Brisbanites, if you've been seeing this fair town of ours in a completely different light this year, that's to be expected. After spending so much time at home and indoors during lockdown, even the most familiar places around the city look a little different. So, you're probably paying them more attention than usual. While you're peering around the place, you might just spot some great art. Brisbane City Council runs a free outdoor gallery program, and it has been busy in 2020. First came Razzle Dazzle — and, next, Sunny Side Up will be brightening up a heap of public spaces, all while pondering Brissie's sunny and subtropical identity. From Monday, November 30–Sunday, April 18, you'll be feasting your eyes on pieces by Monica Rohan, Charlie Hillhouse, Julia Scott Green, Parallel Park, Jordan Azcune, Phoebe Paradise, Holly Anderson, Kinly Grey, Amelia Hine and Hailey Atkins. They're all emerging Brisbane artists under the age of 35, and the whole show has been curated by fellow up-and-comers Alex Holt and Sarah Thomson. It's all free, obviously, and includes everything from photography, sculpture and video to animation and illustration. Fish Lane, Edward Street, Irish Lane, Queen Street — they're just some of the places to head to.
Here's something that has been as rare as a good night's sleep over the past year or so: the announcement of a new music festival to look forward to. Come March 2022, This That will be making its first trip to Queensland. Its local debut has been pushed back a few times due to the pandemic's ongoing effects, but you can now mark Saturday, March 5 in your diary, tell your mates and get ready to head to the Sandstone Point Hotel. On the bill is an all-Australian lineup, featuring Client Liaison, The Presets, Dune Rats, Hayden James, Jack River, San Cisco and more. Yes, you'll be listening to electronic, hip hop, pop and rock tunes all day — and, as the event's name suggests, you'll be doing so across two stages. Naturally, everything will be held in a COVID-19-safe way, because that's the world we all now live in. Final release tickets are on sale now. THIS THAT MARCH 2022 LINEUP: Badrapper vs Luude Budjerah Client Liaison Dune Rats Haiku Hands Hayden James Jack River Kodi Dee Kota Banks Meg Mac Pacific Avenue San Cisco Spacey Jane Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers The Chats The Presets The Rubens Waax Wafia Yng Martyr Images: Jordan Munns. Updated February 25, 2022.
In a normal year, the Sydney Film Festival doesn't just host the huge city-wide event that it's best known for, but also takes a touring program around the country via its Travelling Film Festival. We all know that there's little that's normal about 2020, of course, so the fest has been adapting accordingly — firstly, by going virtual for its big attraction; and now, by launching a new film event designed to encourage movie buffs to head back to the nation's independent cinemas. Running across November and December, My Cinema My Film Festival is a collaboration between SFF's Travelling Film Festival and Independent Cinemas Australia — and it's hitting up 19 picture palaces across New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the ACT. Crucially, the event is heading to both cities and regional locations, with different programs and timeframes for each. So, whether you're a cinephile in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Bunbury or Mt Gambier, you'll be able to head to the flicks and check out new indie and arthouse movies. When the mini film fest arrives in Brisbane from Friday, November 27–Thursday, December 10 — at Dendy Coorparoo and Dendy Portside — viewers will be able to check out Adam, a moving Casablanca-set drama about a pregnant woman and the single mother who helps her; documentary The Painter and the Thief, which picked up a prize at Sundance; and Descent, a doco about free diver Kiki Bosch. Max Richter's Sleep peeks behind the scenes of Richter's eight-hour Sleep performance, while drama Charlatan steps inside the Nazi Occupation of Czechoslovakia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yJ4r7ON974
For much of 2020, Brisbane has resembled the town from Footloose, with dancing forbidden under COVID-19 restrictions. That changed this week, when the latest round of eased rules came into effect — with folks now allowed to bust a move and make shapes outdoors. So, Welcome to Bowen Hills is celebrating. It's hosting a laneway dance party fittingly called Let's Dance, and it's asking Brisbanites to show off their fanciest footwork. It'll be a socially distanced affair, of course. Also, you'll only be able to dance in the laneway and WtBH's other outdoor areas. But, even with those requirements in place, you'll be able to hit the dancefloor. It all takes place from 6–11pm on Saturday, November 21 — with a DJ spinning tunes to soundtrack your efforts. Entry is free, you can bring your dog, and there'll also be plenty of food and booze available to purchase onsite (because all that dancing is hungry and thirsty work).
Fortitude Valley loves a laneway, with plenty popping up — or being brought to life, more accurately — across the inner city spot in recent years. And those laneways love markets. In fact, the trio that is Winn Lane, Bakery Lane and California Lane has been hosting various markets under various names for quite some time. In 2020, those different events joined forces, took on one communal moniker and became one big event. Happening monthly, it also expanded to include the Brunswick Street Mall — which isn't a laneway, but it definitely is a thoroughfare. And, for Valley Fiesta, said markets are making a twilight appearance, taking place from 4–8pm on Saturday, November 21. As always, you can browse through the stalls, pop into the permanent retailers, and grab a bite to eat and something caffeinated (or boozy) from one of the many cafes and eateries in the area. Whichever you're doing, you'll have a heap of options to choose from. These markets also place a heavy focus on local talents, so when you're rifling through the racks, eyeing off some retro threads, and pondering picking up some jewellery or accessories, you'll be supporting Brissie's best. And, like everything this year, they'll be socially distanced. Images: Valley Laneway Markets.
What has two wheels and an engine, and has powered its way across roads in real life and on cinema screens for quite some time? The humble motorbike, of course. Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art is paying tribute to the method of transportation across its big summer exhibition — and, as the South Brisbane site tends to, it's pairing that showcase with a heap of movies on the subject as well. From Saturday, November 28–Sunday, April 25, GOMA's Australia Cinematheque is revving up the projector to play all sorts of flicks that feature motorcycles. And, spanning obvious choices such as Easy Rider, Terminator 2: Judgment Day and The Motorcycle Diaries, plus more creative choices like Fantastic Mr Fox, Akira, and both Tron and Tron: Legacy, it's all 100-percent free to attend. Other highlights range from classics like The Wild One and The Great Escape, Aussie fare including three out of four Mad Max films, and John Waters' Cry-Baby, to top-notch documentary Finke: There and Back, the Ryan Gosling-starring The Place Beyond the Pines and the original version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Don't miss the chance to see excellent Asian fare such as The Villainess, Kaili Blues and The Wild Goose Lake on the silver screen, or the Marx brothers' Duck Soup, Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday or a very young Willem Dafoe in The Loveless, either. And, if you haven't already watched and rewatched Andy Samberg comedy Hot Rod countless times (or even if you have), that's on the Motorcycles On Screen lineup as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmetDR0jDJQ
In its former life, West End's West Village precinct was home to the Peters ice cream factory. As a result — and because ice cream is tasty — it doesn't miss an opportunity to remind Brisbanites of that fact. Indeed, you might've licked your way through its Ice Cream Festival in previous years, or moseyed along to its pop-up bar inspired by the frosty dish. And from Friday, November 13–Sunday, November 29, you can treat both your eyes and your tastebuds to its latest dessert-inspired shenanigans. There are multiple parts to Daydreams and Ice Cream. Yes, eating ice cream is one of them. Head by on weekends — from 4–8pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 2–6pm on Sundays — to feast on dishes from a heap of ice cream vendors. There'll be live music then, too, in case you need a soundtrack. Running daily, the other attraction is Daydreams and Ice Cream's installations. If you went along to Sugar Republic when it was in town, you'll know the kind of thing you're in for. At West Village, there'll be 12 sections all in a circle — so get ready to be surrounded by ice cream-style hues and imagery, and to get snapping.
When it comes to eating your way through a few scoops of ice cream, no one really needs an excuse. But when there's free ice cream on offer, well, that's obviously as good a reason as you're ever going to get. And it just so happens that Ben & Jerry's is serving up exactly that across Australia until Sunday, November 15 — including at its own stores in Mooloolaba, Noosa, Pacific Fair and Surfers Paradise, plus at Hoyts in Sunnybank. We hope you like your ice cream stuffed with dough — cookie dough, that is — because that's what's on the menu. To celebrate 30 years since it first started mixing cookie dough into its desserts, Ben & Jerrys is whipping up 35,000 free scoops from its dough-filled range. Yes, you'll have to choose between the old favourite that is chocolate chip cookie dough, the caramel and peanut butter-heavy 'The Tonight Dough' and the 'Totally Baked' flavour with bits of brownies, too. Or, you can opt for 'Boots on the Moooo'n', with toffee and sugar cookie dough; 'Peanut Butter Half Baked', which is clearly self-explanatory; and a non-dairy version of choc-chip cookie dough. To score your free ice cream, you'll need to register online first. You'll also need to select a times and a location — and then you can get licking.
Following months (and months) of lockdown, the Immigration Museum is finally able to exhibit the work of South Sudanese-born, Melbourne-based artist Atong Atem. Running through January 31, 2021, Atong Atem: To be real showcases the photographer's work as part of the Photo 2021 International Festival of Photography. Revealing a new series of large-scale photographic works, Atem captures moments that verge on the surreal and hyper-real. The artist uses bright tones and textural outfits to explore themes of mythology and fantasy — as well as examine her own identity and sense of belonging in contemporary Australian life. While entry is free, booking ahead is a must. Head here to grab your ticket. Top image: Bigoa with Fan (2020) by Atong Atem
It's time to get festive beneath one of Newstead's most striking features: the Gasometer. For one night in December, The Market Folk is taking over the eye-catching Gasworks space, bring a heap of stalls with it and helping you finish your Christmas shopping — because, let's face it, no one ever gets 100-percent of their gift buying done too far in advance. From 5–9pm on Friday, December 11, the Gasworks Plaza precinct will be home to plenty of market stalls as the sun goes down, all brimming with items that'd make perfect presents (for your loved ones, and for yourself). If you're wondering just what kinds of things you can expect to pick up, think fashion, art, homewares, ceramics and vintage goods — and plants as well. There'll be a particular focus on Brisbane creatives, too. So, you'll also be gifting them some Christmas cheer by supporting their hard work. [caption id="attachment_758933" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] The Market Folk[/caption] Top image: Andrew S via Flickr.
Since arriving in town a few years back, Salt Meats Cheese has been giving Brisbanites a pizza-filled treat. And, as part of its lineup of Italian eats, it's been treating the city's residents to plenty of specials — including, this November, the return of its $25 all-you-can-eat pizza nights every Monday across its Brisbane stores. "Does this look like someone who's had all they can eat?" isn't something you'll be saying when you devour as many slices as your stomach can handle in 90 minutes, so calm your inner Homer Simpson. The only catch is that you'll have to buy a drink as well, but you can choose from both boozy and non-alcoholic options. Available from 5pm, this hefty feast serves up multiple options, too. You can stick with the $25 pizza-focused option, or add all-you-can-eat gnocchi as well for an extra $5. And if you're vegan or eat a gluten-free diet, those can also be catered for for another $5. The varieties of pizza available will change each week, if you need motivation to head along more than once. Don't have an afternoon snack beforehand, obviously.
UPDATE, May 1, 2021: I Am Greta is available to stream via Stan, Docplay, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Prime Video. If a single image can sum up the current crucial battle against climate change, it's a picture — any picture — of Greta Thunberg. Since deciding to skip school to protest outside Sweden's parliament back in August 2018, the braid-wearing teen has become the face of a movement. She isn't the first person to sound an alarm about the dire state of the planet, to vehemently speak truth to power or to gain widespread attention, but her determined, no-nonsense approach really isn't easily forgotten. Sometimes, it's directed at ordinary Stockholm residents going about their days while she strikes. As she has garnered increasing attention, Thunberg has trained her stare on crowded United Nations' conferences, too, and at attendees with the capacity but not necessarily the inclination to make a difference. She has also met face to face with world leaders, but she knows that politicians usually only share her gaze for a photo opportunity. Demonstrating patiently, speaking passionately, shaking hands for the cameras: all of these moments are captured by documentary I Am Greta, which surveys Thunberg's ascension from everyday Swedish 15-year-old to one of the best-known figures fighting to save the earth. The film acts as a chronicle, starting with her activism on her home soil, following her efforts as she's thrust to fame, and culminating in her trip across the Atlantic Ocean via yacht to present at 2019's UN Climate Action Summit, where she gave her iconic "how dare you" speech. But as the title indicates, this doco is just as concerned with Thunberg's home life as her public impact. Accordingly, while filmmaker Nathan Grossman has an array of recognisable footage at his disposal in this slickly packaged affair — packed protests, widely seen speeches, British parliament addresses, meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron — he interweaves it with quieter, intimate and unguarded moments. Including material preceding her present status as a household name, I Am Greta watches Thunberg prepare for big events, spend time with her beloved dogs and horses, eat meals with her family, and get escorted around the world by bus, train and boat by her father Svante. These snippets help paint a picture of the teenager behind the activism, and much of it is highly relatable. She adores her pets, finding their presence soothing. She obsesses over every detail of every speech, even when her dad is reminding her to rest and eat. She happily calls herself a nerd, explains the helpful side of her Asperger syndrome diagnosis ("it might be good if everyone had a tiny bit of Asperger's, at least about the climate," she shares), talks through details of past episodes of selective mutism and notes that being bullied isn't a new part of her life. Viewers looking for something more revealing in Thunberg's daily existence will be disappointed, as will anyone eager to discover details that haven't been covered in many a profile, or keen for in-depth facts and figures. But by purposefully and repeatedly stressing that its subject is simply a young woman who feels passionate about doing everything she can to raise awareness about climate change, and to motivate the world's powers-that-be to act before it's too late, I Am Greta makes an immensely potent statement. It's one that Thunberg has vocalised on many occasions with words as direct as her glare, and it resonates just as strongly here. It shouldn't take a teen skipping school and inspiring millions more around the world to follow in her footsteps to get people talking, thinking and enacting solutions to counteract the earth's warming. Thunberg shouldn't need to be a leader in this space. At the beginning of the film, during her time spent sitting outside Swedish parliament, she acknowledges that she likely knows far more about climate change than the overwhelming bulk of Sweden's politicians — and that firmly shouldn't be the case. Also cutting through astutely is Thunberg's continued recognition of how, as her fame increases, the global response by naysayers encapsulates so much about the status quo and the lack of government action. She calls out politicians who chat and get snapped in pictures but do nothing to follow through, with Grossman letting viewers see the pageantry alongside Thunberg's perceptive observations. She reads trolling comments, too — and I Am Greta says plenty when it shows figures such as Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison either attacking Thunberg, childishly insulting her, discounting her message or saying that the planet's younger generations should stick to studying instead of fighting for their futures. It isn't ever explicitly said, but I Am Greta also makes another pivotal point, and it applies not only to its central figure but to the rousing film itself. In addition to emphasising that the steadfast eco-warrior is a teen tackling a topic that so many of her elders have happily ignored for decades, this documentary understands that its audience already knows how they feel about Thunberg. It also recognises that its viewers are just as aware of which side they fall on when it comes to combating climate change. As a result, this movie isn't going to convert skeptics and Thunberg's critics, or alter her fans' thinking, and it isn't trying to. It'd rather show the work to effect change in action, and let that speak volumes. Indeed, what echoes here is that simply doing the right thing — doing something, in fact — is essential regardless of any obstacles and opposition, whether urged by Al Gore, David Attenborough, Aussie doco 2040, your best mate, your neighbour, a stranger or Thunberg. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwk10YGPFiM
Do you love spending the twilight hours bending and stretching? When you knock off work for the day, do you crave some time in the open air? Whichever category you fall into, if you like getting active for free — and within West End's greenery-filled precinct, too — then you now have plans every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. With West Village now well and truly open, the space is hosting twice-weekly exercise sessions in its central area, aka The Common. The classes are open to everyone, whether you live in the neighbourhood or you're dropping by on your way home from work. And yes, if you want to go to both each week, that's perfectly understandable. Head by at 5.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which is when you can bliss out over yoga in the inner-city spot. The current batch of classes run until November 26, and you'll need to bring your own mat, towel and water bottle. Images: West Village.
The BrisStyle team is a rather busy bunch. A few times a year, it puts on twilight markets in King George Square, but that isn't its only regular event. If you're particularly after a treasure trove of handmade goodies — and who isn't? — it hosts another opportunity to browse and buy that's dedicated to exactly those kinds of objects. Fashion, art, jewellery, homewares — if someone's been using their nimble fingers to make it, then you can probably trade your hard-earned cash for their hard work. In fact, there'll be more than 70 artisans selling their wares. And, while you're shopping, you'll also be able to grab a bite at the onsite cafe and listen to live tunes from local musos. The BrisStyle Handmade Markets next take place on Saturday, October 24, so mark your calendars now. Head along from 9am–3pm, with it all taking place in the Queensland Museum's whale mall. Image: BrisStyle.
When the working week is done, folks just wanna have fun. We're paraphrasing Cyndi Lauper because she knows what she's singing about. If your idea of taking her advice involves listening to ace musos belt out a few tunes, then QPAC's Green Jam Unlocked is the Friday afternoon session you're looking for. All about live music, tasty bites to eat and kicking back in a grassy spot a stone's throw from the inner city, this regular event offers an ace start to your weekend every week. It usually happens across most of the year, but this hasn't been a usual year, as we all know — so, after lockdowns and restrictions, it's making a socially distanced comeback every week between November 6–December 11. Held between 5.30–7.30pm, the outdoor songfest takes over the Melbourne Street Green (aka that vibrant patch of turf just past the Cultural Centre walkway) with live tunes — with plenty of street food, of course. So, who's on the bill? The lineup includes the Melissa Clarke Trio first up, then changes every week. At future sessions, expect musicians from Queensland Conservatorium – Griffith University, as well as Digi Youth Arts. And as for your stomach, it can feast on pizzas, broad bean and feta dip (with warm bread to go with it), and pumpkin and provolone arancini — while sipping spritzes, wine and beer. You'll have to pay for the eating part of the evening (and any bevs you place in your hand), but it'll be worth it.
Getting into festive mood? Prefer to do your shopping while the big day is still a few weeks away? Hate leaving your Christmas preparations until the last minute? Then pencil one of the year's must-attend Yuletide markets into your calendar: Christmas on Cribb. Sure, Christmas on Cribb is just what the Milton Markets call its seasonal shindig, which takes place on Saturday, November 28 from 4–10pm this year. And sure, you've been to markets before. But, their festive event boasts plenty to get excited about. Here, you'll get your food and gift plans sorted, and lap up music and entertainment while you're there. This Cribbmas, you can also enjoy everything from gourmet food to artisan wares — and, based on past years, there are usually more than 150 stalls on offer. Grab bites you'll want to eat on the night, produce for your big feast, and presents for your loved ones (and yourself). Plus, there'll be a pop-up bar onsite in case you need a break from the browsing and buying — or an extra excuse to feel merry. Entry costs $2 at the gate, and you can pay $2 more for VIP parking.
When Longtime closed up its Ann Street restaurant, it left a hole in Fortitude Valley's dining scene — but, post-pandemic lockdowns, something new sprouted in its old digs. That'd be Eterna, a fresh venture from Salt Meats Cheese's Stefano de Blasi. And yes, it has a big Italian focus. Fans of cocktails will want to stop by between 5–7pm from Tuesday–Thursday, though, because that's when the venue is doing its aperitivo special. For $10, you'll get a drink and a snack — and a mighty fine way to end a weekday afternoon. The aperitivo menu is called 'eter-mini', because its cocktails are made in half sizes. You can choose between a martini, a 'perfetto' (with gin, red vermouth, Amaro Braulio and clarified apple), a 'malt and myrtle' (with whisky, pineapple-infused vermouth and lemon myrtle tea) and a 'borghese' (with tequila, marsala, a hibiscus infusion and bitters). Food-wise, each drink comes with a choice of three snacks. Fancy a red snapper croquette with roasted capsicum sauce? That's on the lineup, as are chickpea and lentil-stuffed and fried olives, plus marinated sardines served on crusty bread with herbed butter. [caption id="attachment_780657" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Lewis Lotherington[/caption]
On any given Saturday morning across Brisbane, plenty of pooches can be found descending upon the city's markets. Come 6am–12pm on Saturday, October 15 in Carseldine, dog lovers and their furry four-legged BFFs will be doing what they usually do — with the added bonus of attending the northside spot's returning Barktoberfest. What do cute canines have to do with celebrating this time of year? Nothing, but don't let that get in the way of a dapper doggo-friendly morning out. As well as the usual food and fresh produce, an array of pet-related stalls will ramp up the fun to barking great levels. There'll also be a pupper fashion parade and a pawparazzi photo contest — to determine just which canine cutie friend is the most adorable. Also returning this year is a pooch splash zone, which first debuted in 2021. Yes, that means pools for your doggo. It is getting warm again, after all, and we're betting that your pupper also feels the heat. Doggy dancing, pooch portraits, canine competitions, pupper prizes — they're all on offer, too. Entry is free, and live entertainment is part of the market as well.
Whodunnits — everyone's watching them, including everything from Death on the Nile and Only Murders in the Building to The Resort. But you don't just have to get sleuthing while sitting in a cinema, or on your couch. Fancy putting your skills to the test IRL? That's where Murder Mystery: Wedding Murder comes in. As the name makes plain, this murder-mystery game takes place at a wedding, when someone's happy day doesn't quite go as planned. And, it's all happening in the right setting — in High Church in Fortitude Valley, which dates back to the 1870s. Here's the story: an influential family is throwing a huge ceremony, because their sole heir is getting hitched. But then a body is found while guests are waiting for the bride to walk down the aisle. That's where you pop up to help work out what's happening and who's behind it — and ideally save the wedding in the process. Murder Mystery: Wedding Murder is taking over its Brunswick Street setting from Thursday, August 4–Friday, October 28, with sessions every Thursday and Friday night. You have two times to choose from, too, with the 90-minute experience kicking off at 5.30pm and 8pm. Tickets cost $58, or $53 each if you gather a gang with at least nine mates.
Were you the type of kid who spent too much time trying to win prizes from claw machines? Are you now the kind of adult who likes your spirits with an amber hue? In great news for everyone who falls into both categories, Whisky Whisky combines the two — because who said that sipping drams and testing your hand-eye coordination to win whisky-themed prizes can't go hand in hand? Taking place across two sessions, from 12.30–3pm and 4–6.30pm on Saturday, September 24 at Fish Lane, Whisky Whisky comes from the folks behind Supping Club. As the event's name makes plain, this afternoon is all about whisky appreciation. For your $109–129 ticket — depending on how early you purchase — you'll be able to taste your way through more than 80 different local and international whiskies from 30-plus brands, including varieties from Bladnoch, Coastal Stone, Archie Rose, Starward and Kilchoman. That's plenty to say cheers to, clearly. You'll also get your own glass to keep, and a lunchbox of pan-Asian-inspired eats from Hello Please to line your stomach. And, you'll score a token for one top-shelf dram of your choosing as well. When you're not sampling whisky — or vying for prizes at the claw machine — you can opt for frozen whisky sours, Sea Legs Brewing Co's beers and non-boozy beverages, although they'll all cost you extra. Top image: Peter Sexty.
Some kinds of movie magic never get old, and Studio Ghibli's films are exactly that type. Understandably, a whole heap of Brisbane cinemas have agreed with that idea over the years, hosting their own events dedicated to the Japanese animation house. The Elizabeth Picture Theatre is one of them, and the venue just keeps bringing back its Ghibli film festival again and again. We understand — who doesn't want to watch these animated delights over and over? Returning for 2022 this August and September, and screening twice a week from Thursday, August 4–Saturday, September 29 — at 2pm and 7pm on Thursdays and Sundays, to be specific — this year's fest gives fans yet another chance to catch Studio Ghibli's gorgeous features on the big screen. Yes, you should make like a moving castle to see Howl's Moving Castle this time. And yes, you'll be palling around with My Neighbour Totoro once again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM1fzCdPHSU Other highlights include Kiki's Delivery Service, Princess Mononoke — which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2022 — and Porco Rosso. From the studio's more recent flicks, there's also From Up on Poppy Hill and The Wind Rises. If you've missed these films in their limited cinema runs or fest appearances in the past, consider this your chance to catch up. Sure, you might've seen everything that Studio Ghibli has made before — but these movies really are something extra special when they're flickering across the silver screen.
It mightn't be anywhere near the season for trimming trees, singing carols and exchanging gifts just yet, but July is the time to pretend otherwise. And New Farm Cinemas has an event that's tailor-made for getting jolly mid-year — even if you usually avoid or ignore not-quite-Christmas shenanigans. At 7pm on Saturday, July 23, the venue is giving seasonal classic Love Actually a whirl. That means there'll be plenty of jovial tales of romance starring seemingly every actor who was famous in Britain in 2003. Yes, Colin Firth broods, Hugh Grant dances, Alan Rickman charms and Liam Neeson shows his softer side. Keira Knightley is wooed and Emma Thompson proves a calm force to be reckoned with. To accompany the session, the cinema is also serving up some very fitting refreshments. There'll be mince pies, which'll keep your stomach warm — plus wine, to help warm your insides thoroughly. Given that the movie will warm your heart — because if you're going along, you're definitely already a fan — prepare to feel mighty toasty as you revisit Richard Curtis' rom-com classic.
Another massive and dazzling Gallery of Modern Art exhibition, another huge reason to stop by. Whatever graces the South Brisbane site's walls and halls, it's always worth a visit. Labyrinths of red and black thread are definitely worth seeing and wandering through — which is currently on offer at Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles until Monday, October 3. Displaying in Brisbane after premiering in Tokyo, The Soul Trembles is an otherworldly dream, and checking it out at any time of day is a must. But GOMA also loves pairing its major exhibitions with late-night parties, making Chiharu Shiota Up Late the hottest ticket in town on Friday, August 26 and Saturday, August 27. Get ready to spend two wintry nights seeing breathtaking installations, drinking, tapping your toes to DJs and listening to live music. The events kick off at 6pm both nights, and a ticket gets you access to Shiota's 100-plus works — room-sized mazes of yarn, tiny miniatures, video pieces, photography and everything in-between all included — as well as tunes. There'll four spots to grab a bite and drink around the place, so a tipple won't be hard to find. On Friday evening, you'll also be able to listen to music by Harvey Sutherland, CLOE TERARE, DJ Red Belly and an additional act that's still be announced. Or, if Saturday better suits your diary, Jen Cloher, flowerkid, Beckah Amani and DJ Scalymoth will be doing the honours. Tickets cost $42 per night, with drop-in tea sessions also included. Plus, guitarist Joel Woods and pianist Thien Pham will bust out tracks from Mimi Duo's album Falling Like Tears while surrounded by Shiota's red and woolly hallway installation Uncertain Journey. As for the other tunes, they'll take place on the outdoor Maiwar Green stage under a marquee — because The Soul Trembles really has spun its webs all through GOMA's ground level. Images: Images: installation views: Chiharu Shiota: The Soul Trembles, Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, 2022 © Chiharu Shiota. Photography: Natasha Harth / Chloë Callistemon, QAGOMA.
You've gotta love it when breweries throw birthday shindigs. It's their big occasion, but everyone gets a gift. Forget party bags filled with lollies — at All Inn Brewing Co's Ninth Birthday Party, it's all about thirst-quenching beverages, live music tasty eats. Once midday rolls around on Saturday, July 9, the beer fiends' Banyo headquarters will kick into celebration mode until 9pm, letting tanks of yeasty beverages flow. And, it'll have Flamin Grillas Low & Slow BBQ cooking up a storm, so you can line your stomach amid all the merriment. All of the above will be set to the strains of local tunes — catch sets by Corn Liquor and The Cookie Jar Assortment while you sip, hang out, mark the occasion with your mates, and sip some more. And yes, you just know there'll likely be a hearty rendition of 'Happy Birthday' at some point. Also, entry is free — and dogs are very much welcome.
Add another date into your doggo's diary — the NewBARKet Markets are upon us. On Saturday, July 16, Newmarket Village is going to the dogs again, but in a good way, with the adorable event taking over the inner north shopping centre. Take your pupper along from 11am–3pm, with plenty of treats and pats on offer. One place your cute canine will want to head to: the bone bar, where free bones will be given out to all good woofers (while stocks last). The main attraction, as the name makes plain, is stalls selling all kinds of goodies for your four-legged friend. Expect dog food, accessories, threads and grooming, and usually dog desserts as well — dog ice cream and pupcakes have been on offer in past years. For attendees of the two-legged variety (no, your clever canine standing on their two back legs doesn't count), there'll also be food for humans. And if you're sadly lacking in the pooch department, don't worry — everyone else will have you covered, so you'll be in for a top day of dog-watching.
Ever wondered what it'd be like to play mini golf in the snow? No, you probably haven't — but you can find out now anyway. Redcliffe's Undersea Putt & Play is getting wintry from 5–9pm every day between Friday, June 24–Sunday, July 10, which means showering its greens with that glorious falling white stuff. No, you don't need to rug up, which is another ace part of the faux snow fun. You're also getting two themes for the price of one at Snowland Putt Putt, actually, because Undersea is usually decked out with ocean-inspired decor; think: sharks and fish hanging above the course, turtles and pirates scattered among the greens, entering through the jaws of a dunkleosteus, an extinct ancient fish that grew up to eight metres long; and also spotting squid, jellyfish, whales, stingrays, mermaids and treasure chests. The venue has now added its nightly white Christmas setup on top of its usual theming, spanning that fake snow and festive decorations. No, this isn't the kind of putt putt you see every day. Yes, Christmas tunes are pumping through the stereo, too. It's all family friendly, as the venue always is, so expect to have company of all ages. That's the type of game that mini golf is, after all. Tickets cost $60, which covers four people. Because Undersea Putt & Play also has a cafe and bar onsite for pre-golf snacks and post-match celebrations, you can sip frozen cocktails after you've tapped you way around the 18 wintry holes, too — although that's extra. And, there's also an arcade room with video games, air hockey tables and a pinball parlour. Brisbane does love a themed mini golf course. By now, you've already putted your way around Holey Moley's neon-lit themed mini golf greens at its two Brisbane venues. When it decks out its course for Christmas, Easter, Halloween and Valentine's Day, you've tap, tap, tapped through Victoria Park's site, too. And, when it comes to town, you've also swung a club at Pixar Putt. But channelling your inner Happy Gilmore on a snow-meets-underwater 18-hole course is definitely something new.
Every Wednesday, Palace Cinemas is giving movie-loving students in Brisbane an extra present. It's not just the gift of great flicks — that is, the cinema chain's daily bread and butter — but the gift of cheap great flicks. Head to one of the company's two Brisbane locations — Palace James St and Palace Barracks — each Wednesday, and any film at any time will only cost you $9. Want to see new blockbusters? Arthouse fare? Everything in-between? It'll cost you $9. Booking in advance is highly recommended, given how much everyone loves going to the flicks for little more than the price of a cup of coffee. If you do nab your tickets online, you will have to add a transaction fee to the cost. You will need to show your student ID to nab the bargain tickets. Also, you can't score the discount on Platinum sessions, or for film festival screenings or special events.
The strangest public holiday of the year is upon us, Brisbanites: the Ekka public holiday. This year, the Royal Queensland Show is well and truly happening. And, the day off we all get to enjoy it strawberry sundaes is back in its traditional Wednesday slot. It's still all a bit odd, though — as smacking a public holiday in the middle of an August week has always proven. No, that isn't a complaint. Yes, if nothing feels ordinary around your Ekka day off, thats understandable. Here's something that'll help you kick things off in style the night before, though: the return of the Hekka Festival to Greaser. Live tunes will hit the Fortitude Bar's garage stage, as well as a second stage, with the fest starting at 5pm and keeping on keeping on till late. On the bill: Pandamic, Total Pace, Annoying Neighbours, Mitch Please, Hot Reno, Pvcker Up, Naaki Soul, PHD!, Laura Mac and Black Bugs. Tickets cost $10 — and if you need any more of an incentive, Total Pace features members of I Heart Hiroshima, Violent Soho and DZ Deathrays. Images: Anwyn Howarth.
The Brightside's ABBA Appreciation Night isn't a spur-of-the-moment event. The Fortitude Valley venue has held similar shindigs before, because paying tribute to classic pop and disco hits is always fun. But this particular party has just the right name and theme for right now — because dancing is allowed again in Queensland, so hitting up an event called Dancing Queen really couldn't be more perfect. The one-night event will have you thanking everyone for the music from 11pm on Saturday, April 17. Here we go again, indeed. If you're wondering how much money, money, money it'll set you back, tickets cost $15 — and buying in advance is recommended. DJs will spin the band's tunes, and you and your fellow super troupers will take a chance on dancing and singing along. You'll be able to say 'gimme, gimme, gimme' to other tracks from huge artists of the 70s and 80s, too. Basically, prepare to step back in time while cutting a rug to everyone from Queen, Toto, Blondie and Fleetwood Mac to Dolly Parton, Talking Heads, Madonna and Earth, Wind and Fire. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFrGuyw1V8s
As well as having a catchy name, Kangaroo Point's One Fish Two Fish always serves up a decent catch. If you're fond of shellfish, you'll particularly agree with that statement throughout April and May. Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the end of the autumn, the seafood eatery is focusing on crab and crayfish. Unlike in previous years, the special is available for lunch in 2021 — so get ready to treat yo'self with a fancy five-course midday meal. There are two Crab and Cray Cray options: with booze or without. The first costs $69, and the second $99 — with the latter covering a two-hour beer and rosé package. Whichever one tempts your tastebuds, you'll tuck into Fraser Isle spanner crab bisque, crayfish rolls with saffron mayonnaise and brown butter, more spanner crab — but in a warm soba noodle salad — and blue swimmer crab with potato and bacon hash. For dessert, a warm white chocolate blondie with raspberries and passionfruit is on the menu (and yes, that's the one course that doesn't include crayfish or crab). Bookings are essential by contacting the venue, with sittings from 12–2pm and 2.30–4.30pm.
Summer might be over, but the sun still shines and the weather is still toasty during autumn in Brisbane. So, if you're keen on finishing up your weekend with a few drinks outdoors — and by the water, because that's one of the great things about living in a river city — that's still well and truly on the agenda. At Byblos at Portside, throwing in a few G&Ts is also on offer, with the bar hosting weekly gin and tonic garden parties. Stop by every Sunday in March from 3pm, and you'll know what you'll be drinking. There'll be a few new and different cocktails on offer, too, with names such as 'Storm Season', 'Portside Paloma' and 'Phoenican Tonica' — all with Fever-Tree providing the mixers. Entry is free, but bookings are essential. You'll also get a soundtrack to your Sunday afternoon hangout session, thanks to a DJ and a live saxophone player. And, sticking around while the sun sets is heartily recommended. Images: Anwyn Howarth
In 2020, everyone spent more time at home than expected, hopefully with their noses in several good books. In 2021, literature-loving Brisbanites can once again head out and celebrate all of those word-filled wonders. Yes, Brisbane Writers Festival is back — and yes, there's an in-person component to the annual event this time. While last year's fest went virtual, this year's wants avid readers to gather. Across Friday, May 7–Sunday, May 9, you can get together at the Queensland Art Gallery for the opening night address by Robert Dessaix, or at Custom's House for high tea with author Kate Morton. Or, hop over to Palace Barracks, where eco-conscious Australian documentary 2040 will be screening with director and star Damon Gameau in attendance. You can also hang around BWF's base at the State Library of Queensland, where everyone from All Our Shimmering Skies writer Trent Dalton to a panel featuring Lisa Fuller, Thomas Mayor and Bruce Pascoe will be doing plenty of talking. Benjamin Law has curated five events, too, all around the theme of survival — and there is still an online program as well. Where the latter is concerned, that means that you can still view sessions on climate anxiety, women speaking their truth, how internet technologies track our daily lives, mental health, and the path from poem to stage to book to film The Drover's Wife has taken (and more), all without leaving home.
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.
