If you like beer and you live in Brisbane, then you've probably noticed a trend in recent years. In fact, you've probably been making the most of it. That's to be expected when a certain patch of turf starts welcoming new drinking spots with frequency. Thanks to Ballistic Beer Co in Salisbury, as well as Helios Brewing Company and Slipstream Brewing Company in Yeerongpilly, there's no shortage of breweries to have a beer at on the southside — and while you've likely been hopping between them all anyway, Beermuda Triangle gives the area's boozy crawl an official spin. Head to one the above list of places between 1pm on Saturday, March 14, catch a bus to the other two and back until 8pm, and drink frothy ales at each. [caption id="attachment_719835" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Slipstream Brewing Company[/caption] Entry is free, more than 30 brews will be on offer, and there'll also be food trucks and live music at each brewery. Plus, obviously, just the general fun of soaking in the boozy Salisbury and Yeerongpilly vibes. Because this edition of Beermuda Triangle is being held as part of Brewsvegas 2020, each brewery will also be whipping up a special beer for the day — using the same ingredients at all three spots, but giving the recipe its own spin. Top image: Ballistic Beer Co.
Does your idea of a perfect meal involved crumbed chicken topped with tomato sauce and covered in melted mozzarella? Do you like having dinner for less than a lobster? If you answered yes to both questions — and you have time to hang out at South Bank — then you'll be pleased with Munich Brauhaus' new special. Until Sunday, March 1, the German-themed joint is serving up the good schnit — and cheap, too. In other words, it's offering up $10 chicken parmigianas. Available for lunch and dinner, your 180-gram parma also comes with fries — and, in terms of conditions, you'll just need to buy a beverage as well to nab the deal. We're guessing that finding something to drink won't be hard in a two-level beer hall, of course. Brews-wise, Munich Brauhaus' selection spans 36 taps and 17 draught beers, including pure Bavarian beers and an extensive list of craft brews
No one really knows when alcohol-loving humans first started mixing their booze with other ingredients, but we do know when they first started referring to the resulting concoctions as cocktails. It was in 1806, so more than 200 years ago. There's some food for thought next time you mix up or knock back a drink — or to impress your date with when you're drinking, chatting and making the most of Jade Buddha's returning cocktail markets. What's a cocktail market? A chance to try plenty of different types, all in sample-sized tastes so you really can wet your lips with a few. Because the latest event is taking place on Valentine's Day, it'll be serving romance-themed tipples — and you can sip them from 6–8pm on Friday, February 14. While entry to the riverside bar is free, $35 will get you four cocktail tokens to use at the special pop-up bar. For each token, you'll get one standard drink. And it's worth remembering the golden rule of cocktails: they always taste better when you're drinking them with other people, especially on this particular occasion. Images: Jade Buddha.
As dairy fiends already well and truly know, adding burrata to any meal automatically takes it up several notches. Add the delicious blend of mozzarella and cream to every dish as part of a five-course dinner and, well, you've got yourself quite the cheesy, indulgent and delicious feast going on. That's what's happening at Burrata Night. Nope, that name doesn't disappoint. Salt Meats Cheese's Gasworks store is whipping up a heap of burrata-topped options on Tuesday, February 4, then letting you eat your way through them. There'll actually be seven different dishes, including truffle and porcini gnocchetti with warm burrata; burrata that's crumbed with panko and herbs, then fried; and burrata that's been hand-stuffed with pesto, then placed on top of a margherita pizza. Or, you can try some arrabbiata spicy spaghetti topped with burrata, opt for cured bresaola and burrata with rocket, or go for the pumpkin sauce-filled burrata served on a blue cheese and mozzarella base pizza. Naked burrata with your choice of filling —truffle mushroom, pumpkin, basil pesto or chilli sauce — is also available. The five-dish dinner will set you back $49, and you can choose which five of the above choices you'd prefer. Or, you can take the plate-by-plate approach and order single serves for $15 a pop. It all kicks off at 5pm, and booking in advance for this one-night-only affair is essential.
Say cheers to beers by the river this summer, all thanks to Brisbane's Howard Smith Wharves precinct. You can stop by the site's resident brewery, Felons, any time you like, of course — but this two-day event will bring a whole heap of booze-makers together, pour plenty of beer and cider, and combine sitting on the grass, soaking in the sunshine and taking in the watery view. Sound familiar? When HSW debuted Beers on the Lawn last year, it said it'd become an annual event. And, just four short months later, this brew fest is here for 2020 — because if there's one thing that Brissie can't get enough of, it's excuses to sink cold ones. Running from 4–8pm on both Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23, Beers on the Lawn will keep the frothies flowing from Felons, Range, Helios, Slipstream and Aether, as well as Semi-Pro, Brouhaha, Ballistic and Soapbox. The brewery list keeps going, with Moffat Beach, Sealegs, Revel, Land & Sea, Your Mates and Noosa Beer Co all coming along, too. And, if you're eager for something other than beer, then wine, gin, kombucha and spritzes will be your friend. In addition to beers and then more beers, attendees will be able to tuck into a smokey barbecue menu — think pork ribs, chicken wings and burgers, woodfired pizzas, and a smoked platter that includes ribs, brisket, pickle cucumber, corn bread, fries and slaw. Plus, in terms of entertainment, you'll be able play lawn games and table tennis, listen to live tunes, watch live artwork and check out home-brew demonstrations. Also, this fest is dog-friendly as well.
After Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, the Australian Ballet is taking on another classic — and treating ballet lovers to another astonishing show. Teaming up again with renowned choreographer Graeme Murphy, the dance company is bringing Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince to life. Expect dazzling footwork, a specially commissioned score and a vivid spectacle, plus Wilde's playful and touching tale as you've never seen it before. In fact, no one has yet seen this version of The Happy Prince, with the production making its world premiere when it hits QPAC's Lyric Theatre between Tuesday, February 25 and Saturday, February 29. An all-ages delight, the poignant story has been given a thoroughly modern — and Australian — interpretation, ensuring that it's as engaging today as it was when it was first published 132 years ago. A timely reminder that kindness is one of the most important things in life, Wilde's tale follows a lonely swallow and a golden statue of a joyous prince. They cross paths as their hometown is blighted by sorrow — and the results are poetic, moving, and laced with both sharp humour and social commentary. Alongside the stunning choreography, there'll be a score from renowned composer Christopher Gordon, plus masterful set and costume design by award-winning artist and director Kim Carpenter — both adding greatly to the production's already magical retelling of Wilde's classic tale. And, if you're keen to see a weekday production (Tuesday–Friday), you can get a sweet deal on tickets. From midday on Wednesday, February 5 till midday on Monday, February 10, you can nab $88 tickets for A–D Reserve seating (unless already below the discount price).
Once, not that long ago, Brisbane had never played host to a gin festival. Now, that's definitely no longer the case. They seem to pop up every few months, alongside plenty of other regular gin-focused nights, gatherings and parties. We do have several bars solely focused on gin in this city of ours, after all. They all have one thing in common, of course: oh-so-many juniper spirits. And another: oh-so-many G&Ts. That's exactly what's on the menu at Pig 'n' Whistle Brunswick Street's gin-fuelled addition to the fold, aka its returning Ginfused Festival. Taking place from 1–7pm on Saturday, February 29, this patch of the Valley will become a gin mecca — complete with plenty of artisanal gins, a heap of cheese and charcuterie to help soak up the botanical booze, free cocktail masterclasses and live music. Distilleries including Tanqueray, Brookie's, 23rd Street, Four Pillars, Nosferatu, Jinzu, Winston Quinn and more will be slinging drinks, and entry is free. You can also purchase a $40 or $45 package in advance, with the first including five drink tokes and the second nabbing you two beverage tokens and a charcuterie plate.
Every year, when autumn hits, Brisbane's plant aficionados come out in force. Tending to your garden is a year-round pursuit, of course — whether your patch of greenery spans a whole backyard, a few pots on your balcony or that plant in your lounge room that needs a bit of love. But autumn is when the Brisbane Garden and Plant Expo holds one of its twice-yearly get-togethers. For two days at Rocklea Showgrounds, more than 100 stalls will be selling plants and garden-related products, with both native and non-native varieties up for grabs. Folks in the know will also share their expertise across a series of talks — and if you're into edible plants, they're well and truly covered as well. Food stalls, a plant creche to mind your purchases, and live entertainment are all also on the agenda, with the expo running from 9am–8pm on Friday, March 13 and 9am–4pm Saturday, March 14. Tickets cost $8.50 for one day, or $15 if you're planning on heading along on both days. Top image: Brisbane Garden and Plant Expo.
Like wings? Live in Brisbane? Partial to a food truck gathering? If all of the above applies to you, then the odds are that you've nabbed a wing fix from Wing Fix. You might've even dropped by its first bricks-and-mortar digs in Morningside, too — and now this chook joint it opening a second store. Come Saturday, March 14, this slinger of poultry pieces will open a permanent store at Coorparoo Square, aka your new wing central. And if you head on by between 11am–2pm on opening day, you'll score a free six-wing pack in your choice of flavour — or a free cheeseburger — with every order. Arriving early is recommended if you're keen on a free addition to your lunch. As for what you'll be eating, wings-wise, prepare your tastebuds for six flavours: good ol' buffalo, that other old fave that is honey soy, the delicious flavour combo of garlic parmesan, the succulent delights of some crispy fried pieces — plus a bourbon barbecue sauce and another called 'Nashville Hot'.
In response to COVID-19, film festivals around the world have been making the shift to online programs for 2020 — and Australia's fests are no different. Sydney Film Festival is doing just that, as is the Melbourne International Film Festival. Also going virtual: the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival. HRAFF's addition to the digital fold is called Humankind, and it runs between Monday, May 18–Sunday, May 24. Each day, it'll screen a different film online. And yes, while that means that the fest's lineup is quite small, it's also mostly free. Although registering for tickets is still required, six of the seven movies on the program will be made available to viewers without paying a cent. You can opt to donate, though, if you can spare $2, $10 or $50. On the bill: poignant New Zealand drama Whale Rider; documentary No Time for Quiet, about the Girls Rock! camp in Melbourne; and fellow music-focused doco Her Sound, Her Story, which explores the experiences of women in the industry. Or, you can check out environmental documentary Tomorrow, which is co-directed by Inglourious Basterds star Melanie Laurent; Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, about the African American poet and activist; and Backtrack Boys, which dives into a jackaroo-led youth program. Humankind is also screening excellent Aussie doco In My Blood It Runs, which tells the tale of 10-year-old Northern Territory resident Dujuan — and tickets to watch it online cost $15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmahNqD3Dvw&feature=youtu.be
How do you show your love for your favourite filmmaker, particularly when the director in question is none other than John Waters? Sure, you could watch a stack of DVDs in the comfort of your own home. Or, you could head to Brisbane's one and only John Waters Fest. Returning for its fourth year, expect the kind of fun-filled screenings only cult cinema guru Kristian Fletcher could've thought of. And expect to enjoy the experience in a concentrated block, with the fest taking place from 6.30pm Wednesday, April 17. It all starts with Cecil B. Demented, aka Waters' 2000 black comedy starring Melanie Griffiths as a Hollywood A-lister who's kidnapped by terrorist filmmakers. Follow it up with A Dirty Shame, because everyone loves a satirical sex comedy — and enjoy two of the director's features that don't regularly show on the big screen.
Talented pooches have been barking their way to big screen stardom since the birth of the medium, and Cannes Film Festival even gives out awards for ace pupper performances. Now, Australia has a dog-themed cinema showcase. At the Top Dog Film Festival, doggos and puppers cement their status as humanity's favourite movie stars in a touring program of pooch-centric shorts. For two hours, dogs will leap across screens in a curated selection of heartwarming flicks about humanity's best friend. Over the last two years, the lineup has included films about dog-powered sports, dogs in space, dogs hiking through the desert, senior dogs and more. The festival hits Brisbane's Schonell Cinema on Wednesday, July 17 as part of its 2019 run, and rushing after tickets the way your best four-legged friend rushes after a frisbee is recommended. Given how much we all love watching dog videos online, not to mention attending pupper-centric shindigs in general, this one-night-only event is certain to be popular.
Pick your favourite movie, change the concept slightly and Hollywood's next big hit could be born. It worked for The Fast and the Furious, which took Point Break's storyline, swapped surfboards for cars and spawned a hugely successful franchise, and it somewhat works in Little as well. Sequels and spinoffs aren't as likely to follow in the current case, but this age-swap comedy serves up a bit of fun with its reversed take on 80s classic Big. To be accurate, it serves up a highly predictable tale, themes to match, a few laughs, energetic performances and a star-making turn from 14-year-old Marsai Martin. Best known for TV sitcom Black-ish, Martin is a comic force to be reckoned with as Jordan Sanders, a character she shares with Regina Hall. The younger actress plays the 13-year-old version of the hotshot technology entrepreneur — both when she was originally a bullied, anxious, science-loving teenager suffering the ultimate humiliation at her school talent show, and when the tyrannical thirty-something is turned back into her adolescent self by a kid waving a magic wand. As an adult, Jordan has been coping with her youthful torment by becoming a rich, unpleasant control freak, unleashing much of her intimidation upon her long-suffering assistant April (Issa Rae). Then she picks on a child, wakes up to discover that she's now a child again herself, and is forced to enlist April to act as her legal guardian. Obviously, there's no question that writer-director Tina Gordon (who also helped pen What Men Want) and her co-scribe Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip) have seen Tom Hanks dance around on a walking keyboard in Big. The link is right there in Little's name. Martin has too, and that's where the film actually sprang from. The teen actress watched the movie, came up with a twist and pitched the idea to the right person. Now she's starring in the end product. She's also an executive producer on the picture — the youngest ever in Hollywood. Thanks to this origin story, there's a shameless feeling of familiarity to the flick — yet it's by design, rather than through arrogance, ignorance or laziness. The film's pace is breezy and its tone is bouncy, creating a feel-good, upbeat, self-empowering vibe, which should surprise no one. The expected jokes and messages also arrive on cue. Indeed, Little is well-aware that everyone knows where it sprang from, that it's never going to be original, and that plenty of other body-swap comedies have also done something similar. As a result, it rarely contemplates breaking the mould. More than that, it doesn't think it needs to. The film does pair its concept with the African-American experience, and calls out the fact that these kinds of antics usually only involve white characters, but it's otherwise content to stick to the formula. And while playing it safe is rarely the path to big-screen success, there's a reason for Little's approach. Instead of stepping into new territory, the movie adheres to the template, relying on its cast to add much-needed personality. In exaggerated mode, Hall has a ball. Finding the sweet spot between affable and awkward, Rae does as well. In the precocious Martin's case, she shines brighter than her character's oversized sunglasses and glitzy outfits. Without her, all of the film's cliches and tropes would take centre stage, from Jordan's initial shock at her sudden transformation, to the inevitable makeover montages, to the just-as-expected learning of life lessons. But while they're still all blatantly apparent, Martin's spark goes a long way. Crucially, she inhabits her character like an adult placed in a kid's body, rather than a child playing dress-up imitating someone older. With the younger Jordan strutting around in designer clothes, confidently ordering whisky at a bar and even flirting with her teacher when she's sent back to school, it's a vital difference, and it shows. Little still belongs to one of today's most pervasive and worrying trends — where everything can, should and must be rehashed over and over and over again — but it finds a way to stand out. In the crowded age- and body-swap genre that counts everything from 13 Going on 30 and 17 Again to Freaky Friday and The Change-Up, that too makes a difference. A big one, fittingly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWzxkqHn6D4
If your pup's been trying to sad-eye his or her way into your Easter celebrations, but without much chocolatey success, here's a solution for you both. From 11am on Saturday, April 13, Aussie pet-sitting network Mad Paws is bringing its annual Dog Easter Egg Hunt to Brisbane for the first time. For two furry hours, your drooling, slobbering one will be the focus of all attention. More than that — it'll get to scour Kalinga Dog Park in Clayfield for dog-friendly Easter treats. The pupper who finds the most will also win extra prizes, so your cute pooch could enjoy a very indulgent day indeed. While the main attraction is part of a country-wide push to hold the world's biggest dog easter egg hunt (with simultaneous events in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Darwin, too), there'll also be games, dog trainers offering advice and plenty of four-legged cuties everywhere you look. Last year's Sydney festivities featured agility courses, best-dressed comps, pupcakes and massages —here's hoping they all make the leap to Brisbane.
When Little Big House opened its doors, it did so with a strong parmigiana game. The South Bank pub's chicken parmy spring rolls quickly proved worth a trip alone, because some unlikely food combos really are as great as they sound. Plenty of Brisbanites have paired the dish with plenty of beers as a result; however adding a few other parmy delights — and a few more brews — is on the menu come April and May. Every Sunday, the watering hole will be slinging Parmy and Paddle Degustations, so you'd best prepare your tastebuds. Available all day each Sunday — that is, on April 7, 14, 21 and 28, plus May 5, 12, 19 and 26 — this four-course feast will set parmy-lovers back $48. It'll also soak your stomach in oh-so-much chicken and tomato, as well as a different 4 Pines beer with each round. Kicking off the meal with a classic, it all starts with a good ol' chicken parmy with a Pacific Ale. Next, you'll tuck into those chicken parmy spring rolls with a Brookvale Union Ginger Beer, and savour the unusual flavour combo. Third on the lineup is a parmy katsu sando, which comes with a Cold Brew Coffee Kolsch. Then, finishing up the degustation, you'll munch on some chicken parmy wings while downing a Pale Ale. If you dream of parmys afterwards, you'll know why. Updated May 2.
For more than a century, Boggo Road Gaol was the most notorious place not just in Brisbane, but in Queensland. Long closed, these days it welcomes tourists through its gates. The infamous Dutton Park site has also played host to movie nights, and even seen a few yoga stretches unfurl in its heritage-listed surroundings — and now it's about to nab its own music fest. At Jailbreak Festival, The Jensens, Great Såge, Bad Sext, Two and a Half Elephants and more will play the spot, although there's no need to sneak your way in or out to hear their alt-rock tunes. Instead, just nab a ticket to head along from 6pm on Saturday, March 23. And while you're dancing and drinking — yep, it's a licensed event — you'll also be nodding to a piece of local history. The fest's name isn't just an obvious joke, or a nod to a classic AC/DC track. Instead, it stems from Boggo Road Gaol's own past. Back in 1991, the prison experienced its own jailbreak, with four prisoners hijacking a garbage truck and just driving it straight through the gates.
The 90s are the decade that keeps on giving — to nostalgic Brisbanites, at least. On any given weekend, you can usually find a party dedicated to kicking it old school-style, including the city's latest music-themed trivia night. Know everything there is to know about the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, grunge, 'Gangsta's Paradise' and chasing waterfalls? Then, come 3pm on Sunday, May 12, it's time to put your 90s-loving brain to the test. Man vs Bear will be asking the questions, Shady Palms will be doing the hosting and you'll be slinging back your answers — if you wannabe the trivia champ, that is. These kind of themed nights always prove so popular, so booking in early for the next one is recommended. Register your team online, and prepare to channel Alanis when your competition gets something wrong — aka to have 'You Oughta Know' stuck in your head.
On Sunday, June 9, things are getting hot in Newstead. Tongue-tinglingly hot. Face-meltingly hot. Homer Simpson running, screaming and waving his hands around hot. That's what happens when you spice up your weekend with a chilli festival, after all. Adding some zest to Brisbane, Newstead's Waterfront Park is hosting the Briz-Chilli Fest from 11am. There'll be plenty of stalls offering plenty of chilli, and not just in food form. Of course, there'll be enough edible hot hot heat to help you turn several different shades, but that's just part of the chilli fun. Chilli beer and chilli cocktails will all be on offer, as will a chilli fancy dress competition. Basically, you'll be saying the word chilli so much that it no longer means anything. Early bird tickets are on sale now for $5, and the full lineup of activities also includes six chilli-eating contests for those with cast-iron stomachs, plus live music and workshops — with the event boasting spice on multiple fronts. Our tip, and one we think you'll need: remember that milk is a chilli-lover's best friend.
Brisbane's thriving food truck scene is at it again, serving up more excuses to grab a meals from a mobile eatery. This time, the huge gathering not only offers up plenty of food options, but a bayside view to go along with it. Taking place from 11.30am on Sunday, May 19, the Biggest Shorncliffe Food Truck Fest Ever brings a heap of mobile eateries to Allpass Parade for your eating pleasure. Ending your weekend with some of Brissie's best bites and an ace watery vantage — now that's the life. On the menu: King Of The Wings, That Greek Truck, Flavours of Eataly, Micasa Burger Truck, Ruby the Little Red Ice Cream Van and Rolls Pho Mi, who'll all be taking care of your hunger. In total, there'll be more than 30 food options, plus craft beers, ciders and wines. And to top it all off, live music is also on the agenda.
Since setting up shop in southeast Queensland last year, Karmably has made relaxation-starved animal lovers' dreams come true. Who doesn't want to bend, stretch, breathe, meditate and be surrounded by gorgeous critters? Who wouldn't feel instantly chill by patting a goat while doing some mindful stretching? No one, that's who. Meditating with baby goats and lambs is just one class in the outfit's schedule — and if you're fond of felines, prepare to purr over the next. Be In the Now: Kittens, Yoga and Meditation combines, well, kittens, yoga and meditation. The concept might be self-explanatory, but it's also excellent. Karmably's classes always book out quickly, so consider yourself warned. Feeling calm with cute cats is certain to prove popular, after all. Held at Indigo Soul Wellness, the session features 45 minutes of beginner-to-intermediate yoga with kittens, plus 15 minutes of sound meditation — as taking place on Saturday, May 26 at 10.30am and 12.15pm, and again on Sunday, July 14 at the same times. Updated May 24.
If you've had one high tea, then you know what you're in for — right? That's not the case at W Brisbane's new High Tea of Easter. Like the venue's High Tea of Aus over the past summer, it comes with a distinctively local flavour. As great at ordinar scones and sandwiches are (and then more scones and more sandwiches), this weekend feast takes its cues from Aussie favourites, although not as you know them. And given the time of year, it comes with an Easter spin as well. Serving up meat pies and lamingtons as part of its spread, the hotel is calling its dishes 'reimagined versions' of these trusty favourites — and you can't go wrong where all three are concerned. Keeping the theme going, other treats include spiced fruit hot cross scones with golden butter, marshmallow bunnies, and wattleseed and macadamia mini Easter eggs. Running on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in April until Easter — and on Easter Monday, too — the high tea comes with unlimited blooming tea, classic tea, coffee and hot chocolate for $55 per person, but can also include Champagne or a martini for $69, or rosé Champagne for $74. Bookings are necessary, and can be made online.
Forget worms — the early bird gets gourmet bites to eat, farm-fresh produce to line the cupboards, and an enjoyable morning of browsing and shopping at Milton Markets. Every Sunday morning from 6am — and 7am in winter — more than 80 stalls descend upon the corner of Cribb and Little Cribb streets in the inner western suburb to sell tasty wares. From whenever you feel like waking up until midday, you can wander through massive fig trees to join them. Once a season, the Milton Markets also celebrates the change of weather — and all of the food that goes with it. On Sunday, March 31, it's doing so with Milton Markets: The Fall Harvest, which'll showcase the tastes that make everyone think of autumn. If fresh seasonal fruit such as apples, pears, figs, pomegranate, dates, cumquats and grapefruit gets your stomach grumbling, you can stock up here. If a maple syrup latte with cinnamon infused milk, topped with ginger crumbled snap, does as well, you're in luck again. And if you're hankering for a sweet potato waffle, apple and rhubarb danish or vegan hotdog, arrive hungry. Expect pumpkin to feature, as well, and expect Scenic Rim farmers selling their wares. Themed gourmet food stalls, decorations to suit the occasion, and live entertainment and music are on the agenda too.
Stepping back to its titular year, 1985 is filled with signs of its time — from Walkmans playing Madonna, to bars pulsating with synth, to fashion choices that couldn't come from any other period. And yet, for all of the exacting music choices, production design decisions and costuming touches, it's the film's cinematography that grounds it so firmly in the past. With director of photography Hutch shooting on grainy 16mm, Yen Tan's third stint as a director feels like it was made in the era it depicts, then subsequently unearthed now. That couldn't be a higher compliment. This is how many low-budget movies looked three decades ago, with 1985 not only meticulously recreating the same aesthetic, but quietly nodding to the wealth of queer cinema that came before it. Framed with precision, those speckled monochrome images serve another purpose, too. A film's style can say as much as its story, which is never in doubt here. 1985's black-and-white visuals overflow not only with visible texture, but with meaning and emotion — as seen in its loaded shadows, inky contrasts and jittery flecks. How better to convey a world where so much is left unsaid than to cloak it in grey? How better to express existential turmoil than to strand its protagonist between light and dark? And how better to show someone striving to soak in every last detail than to make each grain jostle for attention? Every inch of 1985 looks and feels as it should — like Adrian Lester (Cory Michael Smith) has returned to his Texan hometown at the height of Reagan's America not just for Christmas, but with much more serious matters on his mind. The 20-something hasn't been back to Fort Worth since he left for New York, where he can express his sexuality openly, and his family haven't forgiven his absence. While Adrian's homemaker mother Eileen (Virginia Madsen) understands more than she'll ever utter, his Vietnam veteran father Dale (Michael Chiklis) openly seethes with hurt and hostility, and his pre-teen younger brother Andrew (Aidan Langford) clearly wishes he'd had a role model over the past few years. Awkward is one way to characterise this stilted reunion; caught between the conservative religious rhetoric spouted by the Lesters' favourite radio station and the reality of Adrian's new life is another. Conceiving the narrative with co-editor Hutch, but penning the screenplay solo, Tan treads delicately around the obvious. Given that his protagonist is a gay man in the mid-80s, and that a climate of fear is evident from the outset, it's hardly surprising that AIDS leaves an imprint on this tale. Given the historical context, it's not difficult to guess where the film is headed either, however the movie's slow reveal is as much about reflecting Adrian's experience as it is about both storytelling and chronicling a pivotal period in the past. When a person is faced with tragedy, their perspective changes forever, and yet the minutiae of everyday life cruelly and relentlessly goes on. 1985's power and poignancy stems from this fundamental truth, as Adrian goes home, sleeps in his childhood bed, spends time with his family and hangs out with his high-school girlfriend (Jamie Chung), all while knowing what no one else does: although he steadfastly wishes otherwise, nothing can ever really be the same again. In taking such an internalised journey — even one so astutely made tangible via stylistic flourishes — 1985 is fond of lingering in certain moments. This patient approach is noticeable, even in such a concise 85-minute movie, but it also has another function. As led by Gotham's Smith and ably supported by Madsen, Chiklis, Langford and Chung, this is a film anchored by exceptional performances that live and breathe when they're given the room to do just that. (Often, visually, Tan literally gives them space by peering at his actors in long and medium shots.) What comes to the fore, too, is the complexity of these characters, who never adhere to one-note archetypes despite initially appearing otherwise. That's another essential truth that 1985 conveys perfectly: no matter how transparent a person's facade may seem, you can never truly know just how they're afflicted by pain and heartbreak underneath. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw5LfaKTKoI
UPDATE, August 3, 2020: Pet Sematary is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel Now, Google Play, YouTube and iTunes. It's true of beloved family pets who've returned from the grave, and it's true of horror novels turned into movies yet again: sometimes dead is better. Stephen King might've penned that sentiment himself, but Hollywood was never going to take the popular author's advice. As the second film adaptation of Pet Sematary shows, perhaps they should've listened. With King's work frequently flickering across screens big and small, exhuming this creepfest must've seemed like an easy win. This is the ninth movie or TV series based on his writing in the past three years alone, with four more due in 2019 as well. There's plenty to claw into in Pet Sematary, including the many shadows that death and grief cast over the living. There's ample room for unsettling tension, spanning both bumps and jumps and existential unease. But Pet Sematary largely feels like the most standard possible take on its supernatural narrative. Given how standard its predecessor felt 30 years ago (and the original film's 1992 sequel, too), the new version basically re-digs the same grave and fills it with slightly updated corpses. Initially, those bodies belong to dearly departed pets in the town of Ludlow. When doctor Louis Creed (Jason Clarke) moves to the quiet Maine spot with his wife Rachel (Amy Seimetz), eight-year-old daughter Ellie (Jeté Laurence) and toddler Gage (Hugo Lavoie and Lucas Lavoie), they quickly discover that their sprawling new house is adjacent to the local animal graveyard. The burial ground's misspelled sign marks it as a place for kids to farewell their furry and feathered friends, but neighbour Jud Crandall (John Lithgow) knows that something else is afoot. After the Creed family cat meets an unfortunate end, Jud initiates Louis into the cemetery's secrets. On the page and in its previous big-screen version, this story always required a leap in logic — not regarding its overall concept, but some of the minutiae. Only realising that your new home borders a graveyard once you've moved in? Letting your kids play by a highway favoured by speeding trucks, especially after your beloved feline is mowed down? If you can buy that, then you can definitely buy the idea of zombified pets scratching away at their owners' nerves. An engaging tale told well could easily breeze past the aforementioned contrivances, and so could a scary tale told with disquieting precision. Alas, as directed by Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer (Starry Eyes) and scripted by Jeff Buhler (The Midnight Meat Train), that's rarely the case here. Content to plough along the surface of its familiar narrative, Pet Sematary remains as straightforward as its many horror cliches: the spooky woods, the sacred Native American site, the several layers of sad backstories and the reality that raising the dead never, ever turns out well. King might've invented or at least solidified many of these tropes, however here every single one feels routine. So does the film's by-the-numbers execution. It's the latter that grates more than the former — not the obvious, sometimes egregious plot elements, but the squandered potential. If there's anything worse than a flat-out bad movie, it's an average flick that unearths glimmers of something more yet ultimately leaves them buried. Kölsch and Widmyer know how to make individual moments land, even when the overall beats and simple jump-scares are easy to spot. While the film is shot with the usual dread-inducing look, the directing duo also know how to make individual images stand out. And when they give Clarke, Seimetz and Lithgow room to breathe — and push a young talent like Laurence into the spotlight, too — they know how to ensure that their themes and performances run deep. They just can't sustain any of the above. Certainly not for the movie's 101-minute running time, and not long enough to justify Pet Sematary's resurrection. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Eq9rYsqnM
Dinosaurs are coming to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Clever velociraptors, a giant tyrannosaurus rex and a triceratops in need of some medical attention, specifically. If the Star Wars and Harry Potter franchises can head back to the big screen with a live orchestra playing their scores, then Jurassic Park can do the same thing. Welcome to... your chance to revisit the classic flick with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra recreating every note ofJohn Williams' iconic music. You might've noticed that he's the common link among a hefty majority of the movies getting the live score treatment, with the composer contributing to a whopping nine Star Wars flicks (including next year's Episode IX), plus three Harry Potter pictures. But, back to Islar Nublar, John Hammond's theme park, the mayhem that occurs when a bunch of humans come to visit and an event that no prehistoric creature would've dreamed of 65 million years ago. A HD version of the film will play twice on Saturday, April 27 — at 2pm and 7.30pm — with tickets starting at $59.
If you're planning a big night on December 31, odds are that you'll be nursing a sore head when 2019 kicks into gear. Time for a dose of the ol' hair of the dog that bit you, clearly. A boozy January 1 is basically an Australian tradition. Combining both vodka and actual nutrition, that's where bloody marys come in — and they're coming in droves at Riverbar and Kitchen from midday. The riverside spot is throwing The Ultimate Bloody Mary Party, which really just means plenty of tomato juice concoctions with a definite kick, as well as plenty of talk about how great 2019 is so far. Also on offer is a spread of grilled chorizo, stuffed olives, pickled cucumber, cheddar cheese, and fried chicken and harissa sliders, which come on skewers that you can stick right into your drinks. Mimosas and live music round out your cruisy first Tuesday of the year. Just don't think about work the next day, if that's in your future.
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 5pm and 8.30pm on both Friday, December 21 and Saturday, December 23. Dinner costs $49 + booking fee per person, and bring your own booze if you plan on doing some extra celebrating.
Getting up before daylight mightn't be your usual idea of an ace Sunday morning; however some things really are worth shortening your snooze for. Getting what just might be the best view of the sunrise in the city, for one. Climbing a mountain for the calm and tranquility that can only come from bending and stretching is another. Oh, and then there's the whole taking part in a silent yoga class on Mt Coot-tha, for another. All three combine at Sound Off at the Summit, Urban Bliss Yoga's latest adventurous exercise outing. They've done it before and now they're back to do it again — and yes, mountaintop yoga will literally take you to another level. Expect to show off your best mountain pose while you're standing on one, do downward dog as you stare down from a massive land mass, and whip out your liveliest sun salutation as the fiery ball of heat ascends over the city. Taking place on Sunday, December 9, eager yogis will climb up to the Brisbane Lookout for this early session, with all of the fun kicking off at 5am. And, thanks to the illuminated headphones everyone will be wearing, there'll be quite the glow coming from the class as well. Everyone from yoga first-timers to asana experts are welcome — as long as you BYO yoga mat — but tickets are expected to get snapped up quickly.
If you liked alternative and indie rock in the late 00s, then Common People probably means something to you. We're not talking about the ace Pulp song, though you should think highly of that as well. We're talking about the club night that used to play all the best tunes. If you ever went along, you'll be keen for another Common People experience. If you didn't but it sounds like your thing, you probably are as well. Either way, you're in luck, with The Foundry once again hosting what's becoming an annual New Year's Eve reunion. Put on some comfy shoes and prepare to dance the night away from 9pm, with everything from The Smiths to The Strokes and Duran Duran to Daft Punk getting a whirl. And Prince, Bowie, Madonna — and anything that fits the bill from the 80s onwards. Entry is free, but RSVPing online is recommended.
In 1997, Christmas changed. With a single episode of Seinfeld, the world became privy to a new form of holiday celebration that eschewed other traditions and denominations. Instead of a tree, an unadorned pole gets pride of place. Rather than share happy stories, everyone gathered airs their grievances. And, instead of settling down on the couch after a hearty meal, attendees compete in feats of strength. Okay, so maybe you still enjoy tinsel, turkey and street cricket with your family on December 25; however Fritzenberger is making sure you can have some Festivus fun as well. It's hosting a trivia night that's all about Seinfeld's take on the season, with Man vs Bear on hand to ask the questions. The evening quiz takes place at the Petrie Terrace burger joint on Thursday, December 20, and over at the Wilston abode on Friday, December 21. Yes, that's a few days before the official Festivus date of December 23 — but hey, if you're not happy about that, add it to your grievance list. We don't know if there really will be a grievances box, but you'll certainly be able to air your unhappiness. There will definitely be feats of strength and Seinfeld-themed food as well as well. Entry cost $5 per person, and registering in advance is recommended — as is dressing up like your favourite character for the costume parade.
Come Friday, December 7, you won't want to be late for a very important date. You will want to play croquet, drink Pimm's cups and eat pizza, however. Sure, you mightn't find gin-based spirits and delicious slices in Alice in Wonderland, but folks at the The Fox Hotel are clearly using their imagination for this themed end-of-week laneway party. Returning for its second year, Garden Wonderland will also boast a pop-up Colonial Brewing Co. bar, dedicated Asahi, Peroni and Cricketers Arms taps and plenty of vodka — and that's just the beverage part of the proceedings. You can also throw some royal shapes to both live and electronic music, should that take your fancy. Or, play giant games of Jenga, Connect 4 and chess. Entry is free, with the fun taking over Fish Lane from 5pm. Pretending that you're following a white rabbit as you wander past two huge flower walls — one measuring six metres, the other measuring three — and just generally hop between bars, games and the dance floor won't cost a thing, either.
When Darth Vader told Luke Skywalker that they're more than just mortal enemies, it became one of the most famous lines of dialogue in movie history (and one of the most mis-quoted). If you've seen Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back, you'll know that it's a powerful, memorable moment that changes the shape of the entire space saga. Even if you haven't, you know what we're talking about. Now, imagine just how epic it'll feel when you're watching the flick on a big screen and listening to John Williams' iconic score played by a live orchestra. Yes, The Force is strong in Brisbane once more, with Queensland Symphony Orchestra staging the next in their Star Wars screening and performance series at 2pm and 7.30pm on December 1 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Jedis, wookiees and droids alike can expect two sessions of tussles between the Rebels and the Empire, Luke learning his true parentage, Han flirting with Leia and getting frozen in carbon, Chewbacca being awesome, R2-D2 being adorable and C-3PO being annoying (well, he is). Plus, it's the flick that marks the first appearance of Lando Calrissian and the first time 'The Imperial March' is heard. If you're thinking that it's a great time to be a Brisbane fan of the George Lucas-created franchise, then you're right. The Last Jedi and Solo: A Star Wars Story are still fresh in everyone's memories, and these types of special events keep on coming — we've got a good feeling that Return of the Jedi will eventually get the same treatment as well. Image: Robert Catto.
Three decades ago, a New York City cop just wanted to spend Christmas in Los Angeles with his estranged wife. He arrived at Nakatomi Plaza with little else on his mind — but before the night was out, he'd be crawling around in vents, battling German terrorists, and proving that absolutely no one messes with John McClane and his loved ones. Of course, that's the plot to Die Hard. With the action classic turning 30 this year, you'd better believe that the Palace James St is celebrating. On Friday, December 21, it's hosting a session of what should be everyone's favourite end-of-year flick. Nothing's quite as festive as Bruce Willis doing his thing in this late '80s slice of explosive excellence. Even better — attendees will receive a gift from Newstead Brewing Co upon arrival. Tickets cost $15 (or $10 for Palace members), and it all kicks off at 7pm.
Eating, drinking, being merry, feeling like you should only wear something stretchy — yes, it's that time of year. Christmas is a time for giving your loved ones gifts and giving your stomach plenty of tasty treats, after all. Before the big day hits, it's also a time for fitting in that last pre-feast workout. If doing a multi-level circuit training session in the middle of Brisbane's new shipping container hangout sounds like your ideal fitness class, then head to X Cargo on Saturday, December 22. With help from the folks at Facilities, the Fortitude Valley spot will make you work up a sweat at its X Cargo Xmas Sweat, which runs from 8–9am. Even better — it's free to attend. That means you'll get rid of the guilt that comes with festive overindulgence (or some of it, at least) without overindulging your wallet. If you're keen to start off your Christmas break by getting active, make sure that you register in advance as numbers are limited. Image: Facilities.
No one has ever eaten just one roll of sushi. Or, if they have, they haven't done so willingly. Once you devour a single piece, you instantly want more — and more, and more, and then even more. You get the picture. Enter Sake's new $25 Monday–Wednesday deal, which serves up all-you-can-eat sushi between 5–6pm each evening. Four types are on offer, so you can dig into as many rolls of spicy tuna, salmon and avocado, chicken karaage and vegetable sushi as your stomach can handle within the allocated after-work hour. The endless array of seaweed-wrapped rice and filling is an ongoing special; however it's the kind of feast that you'll need to be organised to take advantage of. You can't book in advance, so walking in at 5pm on the dot is recommended — and you'll be feasting on a first-come, first-served basis on Sake's Eagle Street terrace.
2015's Creed was the best kind of surprise. What seemed destined to be a sad resurrection of a franchise already long past its prime turned out to be a benchmark moment for sports movies, combining heart-pumping pugilism with the same kind of tender romance that underscored and grounded the original Rocky. As Adonis 'Donnie' Creed, Michael B. Jordan delivered a fearless performance laden with vulnerability and irresistible charisma, while Sylvester Stallone's reserved turn reminded audiences that beneath his tough guy exterior remains a fine and gifted actor possessed of a deep emotional range. Those same qualities and performances are again present in Creed II, although the story itself unfortunately fails to match the power and drive of its predecessor. The setup is certainly juicy enough. Viktor Drago, son of Ivan – the man who killed Creed's father Apollo in the ring during Rocky IV – arrives in Philadelphia with his father and challenges the newly-crowned heavyweight champion of the world to a fight. It's a chance to "rewrite history" as Donnie tells his mother. But Rocky's heart is filled with dread, with his sense of guilt over Apollo's death a constant companion. Refusing to train Donnie, he and his protege part ways until a tragedy of sorts brings them back together and it's time for another classic training montage. Outside of the ring, Tessa Thompson gives Creed II some much-needed personal drama as Donnie's girlfriend Bianca, delivering another passionate performance imbued with a great deal of heart despite being disappointingly relegated to a more secondary role this time around. Directed by Steven Caple Jr. taking over from Black Panther's Ryan Coogler, Creed II is clearly at its strongest in the ring, where its glorious combination of POV camerawork and sumptuous sound design contributes to an almost uncomfortably visceral, bone-crunching experience. Slow-motion is used more sparingly than is usual in boxing films, reserved here for the truly devastating body blows and upper-cuts. You really feel the hits in this movie, especially those delivered to the ribs where the accompanying snap will have you hugging yourself tightly for comfort. The writing, however, is notably weaker, due perhaps to Coogler's absence (save for an executive producer credit). The screenplay, co-written by Stallone, still has its moments, but lacks the nuance and restraint that helped make Creed into something special. There are too many lines that sound like they were ripped straight from fortune cookies ("It may not seem like it now, but this is more than just a fight"), while the periodic narration from the TV and ringside commentators that added so much authenticity to the original is downright abysmal in the sequel. Countering this, thankfully, are the fine repeat performances from Stallone, Jordan and Thompson, whose chemistry and closeness continue to sizzle on screen. The joy of seeing Dolph Lundgren return as Drago, too, is a highlight, but one that's sadly short lived as he's given little more to do than scowl and grizzle from his first scene to his last. Similarly, the most interesting character in Creed II is also its least explored. Viktor Drago is an irresistible combination of brute physical force and deep-seeded emotional turmoil, neatly packaged inside the 6-foot-4 mountain of muscle that is Romanian boxer and fitness model Florian Munteanu. Abandoned by his mother, weaponised by his father and ignored by his country until a string of victories bring him into the light, Viktor's most compelling fight is the one that's unseen. As he and his father are welcomed back into Russian high society, the young Drago finds no satisfaction in his celebrity, acutely aware of the fair-weather nature of the fans and disgusted by his father's seemingly instant compliance with those who rejected him (including Viktor's mother). Yet Munteanu finds himself forced to play a caricature – although he manages to sneak in moments of emotional subtlety where he can. Indeed, why they fight is at the heart of both fighters' story in Creed II. Driven by reasons that at first seem clear, both Viktor and Donnie soon find ambiguity and doubt needling their way into their respective psyches. By the time the big finale arrives, they remind you of soldiers on a battlefield, bloodied and beaten, yet ultimately more like brothers than enemies – men sent to destroy one another at the behest of those safe behind the lines. As much a father/son story as it is a boxing one, Creed II's tale of family and redemption ultimately doesn't match the quality of the original. Even so, it's a compelling sequel, and worthy of your time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-eB1AwpCXI
A feast of Asia-Pacific art is taking over the Gallery of Modern Art and the Queensland Art Gallery until the end of April, but this year's APT (aka the 9th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art) isn't just about walls and halls filled with paintings, sculptures and more. GOMA's Australian Cinematheque is also screening a heap of films from the region under a huge program dubbed APT9 Cinema. The entire lineup is broken into three strands, so you can check out the latest and greatest flicks coming out of India in the New Bollywood: Currents in Indian Cinema selection; a host of new movies from Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan in the Contemporary Mellow Dramas picks; and the work of community-based production company Microwave Films, whose films have hardly been seen outside of the Marshall Islands. Different programs feature on different days, with the showcase hitting the big screen on Wednesday and Friday nights — plus Saturdays and Sundays during the day — between December 1 and April 28. Highlights include a number of titles by two of the region's best and most prolific filmmakers, aka South Korea's Hong Sang-soo and Japanese Palme d'Or winner Hirokazu Kore-eda — so get ready for comedies about love, life and soju, as well as empathetic explorations of family. The amusing politics of Newton, road movie Sexy Durga, Chinese mother-daughter effort Girls Always Happy and quirky Japanese love story Asako I & II are among the other international festival favourites getting a run, as is the stunning crime procedural-meets-social drama Angels Wear White.
Pups and pints: it's a winning combination. And, in 2019, it's back. With Brisbanites going barking mad for downing beers with their doggos in 2017 and 2018, The Brightside's Barks & Brews sessions are serving up another year of drinks. Folks of the two- and four-legged variety, make a standing date for a beverage one Sunday each month. With its appropriate name, the pooch-centric afternoon doesn't really need to offer up anything more than just that — but, it wouldn't be a Brighty shindig without some extra fun. Those heading to Warner Street from 2pm on Sunday, January 13 can also expect free doggie portraits for maximum cuteness, dog markets, an off-leash area, cocktail specials and live music. So grab your canine companion, flock to the beer garden and prepare to sink a few cold ones while enjoying some Brissie sun. And, expect to spend time in the company of plenty of other dog lovers and their pooches too. BYO frisbee.
Trekking across Middle-Earth is a big job. Trying to keep a precious ring safe from an evil lord is too. There's much that's massive about The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Peter Jackson's second screen adaptation of f J. R. R. Tolkien's beloved novels, particularly the nearly four-hour-long extended version. So you'll want to revisit it on a particularly huge screen — one that measures 44 metres long, perhaps? Set up in the middle of Eagle Farm Racecourse, the aptly named Big Screen on the Green is that giant screen. It hosts films regularly, and from 7pm on Friday, January 18, it'll bringing hobbits, elves, wizards and more to its sizeable expanse. When it screened The Fellowship of the Ring back in September, the session sold out, so consider yourself warned. Tickets cost $15, which gets you a spot on the public lawn — or you can spend $25 and get a large popcorn as well, plus your choice of wine, sparkling, house beer or a non-boozy beverage. You can't BYO food or drinks, but there'll be more available to purchase. Or if you'd like a picnic, bring a pal and nab a $60 gourmet hamper package for two, which includes charcuterie, a cheese platter and breads. You can also rent picnic blankets for $12 and bean bags for $8. Image: Big Screen on the Green.
The Scratch isn't usually known for its coffee, doughnuts and pie, but from 5pm on Saturday, October 27, it's making an exception. The Milton bar is kicking off its latest group art exhibition, which is all about the weird delights of David Lynch's Twin Peaks — and if you're stepping into the show's wonderful and strange world, then you need the kind of damn fine snacks that Agent Dale Cooper would approve of. Attendees can thank Alphabet Cafe and Bunker Coffee for the temporary new additions to the menu, but there'll be beer as well, of course. In fact, there'll be two particular boozy specials. In collaboration with White Lies Brewing, you'll be able to sip on a coffee thickshake white stout — and if you're feeling particularly adventurous, the bar is doing beer milkshakes for the day. Yes, they involve a scoop of ice cream in a beer. As well as artworks that'll probably feature red curtains, black and white patterns, Lynch's inimitable hair, fish in percolators, Bob creeping over a couch and a giant teapot that was once David Bowie, the Twin Peaks Art Show Opening and VCR Viewing Party will also be playing the series' first season. If all of the above makes you want to put on a black suit or wrap yourself in plastic, that's okay — costumes aren't essential, but they're certainly welcome.
Festival season is upon us, and at the Pig 'n' Whistle Brunswick Street, that means a day of brews and barbecue. On Saturday, November 17, the Fortitude Valley pub is playing host to its first Bubbles & Barrels Beer Festival — and in news that'll brighten what's already bound to be a sunny day, entry is free. Held in the venue's beer garden from 10am–6pm, the event will bring together a heap of breweries, with beverages on offer from Young Henrys, Brick Lane, Stone & Wood, Balter, Little Creatures, James Squire, Coopers, Your Mates and more. There'll also be spritzes available, should you need something to break up the beer. And food-wise, Radar Hill Smokers will be whipping up a feast, although the watering hole's regular menu will also be available. While entry won't cost you anything, you do still need to register for a ticket. You can also purchase eight drinks tokens in advance for $40, which you can use for brews on the day. Image: Grace Smith.
Netherworld and Junky Comics are joining forces to unleash a new venture: the very first Brisbane Comics and Arts Festival. Consider it a slice of the latter coming to the former, with the event taking place from 10am on Sunday, November 4 within Netherworld's game-filled home on Brunswick Street. Running until 2pm, the fest will showcase homegrown comics, illustration, storytelling and art, with folks on hand to chat about their pieces — and sell them. All artists involved will have a table highlighting their wares, and you'll be able to buy and take their art home with you. There'll also be a BCAF zine featuring everyone on the roster. For its maiden outing, BCAF is calling itself a mini-fest, but you know how the old cliche goes — good things come in small packages, and all that. With that in mind, the event marks the beginning of a planned annual series of festivals, so prepare to add it to your yearly calendar.
One of life's simple pleasures is getting a day to shine: the simple pleasure of meat between two slices of bread. Or salad. Or mushroom. Or a veggie patty. When it comes to burgers, there's plenty of options. On Saturday, October 13 from 10am, five street kitchens will be taking over Riverland for the day, serving up nine different types of burgers. And sure, you can enjoy a burger at many places around town any day of the week — but there's nothing like sitting at a riverside bar, sipping beverages with a view and taking your pick of burgs during a dedicated Burger Festival. Wing Fix, Carolina Kitchen, I Heart Calamari, Locked & Loaded Fries and Salt, Pepper & Cumin will be doing the cooking, while 4 Pines is setting up a pop-up bar to pump out its latest IPA. There'll also be live music and a DJ, and entry is free. Bring your wallet for the burgs and booze, obviously. Image: Carolina Kitchen.
Think Halloween is just about getting dressed up, playing pranks and eating lollies? Think again. If you can't be bothered thinking of a costume, prefer treats to tricks, or are just feeling a little over the usual revelry, then Seven Deadly Gins is the thoroughly mature option to mark the frightening occasion. Basically, you'll be trading the standard sweets for a more grown-up kind, because isn't that what adulthood is all about? Specifically, you'll be knocking back a heap of different juniper beverages, all with a theme straight out of religious history and a Brad Pitt-starring David Fincher movie. So, what's in the box? Taking inspiration from the sins of pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth, Proud Henry's have whipped up drinks to suit the mood. They'll be ready for you to sip your way through from 6.30pm on Saturday, October 27, with tickets costing $50.
Now in its eighth year, the Iranian Film Festival Australia returns with another lineup of cinema straight from the Middle Eastern country — with ten features and three shorts in 2018, in fact. Running between Thursday, November 8 and Tuesday, November 13 at the Elizabeth Picture Theatre, it's a lineup that both highlights old masters and showcases new talent. And yes, there's plenty of both. In the tried and tested category sits Jafar Panahi's Three Faces, which sees the filmmaker get playful and star on-screen in his latest combination of fact and fiction. Or, viewers can check out Bahmam Farmanara's Tale of The Sea, a family drama that's also dedicated to the late Iranian auteur Abbas Kiarostami. Then there's Kamal Tabrizi's Sly, a fictional account of a political leader — which features Mani Haghighi, who also directs opening night's dark comedy Pig, about a filmmaker suspected of murder. If you're keen to check out up-and-coming voices, Hendi & Hormoz explores a teenage arranged marriage while touching upon topical issues. And, in only their third feature, filmmaking brothers Jamshid and Navid Mahmoudi achieve something extraordinary with Afghan-Iranian co-production Rona, Azim's Mother, with the movie their third title to be entered into the Oscar foreign-language category by Afghanistan.
Does knocking back a cold brew at the end of a workout session provide you with extra motivation? Or perhaps you just like seeing the city in a different way — and getting a different kind of tour. The Bridge Road Brewers Tour De Brisbane falls into both camps, taking participants on a cycling trip to a heap of the city's beer spots. Taking place from 9.30am on Saturday, November 10, the details are simple. Just sign-up to take part, bring your bike and helmet along, and ride along with the pack. And if you don't have your own two wheels, you can always hire a CityCycle. The Tour De Brisbane is free, but you'll need your wallet if you're keen on a few frothys (or if you need to rent a bike). There are two different rides available, with the Casual Ride venturing to spots between the Story Bridge and Milton at a leisurely pace, and the Serious Ride venturing further, starting at the Gateway and taking a scenic 30.2-kilometre route to the same end point.
One of Brisbane's top chefs is cooking up a feast, and it's the kind you'll want to treat yo'self to. With Josue Lopez's degustation taking place at West Village's The Bromley Room #2 — aka, on the site of the former Peter's Ice Cream Factory — you can guess where the ex-GOMA, Moda and Two Small Rooms culinary whiz is taking his cues from. Josue Lopez at The Bromley Room #2 will feature a seven-course banquet paired with matching wines, and expect ice cream to make an appearance more than once, with five courses featuring the dessert in both savoury and sweet forms. Expect creative combinations, too, in the type of dinner that'll only be held four times. The event takes place on Friday, November 16 and Saturday, November 17 — and again on Wednesday, December 5 and Thursday, December 6. Tickets don't come cheap at $296.49, and there's only 30 spots available each night; however this really is the type of meal you won't get to feast on ever again.
If you didn't already have plans from 11.30pm on Thursday, December 13, you do now. And if you did, change them — or factor sending a whole lotta love Queen Bey's way into your schedule. Reacting promptly, impulsively and passionately is just something Beyoncé inspires, and has been doing so for almost two decades. You probably don't even remember a time before Bey ruled our airwaves and screens — and thanks to The Foundry's latest party, you won't have to. This time, the venue is celebrating five years to the date since her self-titled fifth album was released — the one that yet again made sure we were all drunk in love with all things Bey. We're guessing you can also expect her other solo tracks, and even some songs from her Destiny's Child days — plus all of the epic dance moves that go with them. No, it's not Bey's b'day, but you'll be feeling like Sasha Fierce, as well as crazy in love with the pop idol in the spotlight. The joint will be jumpin' jumpin', and we're not telling you what to drink to celebrate the occasion; however you might want to mix it with lemonade.
Never seen a pasta menu that you didn't love? Never stared at the list of dishes without wanting to feast on them all? It's a familiar feeling, but as much as you might like to order several plates of spaghetti, ravioli and gnocchi, that's not always affordable or practical. Until International Pasta Day, that is. Continuing the trend of giving every possible type of food its own dedicated date, pasta's day to shine falls on October 25. And to celebrate, Salt Meats Cheese's Gasworks store is putting on quite the Thursday special — a pasta sample plate that features three types for $25. It's the one-day gift to indecisive Italian food fiends of Brisbane, and it's available for both lunch and dinner. Doing both is completely understandable, but whether you're stopping by for one meal or two, bookings are required.
Setting up shop in Post Office Square earlier this year, Isles Lane already boasts an impressive parkside spot overlooking plenty of greenery — and now, on the fourth Saturday of each month until the end of the year, it's serving up quite the treat as well. Mark October 27, November 24 and/or December 22 for Spritzer Saturdays, which involves two hours of bottomless spritzes over a grazing menu. You can't knock back four different types of beverage without something tasty in your stomach, after all. Choose from Aperol, elderflower, Gordon's pink gin or a sun-soaked spritz, while snacking on cheese plates with ciabatta, soy and sesame fried cauliflower florets with turmeric dip, salmon ceviche with charcoal crisps and Isles Lane's signature croquettes. With sessions running from 1–3pm, 2–4pm and 3–5pm, tickets cost $49 — and while you'll pay on the day, reservations are essential; just phone or email the venue.
