuesday, March 23 — from 6–7.30pm, and again from 7.30–9pm — at Three Brews, just downstairs from Stretch Yoga's Holland Park studio. Your $32 ticket includes two G&Ts made with Four Pillars gin, and the yoga class. Bookings are essential.
First, some news that really isn't: the summer of 2020–21 is over, and has been for almost a month. But, inspired by the fact that it's almost time for warm weather in Europe, W Brisbane is partying like it's still the toastiest part of the year. From Thursday–Sunday each week until May 3, the CBD spot is hosting a new event series it's calling Endless Summer. The venue's level four Wet Deck area has been kitted out with umbrellas, sun lounges, olive trees, and baskets of lemons and oranges, so you can trick your senses into thinking you're in Italy. You'll be looking out over the Brisbane river, though, but you can still put your imagination to work. On the menu: spritzes and cocktails, plus bites curated by ex-Masterchef contestant Laura Sharrad. Think hand-pickled mud crab and pickled cucumber fingers, gnocco fritto with whipped cod roe and plenty of seafood all round. There'll also be Campari and blood orange granita and yoghurt gelato if you're after something sweet.
At Boho Luxe Market (the event's term, not ours), Byron Bay comes to Brisbane. Well, the beachy New South Wales spot's general vibe does at least. Forgoing the trappings of the city for bohemian fashion, jewellery, homewares and the like is on the market's agenda, and has been since it made the jump from Melbourne to Brisbane in 2019. Clearly we responded well to three days of dreamcatchers and flower crowns, because it's coming back yet again in 2021. If that sounds like your kind of thing, then block out Friday, April 16–Sunday, April 18 in your diary for the market's autumn dates. The Boho Luxe Market will head to The Old Museum for a weekend of browsing and buying, food trucks, live music and more. Usually there's also be a dedicated vegan section, plus a kombi display and glamping providers tempting you into booking your next holiday — so fingers crossed they'll return. Entry costs $5, with kids under 12 allowed in for free. Drop by and pretend you're somewhere quiet and coastal on Friday from 5pm–9pm, Saturday from 9am–5pm, and Sunday from 9am–3pm.
Brisbane's annual bad event is back. Yep, Museum of Brisbane is celebrating all things art and design with its four-week Brisbane Art Design (BAD) festival. Running from Friday, May 7 through to Sunday, May 30 the event is happening across four inner city hubs and surrounding suburbs. So, expect to see art in unexpected places. On the first weekend, prepare for the CBD to be populated with installations and immersive art activations galore, including the light projection show Botanica that's taking over the City Botanic Gardens after dark. There'll also be food trucks and pop-up bars on site, so you can kick back with a snack as you gaze at the luminous, large-scale projections. From Friday, May 14 to Sunday, May 16, meet artists in the Valley at exhibitions and events like Hot'n'Heinous by Visaya Hoffie — a multi-platform project aptly named to describe a typical summer's day in Brisbane. Then, on Friday, May 21, head north to catch fashion designer Ivy Nui's exhibition The Tent Dress Project. On the last weekend, you can head to an open studio session at the Queensland College of Art to learn First Nations weaving techniques. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, with everything from talks and tours to workshops and exhibitions taking over more than 80 Brisbane venues. Head here to peep the lineup of free and ticketed events to plan your BAD weekends.
When it comes to planning the next catch-up with your mates, anything bottomless is sure to be a winner. And, with bottomless lunches and dinners being all the rage recently, there's plenty of options to choose from. To make that choice even harder, The Kenmore is slinging bottomless sliders every Thursday night from 5.30pm. Kicking off from October 24, you can head down to the tavern's Public Bar for two hours of mini-burger goodness. At just $25 per person, it's the perfect choice for a cheap date or long-overdue catch-up. Plus, the Public Bar is reservation-free, so you won't have to worry about booking in advance.
Alongside its huge Japan Supernatural: 1700s to now exhibition, the Art Gallery of NSW is hosting another exceptional show this summer — and this one's free. From Saturday, November 9 until February next year, the gallery is dedicating an entire exhibition to celebrated contemporary Australian artist Ben Quilty and his work over the past 15 years. Simply entitled Quilty, more than 70 pieces will showcase his work from the early 2000s onwards — including his intimate looks at his own reflection, his time spent as an official war artist in Afghanistan, poetic visions of the Australian landscape and his response to other topical events, including the last American election. Quilty's expressive portraits, both of himself and of others — such as executed Bali Nine drug smuggler Myuran Sukumaran — are quite a striking sight. His Rorschach paintings are too, unsurprisingly. And, they're designed not just to catch the eye, but to explore the dark undercurrent of violence and themes of displacement. Including paintings inspired by his visits to Lebanon, Syria and Greece, the exhibition marks the first major survey of Quilty's artistic output in a decade. On Wednesday, November 13, Quilty will be in conversation with ABC Radio presenter Robbie Buck in a special edition of Art After Hours. After the talk, you can catch some live tunes, too. Image 1: Photograph: Daniel Boud. Image 2: Ben Quilty. Rorschach after von Guérard. 2009. Oil and synthetic polymer paint on linen (12 panels) / 230.0 x 804.0 cm (overall). Acquired 2009, TarraWarra Museum of Art. Courtesy the artist. Photograph: Jeremy Dillon.
Purveyors of fashion, art, homewares, jewellery, ceramics, plants, pots and more, Metre Market has been popping up all over town over the past couple of years. Its next destination: The Lanes precinct, where it'll be unleashing a curated lineup of stalls across California and Bakery lanes in Fortitude Valley. This one-off pop-up is also staying true to Metre Market's original mission, and giving Brisbanites an opportunity to sell their pre-loved clothes as well. If you have a pile of old clothes burning a hole in your closet, get in on the action by applying for a metre or two of space as part of the rack sale. You'll need to bring your own rack; however it's a great way to spring clean your wardrobe, make some extra cash and share your unwanted sartorial choices with the world. Or, you can just browse and buy, of course, if that's what you'd prefer. Either way, it all place from 10am–2pm on Saturday, August 24 — with free entry, live music and plenty of nearby eateries. Image: Bakery Lane.
With its variety of vivid styles, colours, tags and images, street art doesn't just look great on walls and subways. It also shines bright in photographs. And, for almost five decades, Martha Cooper has spent her time snapping pictures of street creativity in its many forms. In 1984, with fellow American photographer Henry Chalfant, she literally published the book on the subject — with their collaboration Subway Art considered not just a chronicle of New York's graffiti movement, but its bible. Cooper hasn't just restricted her focus to the Big Apple, however. From Japan, Haiti and Baltimore to Berlin, Japan and Sao Paulo, she has immortalised street scenes around the world. She sees things that others usually walk straight by — more than that, she takes photos of them — and now the highlights of her career are on display at Brisbane Powerhouse. Running until Sunday, September 22, Martha Cooper: Street Shots 1970–2019 showcases a diverse array of Cooper's work, and her keen eye for urban art. As well as hopping around the globe, the free exhibition also features her own personal mementos and collections. Martha Cooper: Street Shots 1970–2019 is on display in Brisbane Powerhouse's Visy Foyer, open from 9am–5pm on Mondays and 9am–9pm Tuesday–Sunday.
Sunset Cinema only burst onto Brisbane's movie-going scene in 2018, but it's making its presence known. After returning this past autumn, the outdoor event is coming back for a second time this year with a spring fling — and bringing a heap of ace movies along with it. From Thursday, October 2 to Saturday, November 16, you'll be able to sit outside at the Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens, train your eyes at the big screen and get viewing. The season kicks off with Rocketman, then zooms through everything from new hits to old favourites. Step back five decades with Quentin Tarantino's star-studded Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, get your action fix with Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, sing along to the Beatles thanks to Yesterday or head to the African savannah with The Lion King remake. On the retro front, you can catch a double of Mean Girls and Clueless, or the rom-com duo Bridget Jones' Diary and Notting Hill — or opt for Dirty Dancing, 10 Things I Hate About You or Love Actually. A heap of flicks that'll be in cinemas soon are also on the bill, including Ad Astra, Gemini Man, Good Boys, Zombieland: Double Tap, Joker and a screening of IT: Chapter Two on Halloween (naturally). Pack a picnic to take with you — or, if you'd rather grab something while you're there, expect nachos, pork subs, tacos, chilli dogs and more, plus the usual ice creams, lollies and popcorn, and a drinks range from Young Henrys and Grant Burge Wines. Image: Sunset Cinema.
First, it turned Speed into a play. Then, it gave Titanic the same treatment. Now, Act/React is saying "yippee-ki-yay" to the mother of all Christmas-set action films. Break out the white singlets, get festive and prepare to spend plenty of time watching someone crawl around in vents, because Die Hard is coming to the stage, too. This comedic theatre performance will transform the Brisbane Powerhouse's Turbine Platform into Los Angeles' Nakatomi Plaza, let European terrorist Hans Gruber do his worst and task New York cop John McClane with saving the day — with help from the dad from 80s and 90s sitcom Family Matters. Throw in more than a few one-liners, incredibly low-fi special effects and an all-round comic atmosphere, and that's Die Hard: The Movie, The Play, which'll unleash its mayhem from Thursday, November 21 to Sunday, December 1. Playing as part of this year's Wonderland festival, this is one hijacking you'll want to witness.
When the weather is warm in Brisbane, having a picnic is one of the best things that you can do. Given that sun is almost always out, that's most of the time — and, if you're looking for a shady spot to relax, this city of ours boasts plenty of inviting grass just begging for you to laze around on. Combine all of the above with a historic site, pop-up bars and jazz and you have Newstead House's Parkside Sundays series. It takes over the venue's stunning lawn from 12–7pm monthly, with the next event happening on Sunday, December 8. The chilled kind of daytime hangout we all need every now and then (or maybe even more often), it's the type of event to bring your best picnic blanket to, plus your mates and some cash for something to eat and drink — and then let the event take care of the rest. There'll be live jazz tunes to set the mood, a range of food and plenty to sip. Updated December 4.
Not content with terrifying Brisbanites with one unsettling shipping container installation this spring, the folks at Realscape Productions have another disquieting experience ready to take flight. It's actually called Flight, too — and while it also involves stepping inside a 40-foot steel box, sitting in pitch darkness and listening to a particularly immersive soundscape, this newcomer offers something distinctive. If you're not fond of flying or don't cope well with the possibility of things going awry in the air, you might want to stay away. If your nerves and stomach can handle all of the above, step onboard. You won't actually be jetting anywhere, of course; however you will be strapping yourself into a section of a real commercial airliner, then pondering the many outcomes if the cabin suddenly happened to lose pressure. Created by Glen Neath and David Rosenberg, like Seance, Flight draws upon the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics while taking attendees on a multi-sensory journey. Flight lands at Reddacliff Place from Thursday, September 19 to Saturday, October 5, with tickets on sale now. Buckle up, and prepare to have your head completely messed with — unless you're claustrophobic, pregnant, or suffer heart or back conditions, in which case you'll have to firmly stay on the ground. Image: Mihaela Bodlovic.
To anyone who's ever seen a boy band struggle to croon over the screams of an enraptured crowd, the energy from the adolescent girls losing their minds would seem enough to solve the looming global energy crisis. Is it clean? Not always. But there are 60 years worth of gig footage — from The Beatles to One Direction — that classifies this energy as renewable. Belvoir's latest show, Fangirls, is a musical that peeks into the poster-plastered bedroom and love-heart-emblazoned diary of teen girl fandom. It's a celebration of the time in your life when you're convinced the haircuts of a pop group may well bring civilisation to its knees. It's witty and fun, sure. But writer, lyricist and performer Yve Blake also probes an insidious double standard: "When boys cry at the footy, that's the love of the game. When girls cry at a Justin Bieber concert, that's pathetic." Through protagonist Edna, a city girl conspiring to confess her undying love to True Connection frontman Harry, Fangirls also examines the sorts of messages sold to young women as well as the power of the modern fan. In the age of the internet, pubescent devotees are a coveted market, but they are also the new talent scouts, organising online to confer godhood on anybody playing acoustic guitar in their bedroom, rhyming 'your face' with 'gotta get out of this place'. Fangirls is boppy and sugary in spades. But it also asks you to spare a thought for those crying, screaming and full of joy in the front row. They're going through a hugely transformative time. And, they may be the ones keeping your lights on in years to come. Fangirls is a Belvoir St Theatre co-production with Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Festival in association with Australian Theatre for Young People. It is showing from September 7–October 5. For tickets, head here.
Who is the reigning Halloween Heist champ? What costume did Rosa Diaz wear the first time that she took part? Which detective asked a criminal to help them win? Who was crowned the 'Queen of the Nine-Nine'? If you can answer all of the above — and you love both Brooklyn Nine-Nine and halloween — then you're set for this trivia night. Yes, it's all about the hit cop sitcom we all know and love. And, the one that goes all out when it comes to the spookiest time of the year. It's also the series that was cancelled and then resurrected in the space of 36 hours, and is thankfully coming back for a seventh season. We'd keep asking Brooklyn Nine-Nine questions and dropping tidbits, but we'll save some for the big night. Every time trivia sessions dedicated to B99 hit town, places are snapped up faster than Terry can snap open a tub of yoghurt. This time, you need to register in advance for Fritzenberger's trivia night at its Petrie Terrace joint, and then Saturday, November 2 can be your night for glory (that can also be the title of your sex tape if you'd like). It all starts at 6.30pm, and entry is free. Bring your wallet for burgs, obviously, plus beers. If all this sounds rather noice, get in quick as spots are limited. UPDATE, SEPTEMBER 27: The first 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' Halloween Heist Trivia Night, on Friday, November 1, has sold out, so a second event has been added on Saturday, November 2. The above text has been updated to reflect this change.
With the end of the year comes plenty of occasions to dress up — and not just don your sleekest threads, but put on a costume. Maybe you need something spooky for Halloween. Perhaps you really want to spread the festive cheer. Or, you could just need something wizard-related for one of Brisbane's regular Harry Potter-themed events. Operating for more than a century — first as a hairdresser, then selling wigs and theatrical supplies, and later turning to fancy dress and costumes — Sweida's knows all about throwing on a different outfit. And for two days, it's hosting a huge sale at its Salisbury warehouse to help Brisbanites do just that. Head by between 9am–2pm on Friday, October 18 and Saturday, October 19 to add a few new costumes, props, masks, hats, accessories and samples to your own rack. It's a cash-only affair, so arrive prepared.
UPDATE: September 24, 2020: The Dead Don't Die is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Binge, Foxtel Now, Google Play and YouTube Movies. What's left to say about zombies? We've had the genre-defining (Night of the Living Dead), the satirical (Dawn of the Dead), the comedic (Shaun of the Dead) and the fast (28 Days Later), plus the slow and romantic (Warm Bodies), the televised (The Walking Dead), and the animated and child-friendly (ParaNorman). We've even had undead Nazis (Dead Snow). In cinema alone, there's been 500-plus zombie films since Victor Halperin's White Zombie way back in 1932, so it's fair to say that genre's brains and heart have been sucked dry. It's almost as if, were the dead actually to rise in 2019, we'd be borderline blasé about it — which brings us to The Dead Don't Die. Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch, it's a predictably deadpan (ahem) take on zombie films from the opening scene to the last — a story so laconic that it consistently flirts with tedium (but only really lapses into that territory in its final stages). It also boasts a phenomenal cast of Jarmusch regulars, including Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton, Chloe Sevigny and Steve Buscemi. Joined by Danny Glover, Rosie Perez, Iggy Pop, Sara Driver, RZA, Selena Gomez and Tom Waits, they almost all play larger-than-life characters within the sleepy nowhere town of Centreville. Jarmusch has always given his characters both time and room to breathe, and The Dead Don't Die provides perhaps the best example. The slow, breezy and downright folksy interactions of his townspeople are a patient delight, often with pauses so long between replies it's like the entire cast of Fargo took sedatives. Be it Glover's kindly hardware store owner, Buscemi's racist farmer or Caleb Landry Jones's film-obsessed petrol attendant, they're a quirky yet homogenous community of oddballs and outsiders, around whom the story takes its time to form. The standouts are Murray and Driver as Cliff and Ronnie — two-thirds of Centreville's police force and the intermittent Greek chorus of the film. Driver puts in one of his best performances to date, at once shrewd enough to identify zombies as the likely culprits behind some recent killings, while still oblivious to most human sensitivities around him. Murray is in endearing grandfather-esque territory, even if he's not as funny as usual. Together, they hold the threadbare conceit in place when few others could've (polar fracking has knocked the earth off its axis, so... zombies). Where the film falters, however, is in its self-referential tone. Periodically shattering the fourth wall, Cliff and Ronnie reference The Dead Don't Die's theme song, screenplay and director without any clear reason as to why. The first time is amusing enough, with Murray wondering why the tune on the radio sounds so familiar (answer: it just played during the film's titles), but from that point onwards, the device offers little more than a distraction. The movie's deadpan approach also suffers because of its one clear exception — Chloe Sevigny's Mindy, the third cop in the trio. Oscillating between fear, horror and confusion, her reaction to the zombie uprising is far more appropriate, but cast against Murray and Driver's apathy, it feels hysterical and out of place. Then there's Tilda Swinton's character. We won't spoil it, but her arc is so bonkers, it's a wonder that it was allowed to occur at all. Overall, this is a tough one to reconcile. The comedy is great, as are the performances, but the story is obtuse at best — and only weakens the longer it goes on. As a genre piece, it's definitely a Jarmusch-directed zombie film, but it isn't distinctive enough in any one respect to stand out from the other hundreds of undead offerings. Mellow for some, underwhelming for others, The Dead Don't Die will split audiences like its ghouls split spleens. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brxU_Qi1eOM
Fortitude Valley's newest edition, Za Za Ta specialises in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, including for Sunday brunch. Stop by from 12–4pm each week for a decadent grazing-style spread that goes heavy on the flavour and spice — and, if that's the kind of mood you're in, on the boozy beverages as well. Food-wise, you'll be tucking into salads, pickled vegetables, plus housemade Israeli breads with hummus and labneh. And, because this is Middle Eastern feast, expect woodfired shakshuka too. Stop by the slow-cooked meat carving station to add some protein to your plate, then finish up with fruit and regionally inspired sweets. As for drinks, ZZT Brunch Sundays has three choices available. The standard $69 package includes a glass of prosecco, while the $99 option includes bottomless prosecco, rosé, mimosas, spritzes, beer, cider and kombucha. Pay $149, and you'll get free-flowing French Champagne as well — with all sittings running for two-and-a-half hours.
There are many activities you can do in a two-hour time slot. You could watch all six episodes of the ABC's satirical beauty blog Sarah's Channel, cook 60 packets of 2 Minute Noodles or listen to Pink Floyd's 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' 4.6 times. But we think the tastiest way to pass 120 minutes is to spend it eating endless plates of tacos. And that's exactly what you can on Friday, October 4, when Bowen Hills' El Camino Cantina celebrates 'World Taco Day' with two hours of unlimited tacos for just $25 a pop. Rock up anytime after 11am and you'll be able to dig into bottomless tacos topped with cajun chicken and pickled cabbage; minced beef, cheese and lettuce (it's meant to taste a little like a cheeseburger); or mushrooms and chipotle coleslaw. If you want to spend a bit more on your feast, you can also splurge on a $10 lobster or wagyu taco. To redeem the bottomless offer, you will need to purchase a drink of sorts. You can choose from one of the restaurant's five frozen margaritas, a glass of sangria, a Dos Equis or, really, anything else on the extensive drinks menus. To book your spot, head to the El Camino Cantina website.
Everyone loves a comedy festival, but sometimes being so spoiled for comic choice isn't just amusing — it's overwhelming. That's where comedy festival showcases come in. They add laughs to the lulls between annual fests, plus they offer a bite-sized sample of the up-and-coming comedians you might not have seen live yet. The Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase certainly promises both, serving up the brightest and most buzz-worthy performers from the 2019 event. If it's highlights of hilarity you're after — from international and local funny folks alike — then this is the place to get it. Sydney Comedy Festival Director's Choice Award-winner Luke Heggie is just one of the names on the packed bill, alongside Randy, Ron Josol, Rebecca De Unamuno and South Africa's Dusty Rich. Check them out now during one side-splitting show — and for just $39 — before putting their solo shows on your must-see list for the 2020 festival circuit.
BIGSOUND has come to town, bringing as much live music as it can to as many places in Fortitude Valley as possible. From 3–7pm on Wednesday, September 4 and Thursday, September 5, that includes Bakery, Winn and California lanes, where free tunes will be echoing through the cosy passageways as part of the BIGSOUND Lanes Markets. Each lane boasts a different lineup, not only when it comes to bands and musicians, but other activities. Head to California Lane for the Made in Brisbane Markets, where you'll be able to browse artisan goods — and even take a crafty workshop or two. Over at Winn Lane, art is in the spotlight. Or, if you'd like to bulk up your vinyl collection, Bakery Lane is hosting a record fair with the folks from Phase 4. The BIGSOUND Lanes Markets are free to attend, although your wallet is essential if you're planning of scouring the stalls and racks, then making a few purchases. And, if you're feeling thirsty or peckish too — all three lanes are filled with plenty of eateries, cafes and bars that'll help there.
As far as weekdays go, Fridays rank up there with the best of them. When a Friday marks the opening of a sibling cafe to one of Brisbane's favourites and comes with free food, then it's something extra special. That's all on offer on September 6, when Yolk cracks onto the Newstead scene with a grand opening giveaway that's certain to tempt your tastebuds. The latest venture from the folks behind West End's Morning After, Yolk is setting up shop at Gasworks Plaza and bringing a heap of tasty dishes to the other side of the river. Expect a menu that plays with the egg theme — and chicken, naturally — plus plenty of coffee, too. To say hello to the neighbourhood, Yolk will be serving up free bacon and egg rolls from 10am. Get in fast, though, because they're only available until either 1pm or when stocks run out. Image: Morning After.
If you don't eat animal products and have visited Sydney in past few years, you've probably come across The Green Lion. The pub not only caters exclusively for vegans, but recreates classics such as burgers, hot dogs and nachos — all with meat- and dairy-free alternatives. For one night only, it's coming to Queensland. Brisbanites will still have to travel down the highway to the Gold Coast to Burleigh Pavilion; however if you're committed to plant-based eating, you'll probably want to make the journey to the beachside spot. Running over two ticketed sessions, costing $55 per person, and taking place at 6pm and 8pm on Thursday, September 19, this once-off vegan shared feast boasts quite the menu. Kick things off with a vegan cocktail, then tuck into poutine fries with gravy, and macaroni balls with aioli and pickles. Next, opt for potato pizza with caramelised onion and truffle oil, as well as plant-based cheeseburger. Chocolate brownies are on the dessert lineup, and you'll also be able to sip vegan wines — although the tipples aren't included in the price.
Earlier this 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, September 21. 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 about 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. Image: VEND Marketplace.
We're all sculptors. Don't believe us? If you've ever taken a bucket, filled it with sand, plonked it onto the shore and shaped it with your bare hands, then you've sculpted something. With that it mind, it makes sense that part of the Gold Coast would celebrate the art form on its beach — but there's more than just sandcastles on offer. Returning for its 17th outing from Friday, September 13 to Sunday, September 22, SWELL Sculpture Festival features everything from salvaged items to installations to small-scale sculptures, plus guided twilight walks, a beachside film screening and artist talks as well. In total, the ten-day festival will bring over 50 works to Currumbin Beach for an event that attracts more than 275,000 visitors each year. While most of the program is free and simply involves walking along the sand, if you'd like to spend some cash, you can also learn a new skill. The ticketed lineup includes a class on limestone carving, as well as arty sessions for kids if you have young sculpture fans in tow. Image: Karl Meyer, Foci. Leximagery.
Cross your fingers, dog lovers — here's hoping that your four-legged friend feels like heading to a brewery. From 1pm on Saturday, September 7, Ballistic Beer Co. will be turning its Salisbury space into a pupper wonderland, all while people knock back a pint or several. On the Dogs Go Ballistic agenda: craft brews (obviously), dog-centric market stalls, canine activities, an obligatory dog show, a chance to raise money for dog rescue organisations, and live music. We can't promise that the latter will feature pooch-related tunes, but perhaps both you and Fido will be wondering who let the dogs out, asking if the dog days are over and crying all the time like a hound dog. Because taking your barking bestie to a brewery is both thirsty and hungry work, food trucks will also be on the premises, serving barbecued meals, Mexican dishes and other bites to go with Ballistic's own brews. Entry is free, and all woofers great and small are welcome at the picnic-style event — although these very good doggos must stay on their leashes.
If you haven't had the chance to drop into the Brisbane City Cathedral Square Markets, here's the motivation you need: free doughnuts. That promise will get most Brisbanites moving at the best of times, so expect to have plenty of company — but you won't go home empty-handed. Just head by the corner of Ann, Turbot and Wharf streets between 8–11am on Thursday, September 12, and go for a wander through the CBD's newest markets. Then, you'll get a round, doughy treat for your troubles. Whether you feel like a pre-work snack or something sweet for morning tea, you'll find it here. The cinnamon-topped doughnuts come courtesy of OMG Decadent Donuts, which means they're vegan, gluten-free and nut-free — and free of wheat, yeast, dairy, eggs and sulphates as a result. Image: OMG Decadent Donuts.
Fond of Betty's Burgers and its Shake Shack-style burgs? Keen to share the love with someone you love? On Thursday, September 26, the chain of eateries wants Brisbanites to come in for a bite — and to bring their besties in as well. To mark the first ever Betty's Bestie Day, the brand's Brissie joints will be serving up two-for-one burgers. Pay $10 for a Betty's Classic — which stacks angus beef, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese and Betty's special sauce on a soft bun — and you'll score a pair of them. The offer does only apply to this one type of burg, but it's a classic for a good reason. If you're already salivating, make plans to head to one of Betty's four Brisbane stores: at Chermside, Indooroopilly, Newstead and Howard Smith Wharves. The two-for-one deal is available all day, so if you and your favourite fellow burger fiend are especially eager, you could always hit up one for lunch and another for dinner.
Like beer? Like monsters? Like your brews named after creepy critters, with bottle, can and label artwork to match? Horror-loving drinkers, there's never been a better time to pair your beverages with your fondness for all things scary — but Saturday, October 12 will be even better than usual thanks to Netherworld's Monster Menagerie Beer Festival. The returning event will bring together eight yeasty tipples, strange creatures and stellar collaborations, all for a day of boozing fun. And if you're wondering why it takes place in October, just think about it for a second. 'Tis the month of Halloween, after all. Everyone from Hop Nation to 3 Ravens to White Lies Brewing will be involved, plus locals like Newstead Brewing too. Tickets cost $30, which gets you a taste of each and every one of the unique themed beers, plus a limited edition enamel pin and eight game tokens. As an added bonus, this year the beers will all be inspired by sweet treats as well — so get ready to sip on dessert, candy and chocolate bar-flavoured brews.
Mexican food and margaritas share a specific quality. No matter how many tacos you eat and salt-rimmed drinks you sip, you always want more. Given that El Camino Cantina specialises in both, it's easy to indulge your hankering at the lively bar — and even easier at its new Tex-Mex Fiesta. For $79, you'll tuck into a share-style feast of food. You'll start with buffalo wings with blue cheese mayo and mango chilli sauce, then move onto loaded nachos — with the latter coming topped with melted cheese, black beans, chilli con carne, smoked barbecue brisket, pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole. Then, it's time for chargrilled chicken fajitas (which feature house-made tortillas, pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese, seasonal veggies, melted butter and sauteed onions), before wrapping things up with hot churros drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauce. That's the food side of the deal. You can also get drinking, too, with the fiesta also including beverages. Sip your way through two hours of bottomless margaritas, with the cocktails served in four flavours, and either frozen or on the rocks. You'll also get free-flowing house beer and wine as well. El Camino Cantina's Tex-Mex Fiesta is available all-day Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays weekly at the chain's store in Bowen Hills.
For the past two decades, the Brisbane Queer Film Festival has brought the best and brightest in LGBTQIA+ cinema to this city of ours — and it's back to just that all over again for its 21st outing. Running across 11 days between Thursday, March 15–Sunday, March 25 at New Farm Cinemas, the 2020 lineup includes 16 features and a heap of short films, spanning everything from highly acclaimed dramas to engaging documentaries. In the first camp is opening night's And Then We Danced, which plunges into the Georgian dance scene in a stunning and moving fashion. In the latter category, viewers can look forward to Queer Japan — which explores exactly what its title suggests, and highlights the full spectrum of queer expression in the Asian nation today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n25XEhQ6764&feature=emb_logo Other standouts include Monsoon, starring Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians) as a man returning to Vietnam for the first time since he was six; Gender Derby, a documentary about a gender-fluid transgender boy who loves roller derby; and So Pretty, which follows young queers in New York City by using fictional and semi-doco techniques. Drama Port Authority also drifts around NYC, specifically its ballroom community, while Australian flick Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie's Dead Aunt) explores teenage love — and documentary Changing the Game tells the stories of transgender high-school athletes.
If you're going to watch Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron run across a beach in Baywatch, you may as well do so while you're splashing around in a pool. The same applies to Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams locking lips in the rain in The Notebook, and to Leonardo DiCaprio sunning himself in The Beach's secret paradise. They're all on the bill at Brisbane's newest outdoor cinema pop-up — the fittingly called Float In Cinema. A collaboration between W Brisbane and Openair Cinemas, it's taking over the riverside hotel's WET Deck for five Tuesday nights in February and March, pairing swim-in movies with food and cocktails. Perhaps that's why Cocktail, the 1988 flick starring Tom Cruise as a bartender, is on the bill. If you're a fan of shark movies, you can check out Open Water, too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9q1qJi1nMs Kicking off on February 25, then screening on March 3, 10, 17 and 24 as well — with a 7pm seating time for a 7.30pm start — Float In Cinema costs $25 per person. Your ticket includes a recliner chair, a dip in the pool and use of a towel. You'll have to buy your food and drinks on top, but they will be delivered to you on floating trays. If you're keen, you might want to get in quick, as only 40 seats are available per session.
Sometimes, spending quality time with your significant other means going all out. At other times, getting cosy means keeping things simple — like munching on pizza, sipping cocktails and listening to live jazz, all on a South Brisbane rooftop. Once a week, The Fox Hotel's new Date Night on the Roof is combining all of the above. In other words: prepare to stare into your other half's eyes beneath the bar's glowing lights, and with the city skyline as a backdrop. Just head on by from 5pm each Thursday and get ready to feel romantic. [caption id="attachment_760445" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Fox Hotel[/caption] The music starts from 6.30pm and, food and drink-wise, you have a couple of options. Share a pizza and a cocktail jug for $20, or opt for two pizzas and a bottle of wine for $38. Either way, this is a mighty affordable way to treat your favourite person to a night out. Top image: The Fox Hotel.
Yeerongpilly's Plant Empire sells greenery every day of the week, helping folks with green thumbs — and those who wish they had them, too — fill their homes with leafy babies. But on Sunday, March 1, it's doing something more than that. You can still browse the store's shelves for plants, of course; however you can also head round back to check out the pop-up autumn market. As well as plants, you'll be able to peruse a range of pots. If you're going to buy some greenery, you'll want something to put it in, obviously. Also on offer: ceramics, jewellery and other handmade crafts. And if you happen to arrive hungry — Sunday mornings can do that to even the most satisfied stomach — there'll be food available as well. Just drop by the Station Road spot between 9am–1pm, when the morning-long market will be in full swing. The usual advice applies here, as it does to all plant markets: yes, more greenery is always a good thing. Images: Plant Empire.
On Tuesday, November 26, Salt Meats Cheese Gasworks is adding a new all-you-can-eat event to its lineup: all-you-can-eat arancini and meatballs. Unlike the restaurant's weekly bottomless pizza and pasta feast, this is a once-off, so you'll want to clear your night if the idea is already making you hungry. Tuck into arancini and meatballs in four varieties, including beef, barramundi, falafel and vegan arancini, then smother them in toppings. That's where you can choose from napoletana or carbonara sauce, go traditional with bolognese, opt for mushroom and cream, get super cheesy with four cheeses, or even slather them with truffles — and the list of goes on. Vegan and vegetarian options are available, so everyone can enjoy indulging in as many arancini and meatballs as you can possibly stomach. The night kicks off at 5pm, and costs $25 with a drink purchase. Unsurprisingly, bookings are recommended. And, take note: this is only happening at SMC's Gasworks store. Image: Salt Meats Cheese.
More than once in Farming, Enitan stares into a mirror and loathes his reflection. Born in Britain to Nigerian parents, fostered out to a white working-class family and constantly taunted about his race, he even tries to scrub away his darker pigment while glaring daggers at himself. When that doesn't work, the boy (Zephan Amissah) cakes his skin in talcum powder, such is his desperation to see anything but his usual likeness looking back. By the time that Eni becomes a teenager (now played by Damson Idris), his self-hating gaze has solidified, and yet it has also taken on a different tone. As he peers forward, he shaves his head, buttons up his collared shirt and pops his suspenders over his shoulders, all to fit in with the local skinheads. Farming depicts Eni peering intently at a mirror again and again for a reason: no matter which cruel names are spat his way, the feature makes plain that it's his own opinion of himself that matters most. Sadly, he internalises the surrounding resentment and prejudice, so that's all that he can see in his own reflection. But, the fact that Farming even exists is proof that something changes. The film itself is a mirror — and in a more literal sense than most movies. Written and directed by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, this picture relays the actor-turned-filmmaker's own childhood. Known as Enitan as a kid, he once tried to scratch off his own skin, then joined forces with the very thugs that made his life hell — and now, after a two-decade on-screen career that's seen him feature in everything from Oz, Lost and Game of Thrones to The Bourne Identity, Thor: The Dark World and Suicide Squad, he shares that story. In Farming, Akinnuoye-Agbaje's tale begins with the actor and director playing his own father, Femi — who, alongside his wife Tolu (Genevieve Nnaji), is tearfully handing over baby Enitan to Ingrid Carpenter (Kate Beckinsale). It's 1967, and the practice that gives the movie its moniker is common. Kids like Eni are left with white families while their birth parents study and find work, with couples such as Femi and Tolu hoping their children will get better opportunities in the process. As Farming steps through Eni's Essex-based youth, showing him weather threats from Ingrid and torment from everyone else around him, it demonstrates the impact of this decision — a hard choice made with love by the people who brought him into the world, and one with significant repercussions. Eni transforms from a smiling infant, to a shy kid happily lost in his own head, to a self-loathing outcast who believes that his only path forward is to embrace the hatred he keeps being made to wear like a second skin. In scenes such as the aforementioned soap and talcum powder incidents, it's clear that Farming is directed by an actor, as well as by someone with a personal stake in this bleak and challenging story. This is a highly physical and expressive film that often feels like memories transposed onto the screen — and frequently highlights strikingly framed images and visceral, palpable emotions over dialogue. Thankfully, that's a mode that suits the talented Idris, who takes on that most difficult of tasks: not only playing a real-life figure, but playing the teen-aged version of his director. Raw pain doesn't just burn in his eyes, but infects every move that he makes, whether Eni is lashing out at his self-centred foster mother, himself or the only person (Gugu Mbatha-Raw, in a one-note role as a kindly teacher) who sees past his skin colour. That said, Farming is also a forceful movie — building its confronting, compelling tale one horrific moment at a time, and hitting as bluntly as the blows directed Eni's way. As a boy, he may turn his skin a shade of grey, but the movie he's in only paints in black and white. Of course, that's how this experience clearly felt to Akinnuoye-Agbaje. There's nothing subtle about being told by your foster mother that you come from 'Wooga-Wooga Land', or being expected to grin through daily teasing from neighbourhood kids, or getting stripped naked and spray-painted with racist statements by the Tilbury Skins, after all. There's nothing nuanced about Eni's time among his violent bullies, either, where he's treated like a pet by vicious leader Levi (John Dagleish) and never considered an equal, even as he desperately hopes otherwise. It's tough viewing, but Farming's great achievement — like the hallmark British race-relations drama of the 21st century, This Is England — springs from its willingness to stare unflinchingly at its grim contents. That Akinnuoye-Agbaje treats his adult successes as a mere footnote is telling; who he has since become is important, but what he endured to get there, and the ugly attitudes he faced that still echo today, are far more vital. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xWwFfT5jak
Forget about decking the halls with boughs of holly. At A Very Vegan Christmas, you'll be piling up your plates with mounds of vegetables. Held at Windsor's The Green Edge, it's a three-course festive feast with a cruelty-free focus — aka the type of seasonal meal that you won't find anywhere else. On the menu: no animal products, a gluten-free option (if you need it), gifts, Christmas-themed drinks, and an all-round jolly and merry time. And tasty dishes shared with fellow herbivores, too. No one will be fighting over turkey legs here. This year, The Green Edge isn't just dedicating one evening to their festive deliciousness, but two, with sittings available at 5.30pm and 7.30pm on both Friday, December 20 and Saturday, December 21. Dinner costs $55 + booking fee per person, and bring your own booze if you plan on doing some extra celebrating.
Some films are awful. Some films are excellent. Some manage to be both all at once. Inspiring movie-goers to throw spoons at the cinema screen since 2003, The Room falls into that category. He'll likely claim otherwise, but Tommy Wiseau couldn't have made a flick this unique if he'd really been trying to. Of course, The Room does have an obvious companion piece — and no, don't mean his next effort with Greg Sestero, Best F(r)iends (or the animated space show they recently loaned their voices to, either). No, we can only be talking about The Disaster Artist. After Sestero penned a book about his experiences making The Room, James Franco came along and turned into into a film. He also decided to play Wiseau himself, with Dave Franco playing Sestero. The two movies make quite the pair, and they're playing back-to-back at Metro Arts from 5pm on Saturday, October 5. Be there, or risk the feeling on missing out on a double feature like no other — a feeling that'll tear you apart, naturally.
Can your canine companion cut a rug, instead of just lazing about on one? Is your four-legged bestie as good at boogying as it is at barking and being cute? If you don't know the answer, now might be the time to find out, because Prohibition is hosting a Dogs & Beats silent disco. First, take a second to marvel at the concept. We're guessing that headphones will be reserved for humans, not puppers — but hitting the dance floor with your doggo isn't something that you get to do everyday. If you'd like to take a few seconds to wonder just how it's all going to turn out, that's fine, too. Again, making shapes while surrounded by mutts isn't on the regular agenda for most folks. There are a few caveats, of course, with the event restricted to small and medium pooches up to 25 kilograms in weight. Your dog will also need to stay on a leash the whole time. If you're as keen as Fido at dinner time, the silent disco will take place in the Fortitude Valley's garden bar from 12–6pm on Sunday, November 10. Tickets cost $20, with $10 from each going to the RSPCA.
Colourful anime hits, intriguing murder mysteries and moody yakuza thrillers — they're all on the lineup at this year's Japanese Film Festival. Throw in a rom-com about renting a friend, a musical-comedy starring a former J-pop idol and a live-action version of a best-selling manga, and Brisbane viewers will have plenty to watch at Event Cinemas Myer Centre between Wednesday, October 23 and Sunday, October 27. It all starts with opening night's Masquerade Hotel, which tasks a detective (Blade of the Immortal's Takuya Kimura) with going undercover at a swanky Tokyo establishment. The reason? He believes that a murder is about to take place within its walls, and he's determined not only to stop it, but to solve three other seemingly unrelated killings. From there, standouts include Little Love Song, about Okinawa high schoolers in a pop band; family reunion drama Born Bone Born, as set on the island of Aguni; and Melancholic, which follows a new university graduate who takes a job at a bathhouse, only to find himself working for dangerous mobsters. On the animated front, Ride Your Wave takes to the sea on a surfboard, because Japanese animators can make surfing movies too. Final Fantasy fans might want to catch Brave Father Online, given that it focuses on a father and son reconnecting through their love of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, while closing night's Dance With Me takes its characters on a singing and dancing road trip.
Some films are long, slow and serious. Others are brief, quick and fun. There's a place for the former, of course; however Radical Reels champions the latter category, combining the most action-packed mountain movies it can find into a compilation of high-octane shorts. Radical Reels is the adrenaline-loving little brother of the Banff Mountain Film Festival, the most prestigious international film competition and annual presentation of short films and documentaries about mountain culture, sports, and environment. From the most recent festival's 300-strong submissions, a subset of daring displays have been singled out for not just one showcase, but three. Across the four nights between Tuesday, October 22 and Friday, October 25, seven shorts will approach the very edge of action sports and natural highs: the wild rides, long lines, steep jumps, and skilled stunts, as well as the rugged playgrounds thrill-seekers explore on their mountain bikes, paddles, ropes, skis, snowboards and wingsuits. Expect the world's best extreme athletes getting fast and furious when the Radical Reels Tour 2019 stops in at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Image: Jeremy Bernard.
We all know that solid dose of 'the good feels' you get after you've done something nice for yourself/your body (like exercise). And throughout the months of October and November, along with a much-needed increase in temperature, you can expect those feelings to increase two-fold. Thanks to the return of Brisbane's Feel Good Program, the city will welcome a series of outdoor fitness classes — and, unlike that fancy new yoga studio in your neighbourhood that smells like acai berries and only serves charcoal tea, these classes are all entirely free. Ranging from sessions to get your blood pumping (Zumba) to classes to get your zen flowing freely (yoga, tai chi), plus aqua classes held at the Boat Pool, the Feel Good Program is an initiative designed to suit any and all fitness levels. Classes are held at both South Bank Parklands and in the city at Queens Park. BYO water bottle, towel and, where required, a yoga mat — the ones provided are subject to availability. Classes happen every day except Fridays and Sundays, booking isn't required and they all run for 45 minutes. Get started early and face the day with a 7am bootcamp session, or finish it with pilates from 5.30pm. Either way, it'll have you embracing the warm outdoors and feeling good — check out the timetable online.
That soothing feeling that sweeps over you when you spy a cute canine, spend too much time watching internet cat videos or even just spot a picture of a newborn animal — that's the feeling at the heart of Australia's newest wellness sessions. Sure, you've been to kitten yoga and puppy pilates, and they're both great. But we're guessing that you haven't tried meditating with baby goats or getting mindful with soft, cuddly lambs. Currently held in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, attendees at Karmably's classes attempt to find inner bliss while they're surrounded by rescued baby farm animals. In short, it's the best way to de-stress when life's got your goat. After all, who can remain overwhelmed, exhausted or annoyed when they're sharing their chill-out session with actual goats? The classes focus on relaxation techniques, like Breathe In & Bleat Out, which gives you an idea of just what's in store. Those heading along can expect three parts to the session: mindful stretching, meditation and snuggling the four-legged participants. If you're wondering where the concept came from, it was inspired by organiser Berenice Tan's own experiences trying to find something other than the usual mindfulness classes within Australia. Unimpressed with the options already available, she flew to Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco "and experienced every meditation class under the sun," she explains. "Funnily enough, I heard about goat yoga and laughed it off as something ridiculous I wasn't interested in trying." Upon returning to Brisbane, Tan began to research animal therapy and, after learning of the benefits (and realising that everyone loves cute critters), her sessions with goats, lambs and even piglets were born. The bliss goes both ways, too — with Karmably not only helping humans to relax in a fun manner, but also assisting animals in need. Tan works with sanctuaries, rescue centres, and organisations such as Harmony Hooves Healing Hearts, Brisbane Pony Parties and My Little Farm Friends. They're all outfits that raise baby creatures who have either been rejected by their mothers or lost their mums in other ways, and hand-rear them until they can be adopted out as pets to families who live on suitable properties. After setting up shop last year, classes are already selling out months in advance — but there's currently spaces for the latest Brissie session at 10.15am on Saturday, November 23. The calming cuteness takes place at 46 Evesham Street in Moorooka.
They're a horror movie staple, as seen in everything from The Shining to Friday the 13th to Mandy. They're also what the folks at Maniax happen to specialise in. So when October 31 rolls around, throwing a hatchet-hurling Halloween shindig just seems like the natural thing to do. At the axe-throwing venue's Night of 1000 Axes event, you'll fling sharp weapons at a target in a safe and controlled environment — and, to suit the occasion, there'll also be zombie attacks. If you're wondering just what the undead action will entail, you'll find out at the party; however if you're easily spooked, scared, startled or frightened, Maniax warns that this mightn't be your night. Dressing up is encouraged, with free passes on offer for the best costumes. The theme: apocalyptic, obviously. Night of 1000 Axes runs as part of Maniax's regular small group sessions, which kick off at 7.30pm. Tickets cost $50 per person — and hatchet-hurling Brisbanites can even combine their weapon-flinging antics with up to three beers or ciders, because the outfit's Newstead venue is licensed.
Love splashing around, sipping drinks and hanging out on rooftops? When the weather is warm, we all do. There's rarely a bad time to combine all of the above given Brisbane's tropical climes; however spring and summer are prime pool party season — especially at Next Hotel's new Sunday Splash series. Running from 12pm every Sunday between October 6 and the end of summer, these end-of-weekend shindigs are all about going for a dip, having a few beverages and just generally enjoying a cruisy afternoon. And, because they're taking place weekly at hotel's Pool Terrace + Bar, they're happening at one of the city's best lofty vantages. If you like peering down on the Queen Street Mall, they also come with a rather nice view. Entry is free, DJs will be spinning tunes and everything is open to the public — so, to hit up the bar or the pool, you won't need to book a night at the hotel. Bring your wallet for beverages and snacks — and, while you can just show up, you can also reserve a table in advance for a $50 deposit. Images: The Pool Terrace.
The Gold Coast might be known for its sandy beaches, sizeable array of shopping strips and more than a couple of theme parks, but beyond all that lurks plenty of interesting and architecturally significant buildings. Luxe houses, towering residential buildings, historic theatres, the worlds first sand bypass system, a bathing pavilion that has been around for more than 80 years... the list goes on. It's a side of the Goldie most of us never ponder, and it's on display come Saturday, October 19. That's when Open House hits the sunny tourist spot, with a whopping 56 places welcoming anyone who'd like to take a sticky beak — and three walking tours shining a light on Mudgeeraba's heritage, Southport's art deco buildings, and all of Surfers Paradise's ins and outs. Buildings and structures opening their doors include Couran Cove Resort, the Hinze Dam, Metricon Stadium, the Commonwealth Games Parklands Village, ABC Gold Coast, the Gold Coast Hinterland Heritage Museum and Surfworld, plus a selection of high-rises and homes. Remember your childhood dreams of getting to run rampant in a department store after hours? Or your grown-up version, involving IKEA? Think of this as a more realistic version, as well as a way to satisfy your architectural and design curiosity.
The 90s were great. That shouldn't be a controversial opinion. Whether you lived through them or have spent the last couple of decades wishing you did — aka binging on 90s pop culture — this late-night shindig at The Foundry will indulge your retro urges. Drinks, tunes, fashion: expect all of the above at the No Scrubs: 90s and Early 00s party from 11.30pm on Saturday, October 19. Of course, it's up to you to make sure the clothing side of thing is covered, and to get into the spirit of the party. If you want to use Mariah Carey as a style icon, it'd be fitting. Expect to unleash your inner Spice Girl and Backstreet Boy too. TLC, Destiny's Child, Savage Garden, Usher, Blink-182, No Doubt — we'd keep listing artists, but you all know what you're getting yourselves into. Tickets are $12.25 online, with the fun running through until 3am. Image: No Scrubs.
Put down your So Fresh CD. Crack open your teenage piggy bank. Keep practising your Janet Jackson shimmy. Because a full-blown R&B frenzy is set to sweep the nation this November as live party tour RNB Fridays returns for five mammoth shows. Descending on Brisbane Showgrounds on Friday, November 15, the event has managed to pull a pretty serious lineup of international music legends straight from the 90s and early 2000s. Last year, the event saw tens of thousands of people snap up tickets to see Usher, Salt-N-Pepa and T-Pain. Heading the bill this time around is none other than singing, songwriting, dancing royalty Janet Jackson, in what will be the 30th anniversary of her award-winning album Rhythm Nation. Expect to hear bangers such as 'That's The Way Love Goes' and 'Got 'Til It's Gone'. She'll be joined by Brandy, who will be belting out 90s and 00s hits such as 'Never Say Never', 'Wanna Be Down' and, of course, 'The Boy Is Mine'. Then there's Grammy Award-winning group The Black Eyed Peas, 'In da Club' rapper 50 Cent, plus Jason Derulo, Keri Hilson, J-Kwon, Fatman Scoop and Sisqo — who will be performing his 90s smash hit 'Thong Song'. All of them. Together. In one show. RNB FRIDAYS 2019 LINEUP Janet Jackson Brandy The Black Eyes Peas 50 Cent Jason Derulo Keri Hilson Sisqo J-Kwon Hosted by Fatman Scoop Image: Mushroom Creative House.
A Halloween without pumpkin is no Halloween at all, so South Bank's Little Stanley Street is going all out. As part of Trick or Treat Little Stanley Street on Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26, it's setting up a pumpkin patch. After you pick the perfect orange vegetable, you can take it home with you — for decoration as it is, or for carving into a jack-o-lantern — all for a gold coin donation. Even better: that cash will be donated to Queensland Children's Hospital, so your spooky fun will help sick kids. But that's not all this event has to offer, especially if the occasion makes you hungry. Go trick or treating along the roadway, filling your complimentary bag with goodies. Or, settle in at one of the many eateries along the South Bank stretch and enjoy a meal to match the mood. A heap of bars and restaurants will be getting into the Halloween spirit, whether you're keen on a Bloody Eyeball Margarita from Hop & Pickle or a Candied Apple Cinnamon Pie cocktail from Mucho Mexicano. Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers will be doing pumpkin gnocchi served out of a pumpkin, while Ahmet's will be serving up roast pumpkin pide with red onion, feta, mozzarella, sea salt and garlic. Running from 5–8pm on both days, this is a family-friendly affair, so expect plenty of little trick-or-treaters. Of course, filling a lolly bag is just as enticing for kidults — and getting cosy at one of South Bank's bars afterwards is a thoroughly adult way to cap off the evening. Attendance is free, but if you're keen to head along, registering in advance is recommended.
A great work of art dazzles the eye, buzzes in one's ear and enlivens the senses no matter where it happens to be placed. A truly excellent piece of creativity makes the most of its surroundings — especially if it's located within Noosa's glorious great outdoors. Art festival Floating Land celebrates the latter, thanks to a program filled with standout works all popping up within the Sunshine Coast spot's standout sites. Wandering around the free festival, which runs until Sunday, October 27, visitors will spy projects everywhere from Lake Cootharaba's shores to Noosa National Park. Taking place for its tenth time in 2019, highlights include a retrospective dedicated to Sue Coburn, a river listening tour with sound artist Leah Barclay — which combines a stroll along the Noosa Boardwalk with an immersive soundscape — and a closing shindig. Fancy staying up all night? From 6pm on Sunday, October 27 until 5am on Monday, October 28, pianist Domenico de Clario will pay tribute to the moon's cycles by performing improvised compositions from dusk till dawn, on a lookout off Noosa Boardwalk overhanging Little Cove, while blindfolded. Image: Sue Coburn, Sails 2009. Photographed by Raoul Slater.
