In the months since hell decided to casually freeze over and see Donald J. Trump installed on the Iron Throne, things have seemed bleak for the future of American tourism. And they probably are! Now to add insult to injury: Canada has been voted as this year's best travel destination by not only Lonely Planet, but NY Times and Conde Nast too. America's northern neighbour is finally getting the recognition it deserves for being, well, mostly stable while Canada's Pants goes off the rails. No seriously. Canada's comparable safety and stability have been cited as big contributing factors to why the maple syrup capital of the world has won the prestigious title. The Great White North really does have all the tasty stuff you may once have sought out in the US: vast, punishing wilderness, vibrant capital cities (from big ol' Toronto and Ottawa to film-loving Vancouver and French havens Montréal and Québec City), Grammy-winning artists and ridiculously decadent national cuisines (wassup, poutine) — with a relatively much less controversial leader. Colombia, Chile and Croatia all feature in the top lists too, as well as oft overlooked but bountiful Scandinavian countries Finland, Sweden and Norway. Look, if the US election outcome has given us anything (other than a golden era of SNL) it's the chance to temporarily give up on the American road trip dream for four years and set our holiday sights on neighbouring, Drake-raising destinations. Via AFR.
If all you want for Christmas any year, or throughout the year, is to make your own gin, Brisbane's latest distillery is here with excellent news. Comiskey Distillery whips up vodka, rum, bourbon and whisky itself, and also hosts gin-making workshops where you can craft your own 500-millilitre bottle of spirits, then take it home to drink. The latest addition to Comiskey Group's Eatons Hill setup, settling in next to the Eatons Hill Hotel on South Pine Road, Comiskey Distillery will offer cocktail classes as well, and also operate as spirit and cocktail training facility for the company's staff. And, obviously, it's where a heap of booze will be made — for use at Comiskey sites, and to buy at them as well. The Comiskey portfolio includes Eatons Hill Hotel, Sandstone Point Hotel, Samford Hotel and Beachmere Hotel, plus bottle-os, so there'll be no shortage of places to pick up a tipple. That's due to happen from early 2023, and the new distillery will sell it online from then, too. Overseeing the booze-making: award-winning Master Distiller Colleen Walters, who boasts more than 12 years experience in food and spirits. She'll be guiding a range of beverages made in a 1000-litre copper still onsite, which takes pride of place in the space. Take one of those gin workshops, though, and you'll be using a mini traditional Alembic copper still, and picking from 100-plus botanicals.
Prepare for some news that might make you feel old: the Veronicas' first album, The Secret Life of..., was released a decade ago. Circa 2005, Brisbane's singing twins scaled the pop world and made the city's music scene shine a little brighter in the process. It's fitting, then, that the Brightside has chosen to commemorate their debut the only way they know how — by throwing a massive party, of course. Pop culture nostalgia and Brisbane pride promise to combine in an evening of memories, catchy tunes and embracing your love of homegrown music. It won't come as a surprise that the full release will get a spin, as belted out by Beth Lucas with a full band. Nor will the upbeat atmosphere, taking the ladies lyrics to heart with a live forever vibe. The rest of the Veronicas' output will get a blast between sets, for fans of their later stuff. And as always, wearing your affection on your sleeve — literally, in the form of the group's merchandise — is heartily encouraged.
If a tropical holiday gets you prawny for seafood, then push Prawn Star to the top of your culinary list when visiting Tropical North Queensland this summer. Serving fresh, locally sourced seafood right off the back of a repurposed fishing trawler, this fleet of four floating restaurants is an experience that reflects Cairns' laidback lifestyle. The succinct menu showcases the best seafood that Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef has to offer, and includes platters of prawns, bugs, crayfish and oysters that are best enjoyed with simple condiments or juicy chunks of fresh lime. Head to Prawn Star for lunch or dinner from 11am any day of the week and pair your seafood feast with its very own tap Prawn Beer or Prawn Cider available for $7 all day long.
Another New Year’s Eve party, another era to celebrate; this time, it’s the sexy 1970s. Think disco and divas, because that’s exactly what’s on offer at Cloudland, as well as flares, platforms, hot pants and go-go boots. The Fortitude Valley venue channels the essence of the only New York nightclub that mattered at the time, Studio 54, with a party that would’ve been at home within its hallowed walls. If you’ve seen the film 54, you’ve had a glimpse of what you’re in for. Cloudland will bring the live band, DJs and roving performers; you bring your own brand of Saturday night fever.
If you're on the fence about growing a big mo this November, the Movember crew's free pop-up barber shop might just help sway you towards participating. On Thursday, October 10, Movember's eight-metre silver bullet airstream will park up at Queen Street Mall, giving away free beard trims to anyone who drops by. Keen to clean things up before growing your November moustache? Want to learn how to maintain and care for your mo? Maybe you're just mo-curious and want a professional to carve one out for you. [caption id="attachment_975155" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Sydney pop-up barber shop.[/caption] Whatever the reason, you best consider using this free pop-up barber service, which is open from 7am–9pm. Drop by anytime for a mo consultation or head over at 12pm for a special HIIT session powered by lululemon. And if go after work — from 5pm — you'll even find food trucks, drinks and tunes. You don't have to sign up for this year's Movember, but you'll be encouraged to do so — raising money for men's health.
UPDATE, August 9: Due to Brisbane's most recent lockdown, Global Fiesta by Regional Flavours has been postponed until Saturday, October 16–Sunday, October 17. This article has been updated to reflect that change. For more than a decade, Brisbanites have flocked to South Bank for Regional Flavours, the inner city precinct's signature food and wine festival. To the delight of hungry stomachs across town, the popular event has made a comeback for 2021 — and, while hosting one big food fest is all well and good, this year it's doing three separate weekend-long festivals. So, if you haven't made it along in the past, you have multiple chances in multiple months to rectify that situation this year. The first opportunity already took place in June, and now it's time for the next mini fest: Global Fiesta. Here, between Saturday, October 16–Sunday, October 17, multicultural cuisine will take pride of place. The event will span South Bank's eateries, as well as a marketplace showcasing international foods. Plus, you'll be able to check out roving performances, hit up a street party and take a spice tour through South Bank's Epicurious Garden. Also on the lineup: Louis Tikaram, Josh Lopez, Peter Kuruvita and Aunty Dale Chapman, who'll all be involved in some shape or form. Regional Flavours might be tinkering with its format, but it still all takes place by the river at South Bank. And, if you'd like to hit up one of the mini fest's special events, they'll be more than a few opportunities to dive in.
When you see a tiger standing on a New York City street corner, it stands out. Of course, that's the point. What better way to force audiences to reassess nature and everything it entails than to thrust a wild animal out of its comfort zone, into an urban environment, and into a crowd astonished onlookers? At Joel Rea's latest exhibition, Outsider, attendees will share the same experience depicted in the Australian artist's painting, witnessing the natural world in a different light. In surreal works, horses weather the surf, skeletons and towering waves combine, and Mick Fanning pops up. We said it was surreal. Displaying at Mitchell Fine Art from September 27 to October 21, the showcase marks the Gold Coast-based Rea's first in Brisbane in five years. The official opening night takes place on October 6, with Rea in attendance — and he'll be on hand at 2pm on October 7 for an artist talk as well. Image: Crossroads, Joel Rea.
Once, heading to Nambour was all about gawking at over-sized tropical fruit. Actually, that's still the case. However, back in 2013 the giant pineapple-owning powers that be added another reason to head to the Sunshine Coast's biggest tourist attraction: an annual music festival with an ace lineup. The 2017 event will take place on May 27 — and, with the fest announcing the roster of talent that'll rock the spiky monument, it's set to be another great day out. In The Big Pineapple Music Festival's fifth year, punters can once again expect some top notch entertainment, plus food stalls aplenty, a ferris wheel, arts, crafts and other activities, and camping. Consider the latter a warmup before glamping becomes a reality on site. It's enough to make you block out a weekend and book a ticket — which are on sale now — really. And if you're after specifics, here's the list of bands and musos that'll be taking care of the tunes: Birds of Tokyo Peking Duk SAFIA Northlane Cloud Control The Veronicas City Calm Down LDRU DZ Deathrays Horrorshow Vera Blue Harts • Alex Lahey BOO SEEKA NGAIIRE Polish Club Sampa The Great Bootleg Rascal Jack River Nicole Millar Pierce Brothers Citizen Kay BEC SANDRIDGE Fortunes. Moonbase Lastlings Benson Winston Surfshirt Ocean Alley West Thebarton Brothel Party Gold Member Hey Geronimo Bearfoot In2natioN Buck Dean And The Green Lips High Tropics Arpier The Hi-Boys DJFRO Image: Paul Smith.
Over the past week, we've been hurtled into the throes of winter. While Australia sweltered through a warmer-than-average autumn, it's now appropriately windy and rainy. The gloves and beanies are out of storage and it's time to start loading up on sweets and carbs. To help us do this, Krispy Kreme has announced it's giving away an extremely excessive number of doughnuts. How many? 100,000, to be exact. The giveaway is running in conjunction with 'World Doughnut Day', and while we're not a big fan of food 'days' we are big fans of free food. Especially free doughnuts. To snag yourself a signature glazed freebie (Original Glazed doughnuts are being given out) head to your closest store in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth. Sydneysiders have ten stores — stretching from Penrith to the CBD — to choose from, while Victorians have eight, including a Collins Street store. Queenslanders can pick from five different doughnut shops, with the most central in the CBD Myer Centre, and Perthians can head to one of three Krispy Kreme stores or some Jesters. The 100,000 doughnuts will be spread across all Aussies stores, which means there'll be about 3000 free 'uns available at each. So, you'll want to get in relatively early if you want to kick off your Friday with a free sweet and doughy treat. Most stores open around 7am and there's a limit of one glazed doughnut per person. The free doughnuts are not available at BPs or 7-Elevens. Krispy Kreme's free doughnut giveaway is happening nationwide on Friday, June 7. To find your closest store and check its opening hours, head to the Krispy Kreme website.
The adorable doggos of Brisbane live great lives, soaking up our sunny, summery weather almost all year round. But, just like their human companions, the city's four-legged cuties deserve a chance to enjoy a cool change — as well as the snow that Brissie definitely isn't known for. Enter Snow4Dogs. It's an offshoot of the popular Snow4Kids event, except this one is for pupper parents and their pooches. Whether your canine is big or small, they'll be able to frolic in real snow between Friday, July 19 and Sunday, July 21. Taking place at RSPCA Queensland's headquarters in Wacol, the frosty fun will feature separate areas for large and tiny dogs, with furry attendees able to get snowy during a 15-minute session. Fancy building a snowman (or snow pooch) for your barking bestie? Teaching them to chase snowballs? Seeing if they'll make snow angels? That's all up to you. Whichever you choose, you'll be given a bucket of fresh snow upon entry. Bookings are required, with slots available from 5–9pm on Friday, 9am–7pm on Saturday and 9am–4pm on Sunday. The $15 fee not only includes your pooch, but two humans as well — and the latter should wear non-slip shoes. Those heading along will be doing a good thing for their own pupper, as well as animals across the state, with all profits going to the RSPCA.
Here's your chance to thank a major enabler of your binge TV habit. The man responsible for bringing you 3720 hours of glee, revulsion, frustration and satisfaction, Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, is coming to Australia. He'll be making one exclusive appearance at the Sydney Town Hall as part of the Sydney Writers' Festival (an early part; he's here May 1 while the rest of the festival kicks off May 19). The discussion will zero in on Gilligan's creative process and presumably provide a platform for all your Better Call Saul-related questions. Even though Gilligan might be the most 'read' writer at the festival, there's plenty else in the program announcement to warrant attention and ticket-getting. Big international names include that other confounding New Zealand prodigy, 2013 Booker Prize winner for The Luminaries Eleanor Catton (who is, we're constantly being reminded, 28). There's also right-of-passage author Irvine Welsh, journalist/press freedoms fighter Jeremy Scahill, Super Sad True Love Story writer/famous blurbist Gary Shteyngart, and Eimear McBride, who in 2013 threw out the laws of grammar and emerged with the bizarrely comprehensible A Girl Is a Half-Formed Thing. Artistic director Jemma Birrell doesn't appear to be trying to reinvent the wheel or tweet the wheel or performance art the wheel; the 2014 Sydney Writers' Festival is geared towards solid programming that mixes interesting minds. "Over 400 writers will bring their insight and knowledge, their creativity and contemplation, to help us see life from a different perspective," she says of the festival. Bondi Beach and Bowral are new venues, and there's a fun-looking series putting the spotlight on Literary Friendships (it generously counts siblings as friends, so writers Benjamin and Michelle Law are included). Now a fixture of the festival, the Chaser-run Festival Club is where things will get relaxed and sweary at the end of the day. The Sydney Writers' Festival is on May 19-25 (apart from lone wolf Vince). Tickets are on sale from 9am on Friday, April 4, via the festival website.
Spring 2022 wasn't a happy time for This That, or for Newcastle and Brisbane folks planning to dance their way through the music festival. After hosting fests in both spots earlier that year, the event had to pull the plug on its October and November dates "due to a combination of issues", organisers advised. This That had always promised that it'd be back in spring 2023, however, and now it's locked in its new dates. Queenslanders, you're heading to Sandstone Point Hotel on Saturday, November 4. Music lovers of New South Wales, make a date with Wickham Park in Newcastle on Saturday, November 11. So far, there's no word on a lineup, after 2022's fests featured Hayden James, WHATSONOT, The Rubens, Spacey Jane, Dune Rats, WAAX, Client Liaison, Meg Mac and more. The cancelled events the same year were due to host Earl Sweatshirt and Flight Facilities, plus The Presets, Vera Blue, Winston Surfshirt, DMA's, Chillinit, Skeggs, Hockey Dad and Jesswar, although whether any will pop up in 2023 is yet to be revealed. For now, organisers are teasing This That's biggest festival to date, as well as its largest roster of international acts. Expect more details soon, with the event's website already taking pre-sale registrations. THIS THAT NOVEMBER 2023 DATES: Saturday, November 4 Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point, Queensland Saturday, November 11: Wickham Park, Newcastle, New South Wales This That will return in November 2023, playing Sandstone Point in Queensland and Newcastle in New South Wales. For more information and to sign up for pre-sale tickets, head to the festival's website. Images: Mitch Lowe / Jordan Munns.
Cunnamulla offers visitors a range of comfortable accommodation options. But if you're looking for a unique outback stay, resting up at Charlotte Plains Station will deliver something special. Spanning a mind-boggling 70,000 acres, this massive property offers endless ways to reconnect with nature. While hundreds of working sheep and cattle are dotted across the farm, parts of the property have been transformed into idyllic countryside retreats, with powered camping sites, bungalows and more. With guests invited to shear sheep, search for stunning wildlife and bathe overlooking an ancient bore, this outback experience is like no other. Head to the website to plan your stay. Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
If 18th birthdays overflow with fun and frenzy, then 19ths have a lot to live up to. Don't worry, that's a feat we're sure one of Brisbane's most beloved events can achieve. The free, all-ages, inner-city, suburb-wide celebration of music, markets, food, art and nightlife that is the Valley Fiesta hits the big one-nine, and you'd better believe that they're celebrating. To start with, more than 60 live music acts will grace the Fiesta's stages over three days, which means the party mood will be in full swing. How could anyone be anything other than pumped with a lineup that features Alpine, Art vs Science, Last Dinosaurs, Gypsy & The Cat, Luke Million and bona fide local legends Resin Dogs? Your ears and feet won't be the only things buzzing though, particularly if you head along to the Fiesta Feast in the Chinatown mall or check out the live street art at the Flying Cock. Plus, there's the bustling program of events enticing you to venture into the Valley's laneways. In Winn Lane, you can shop late or sidle around pop-up bars and food stalls. Over on Bakery Lane, you can dine under the stars. And at Revelry Laneway Fiesta & Outdoor Cinema, you can play life-sized board games while watching a movie. Basically, this is how you throw a killer street festival — and an ace 19th birthday party.
Who doesn't love a barbecue? Whether you're a low-and-slow convert or you're fine with throwing snags on the barbie, it's one of Australia's favourite styles of food preparation. And, in Brisbane across the weekend of Saturday, June 26–Sunday, June 27, there's even a festival to prove it. For those two days, Brisbane Showgrounds will be engulfed in the kind of smoky, spicy taste sensations that can only come from taking your time to lock in as much goodness as possible — and with every other type of barbecuing you can imagine, too. Following on from sold-out fests in previous years, 2021's Brisbane BBQ Festival will once again see a convoy of food trucks and stalls converge upon Bowen Hills to prove their culinary patience. Many of them will be starting up their ovens long before their doors open, and you'll get to devour the long-simmering rewards. Between sampling from the likes of Black Iron Smokers, The BBQ Roadshow and Ze German Sausage, you'll also watch teams of professionals battle it out to be crowned the barbecue champions. Or, sip frosty bevs at pop-up bars, listen to live tunes, and browse the marketplace for barbecue-related products to help you whip up a storm at home. Also, it's best to take some very obvious but important advice: arrive hungry. [caption id="attachment_786631" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Erik Mclean[/caption]
If there's been a big, White Night-shaped hole in your social calendar since the famed Melbourne after-hours fiesta wrapped up its last edition in February 2018, you'll be happy to know it's making a return this August. Just be prepared for a very different experience, as the immersive festival makes some serious changes to its programming and farewells part of the late-night fun. As well as making the move from summer to the deep of winter, organisers have revealed that White Night Reimagined will swap its previous one-night format for an expanded three-night affair. Interestingly, it's also scrapping the all-nighter aspect in the process. Instead of the usual 7pm–7am program, which has been in place since the festival's inaugural 2013 edition, White Night will this year run from 7pm until midnight on Thursday, August 22, and again on Friday, August 23, followed by a 7pm until 2am session on Saturday, August 24. The new curfew means punters will no longer get to experience what some might argue is one of White Night's biggest pulls — the adventure of roaming around town soaking up art and installations, right through until the wee hours. Although, frosty August probably isn't the best time of year for pre-sunrise wanderings, anyway. [caption id="attachment_728542" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Pollution Pods by Michael Pinsky[/caption] The new-format event will also expand in scope, held across three key precincts with each boasting its own distinct theme. Treasury Gardens will take the form of the 'Sensory Realm', showcasing dazzling projections, lighting and audio installations, and interactive artworks inspired by the five senses. Here, you'll find British artist Michael Pinsky's immersive Pollution Pods, which represented the different environments of global cities; a musical and calming SongCloud; a colourful light and audiovisual installation called Cluster; as well as a giant floating Cocoon made from 1000 lights tied together by ropes. Carlton Gardens will be transformed into the mystical 'Spiritual Realm', featuring a huge ten-metre lion puppet by Melbourne artist Joe Blanck, along with illuminations sharing the stories of Indigenous Australia. And the 'Physical Realm' descends on Birrarung Marr, showcasing the Aussie debut of internationally acclaimed street theatre performance Globe, from a troupe of 41 acrobats, aerialists, singers and actors. [caption id="attachment_728540" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Globe by Gerard Dubois[/caption] Other famed Melbourne spots coming to the party include the Melbourne Museum, the National Gallery of Victoria and the State Library Victoria, all hosting their own programs of art, food and music. The rest of White Night Reimagined's extended program, including the music component, is set to be revealed in the coming weeks. Starting from 2020, White Night will also form part of a new and bigger winter festival, in conjunction with the Melbourne International Arts Festival (MIAF). White Night Reimagined runs from Thursday, August 22 to Saturday, August 24. Top images: White Night 2018, SongCloud by Amigo & Amigo and Cluster by Playmodes Studio.
The annual Harvest Festival is back in town this Sunday at the City Botanic Gardens. It’s been heralded one of the “best-curated Australian festivals” with its spoilt-rotten line up and arts showcases. This year you can throw yourself into exhibits, indulge in comedy acts, visual performances and unwind in gardens if the excitement becomes too much, which is a veritable possibility considering the artists who are rolling into town for the occasion. The main and undeniable treat of Harvest is the music. The line up is varied and all-inclusive, boasting old gems and newer acts who Australia rarely get to see. This year punters can catch The Dandy Warhols, Dexy’s (Midnight Runners), The Silversun Pickups, Sigur Ros, Cake, Ben Folds Five and Santigold, among many others. If that wasn’t choice enough, there are DJ sets throughout the day and other yet-to-be-discovered artists that are sure to leave no discernible taste unaccommodated. You may be in luck if you are yet to swipe a ticket, be sure to check out the website for all the details.
Dangerous thinkers, Damn the Man activists and controversial intellectuals will bring their rebellious tales to Sydney Opera House for the sixth year running, with Salman Rushie, Steven Pinkler and Pussy Riot at the fore of this year's Festival of Dangerous Ideas lineup. The annual hootenanny for controversial, groundbreaking and system-shaking thinkers, FODI annually fronts up a killer lineup of the names we consistently include in our opinionated tweets. "This year, we are looking at some of the major threats to life as we know it — mass extinction and existential risk — as well as politics, families and global issues,"says head of talks and ideas at Sydney Opera House and co-curator of Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Ann Mossop. "Our guests are both intellects and activists and this will definitely prove a lively mixture. The Festival gives audiences an opportunity to listen to some of the most important thinkers of our time. Ultimately it is the audiences who have the most interesting part to play at the Festival — the tough and absorbing task of deciding what to do with the dangerous ideas of our era." This year's lineup has drawn out some serious intellectual squeals Sydney-wide. Controversial, Booker Prize-winning Midnight's Children writer, Salman Rushdie, will speak about freedom, sticking to your guns and defiantly standing for untamed expression in his talk Freedom to Write. In one of FODI's most buzzworthy talks, dubbed Russia is a Penal Colony, former members of activist legends Pussy Riot, Nadya Tolonnikova and Masha Alekhina, will tell tales of activism, being jailed for 'hooliganism' and setting up their new not-for-profit charity, Zona Prava, while fighting for their own dangerous ideas. Russian journalist, author, and member of the democratic opposition to the regime of Vladimir Putin, Masha Gessen will delve further into Pussy Riot's activism in a predicted-to-sell-out conversation with the pair. Experimental linguist, psychologist and eternal nature-versus-nurture writer Steven Pinker will unravel the popular notion that violence is an inevitable consequence of human nature in his talk Stop Trying to Fix Human Nature — also arguing we're enjoying the most significant period of peace in our history. Challengers to underlying systems and Damn the Man enthusiasts like fearless journalist, feminist and human rights activist Lydia Cacho uncover some horrible truths in our messed up world. Cacho investigates the alive-and-well slave trade — something we see as a Civil War era past wrongdoing, but is a still a globalised, multi-billion dollar industry by way of the sex trade and international trafficking — in Slavery is Big Buisness. Writer and researcher, Kay Hymowitz will delve into women as breadwinners and the supposed decline of male culture in The Rise of Women Has Turned Men into Boys; and surrogacy as a global industry is put under the microscope in journalist, writer and activist Kajsa Ekis Ekman's talk Surrogacy is Child Trafficking. The full program is available on the website. Multipack tickets go on sale on Monday 30 June at 9am before single tickets on Wednesday 2 July at 9am. Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2014 Lineup: Salman Rushdie Pussy Riot Masha Gessen Steven Pinker Malcolm Fraser Lydia Cacho Bradley Garrett Alissa Nutting John Hewson Bettina Arndt Glenn Robbins John Pilger Jane Caro Elizabeth Kolbert Noelle Janaczewska Anne Manne Elizabeth Pisani Jaan Tallinn Ragip Zarakolu Kajsa Ekis Ekiman Dan Ilic Tim Flannery Kay Hymowitz Francesca Minerva Mark Latham David Baker Rebecca Newberger Goldstein Emily Nussbaum Huw Price A Rational Fear Festival of Dangerous Ideas runs 30 - 31 August at Sydney Opera House. Tickets available here. UPDATED WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25: Sydney Opera House have decided to remove Uthman Badar's talk 'Honour Killings Are Morally Justified' after a huge collective WTF from the public.
Late at night: that’s when all the fun stuff happens. Things get a little loose and a little crazy, audiences are ready for something a bit strange and silly, and comedians get brave enough to try out new material. The Brisbane Comedy Festival knows this, and they’ve created the perfect place for all kinds of shenanigans. Think a comedy club in the middle of the Brisbane Powerhouse, with the requisite laidback atmosphere. Anything goes at Chalkboard — and anyone, too, with lineups announced on the day. You never quite know what might happen, but it won’t certainly won’t be like anything on the main stages. Chalkboard is on Friday and Saturday nights at 10pm.
Blurring and reshaping the lines between fiction and fact are the works by local artists, Kate Jolly, Tiffany Atkin and Sophie Blackhall-Cain. Fable and Truth examines and draws inspiration from mythology and magic, while portraying their ideas through clear feminine perspectives. Each artist utilises various styles in their work, from simple colour palates to mixed media creations to digital illustration and beyond, each of these talented artists bring something distinctive to the collection. The personal narratives of each artist add a unique touch to the entire exhibition, imbuing the pieces with the histrionics and personalities of each. The exhibition is taking place at Lust For Life Galley from the 4th of July, running to the 4th of August. The exhibition launch is free and runs from 7pm until 9pm. Featured artist, Sophie Blackhall-Cain, enthuses: “art should never be boring.” This exhibition won’t be.
Brisbane's hospitality scene has endured a tough couple of years, cycling through lockdowns, restrictions and stints where almost everyone in town seemed to be in isolation. But for diners keen for restaurant dishes without heading out, Providoor is here with some sweet relief — with the innovative new meal delivery platform arriving in Brisbane on Thursday, February 17, and starting delivering meals on Thursday, February 24. The service is already up and running in both Sydney and Melbourne, and has now made its way north to help quell those dining-out withdrawals. Providoor works with some of the city's best dining institutions, stepping up the takeout game by dropping high-end dishes to your doorstep. The brainchild of Maha Chef-Owner Shane Delia, it's arriving locally to cover Brisbane-based restaurants, but will deliver throughout Brisbane metro, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Noosa and Toowoomba, as well as to Byron Bay and Tweed Heads in northern New South Wales. The lineup of venues taking part is impressive, including Siffredi's, Evita, La Costa, Nota, La Valle, Naïm, Southside, Brisbane Phoenix and City Winery upon launch. Within weeks of starting deliveries in the Sunshine State, Bianca, Same Same, Stanley and Felons Brewing will also join the service. [caption id="attachment_843129" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nota[/caption] Providoor delivers its chef-prepared meals via cold-freight within its service area. Then, once the dish is in your kitchen, you'll follow the supplied instructions to add the finishing touches: heating up a red pepper sauce, perhaps, popping some brisket in the oven for its final minutes of cooking or getting crafty with the plating up process. After that, voila! — the end result is a pretty close replica of what might arrive at your restaurant table, hot off the pass. No soggy dumplings or lukewarm potato in sight. "I'm very excited to see the continued growth of Providoor with our Queensland launch," said Delia. "As an industry-led solution, the ongoing success of Providoor in Melbourne and Sydney has done a lot of good for the hospitality sector during hard times, and has also shown the untapped demand for premium restaurant delivery services." "I am so thrilled that we can bring this opportunity to Brisbane restaurants and residents," Delia continued. Providoor launches in Brisbane on Thursday, February 17 for online orders, and will start delivering meals from Thursday, February 24 — throughout Brisbane metro, the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Noosa and Toowoomba, as well as to Byron Bay and Tweed Heads in northern New South Wales. Deliveries are made Thursday–Sunday, with a $16.50 flat-rate delivery fee for all orders. Top image: Evita, Markus Ravik.
Launch into your weekend with some dirty work with Kent Florist The florist hosts a plant-oriented workshop every saturday. It could be ikebana, mini cactus garden making or DIY kokedama — that's Japanese for moss balls. Literally. But they're more appealing than this direct translation might suggest. The moss is the basis of a mini, hanging pot plant, featuring your favourite succulent, fern or the like. At the workshop, you'll learn the history of kokedama while making two of your own. Everything you need for each of the workshops is provided and you'll be sipping green tea and sampling Japanese sweets while you work. Book online in advance, and don't forget an apron to avoid post-plant grubbiness.
Brisbane’s finest emerging and established artists are bringing the slime to Southside Tea Room in their upcoming exhibition Mutants: The Grime & The Glow. The opening night festivities featured a bazaar of discards and irresistibles, including zines, badges and other curious bits and pieces, as well as corny monster flicks, a heebie-geebie menu theme, plus a surprise secret show from a Sydney indie act. The general exhibition will feature the talents of such artists as Maddy Young, Plump Oyster, Sam McKenzie, Stef Roselli, Iain Danvers, Ella Mobbs, Devon Smith, Raven Jodgson, to name a few. All proceeds from artwork sales will go directly to the artist, so bring your piggy bank to help the continuation of such great artistic ventures.
Letting the likes of Little May, Aldous Harding and Boy and Bear take the backyard folk reins for a while, Australia's ARIA-dominating folksters Angus and Julia Stone are heading back to the stage to take back the wooden throne. Four years after their huge runaway hit 'Big Jet Plane' and their Everyone Should Just Stay at Home ARIA-blitzer Down the Way, the Sydney Stone siblings have announced a colossal Australian tour to mark their triumphant return. Teaming up with pop production legend Rick Rubin (Jay Z, Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Adele), the duo have recorded their third studio album at Malibu's Shangri La studios. The pair's self-titled effort is set for release on August 1, timed perfectly for triple j Hottest 100 dominance. Having spent the last couple of years touring internationally and dropping solo material here and there, it seems high time for the Stones to head home for some epic shows — stopping by the Tivoli on September 18 and 19. For their first national tour since 2011, Angus and Julia Stone will be joined by 18-year-old Brisbanite Tim Bettinson, aka super-internet-hyped falsetto wonder Vancouver Sleep Clinic. Fusing synthetic instrumentation with vocals sure to generate All the Feels, VSC will hop on tour with the Stones for all national shows except Canberra. https://youtube.com/watch?v=WTsinsfY6dk
When it comes to exercise, we all need motivation. Making sure you're healthy works, but sometimes even the best among us need a bit more of a nudge — like a great view, for example. Leafy greenery does the trick. Water, too. If you're an early bird who starts their weekend the absolute first second they can, so does soaking in the morning sunshine. Grass, the river, the sun — yep, they're all on the agenda at Newstead's Yoga in the Park by the waterfront. Taking place from 8am on Saturday mornings, it's a reason to roll out of bed with the sparrows. And, to pump up your energy, make the most of Brisbane's sunny winter weather, and feel fighting fit for spring and summer. Sessions are free, but bookings are required to secure your spot. You will need to bring your own mat, and you'll want to bring a water bottle as well — all those sun salutations are bound to make you thirsty. Yoga in the Park runs from 8am on Saturdays at Newstead's Waterfront Park. Images: Enriching Communities Newstead.
Since its inception last year, Dan and Andy's Hawthorne Garage has been warmly received by locals. Hard to miss for the big red truck outside, this grocer, deli and cafe is open from six in the morning until eight at night, seven days a week. The majority of other cafes in the area close by around the 3pm mark, so if you find yourself in the 4171 postcode after that time, keep the Hawthorne Garage in mind. Especially if you are hankering for a late afternoon/early evening coffee but are dreading the prospect of trying to find a park on Oxford Street. While the deli cafe is a great place for a quick bite and a coffee, the Hawthorne Garage's main purpose is as a gourmet grocer. They stock an excellent selection of fresh produce and meats to go with their range of deli goods, specialty foods and gourmet wares. If you're the type of person who delights in trying out new and exotic brands of smoky barbecue sauce, masses of Italian cured meats, ice-creams flavour combinations previously unheard of, and cheese, cheese and more cheese, then definitely take a look. Hunt and gather inspiration and ingredients to whip up a dinner that is sure to impress. If the wealth of food items on offer somehow does not move you to cook, then fear not; the Hawthorne Garage offers home-style cooking for less than $10. Using seasonal produce, last week's delectable dinners included roast beef cakes with chilli jam soy glaze; vegetable soup with chicken meatballs and coriander; and ragu of Moroccan lamb, apple, fig, preserved lemon and chickpeas served with couscous. A mid-week takeaway does not necessarily have to mean pizza. If you're just after a light lunch or afternoon tea, then there are plenty of tasty treats ready prepared and waiting in the display cabinet. Falafel wraps, bagels, pasta salads, lemon tarts, muffins and friands number amongst the varied selection of ready to eat items. The salted caramel tart is particularly delicious. All food can be taken away, eaten while you meander the aisles, or while sitting out on the leafy patio.
Sometimes it seems like most up-and-coming bands gather their inspiration from the same batch of indie artists. If you've grown tired of the monotony, fear not, for some new sounds are coming to Australia soon — Japanese alt sounds, that is. Sonny King of Melbourne rock band Lucy's Crown is eager to show just how great Japanese alternative music can be with Australia's first Japan Music Festival. Featuring bands Jill, 101A, Sparky Quano and Kaimokujisho, King set out to represent the large range of sound that exists in the underground music scene of Japan, from J-Pop to J-Rock. "I was on tour with Lucy's Crown in Tokyo and was astonished just how good the Japanese underground bands were that we played with and thought that Australia should see them," says King. Choosing bands that were enthusiastic about coming to Australia was another big factor in how the acts were chosen. He also took into account how Australian audiences might respond to them. "It was a difficult process because there were so many good bands but we wanted diversity in both music and image and we also needed them to be accessible to the people going to the gigs," says King. Japanese music, especially of the underground variety, is constantly evolving. Yet it still holds onto the roots of the previous musical trend. Bars and clubs that cater to a particular music genre or band are very popular in Tokyo. "There are Ritchie Blackmore bars, Yngwie Malmsteen bars, Jeff Beck bars, clubs and restaurants for The Stones and The Beatles, '60s bars, '70s bars, '80s bars, the list is almost endless," says King. King is optimistic about the future reach of Japanese music in Australia. With the internet becoming such an influential way to get smaller bands heard, it's only a matter of time before musicians from Japan and other similar countries break into international markets. The problem, he says, is the oversaturation now prevalent in the music world. "It's a bit like learning to read and then being taken to a world library and being told to help yourself," says King. "You'd start with what is familiar, Australian, English, American, etcetera. and eventually you'd get around to the Japanese stuff, and that's the same with exploring world music." Though this is only the first Japan Music Festival, King is optimistic about the future. "We already have the foundations in place for next year and are receiving discs from Japanese bands who want to come." With four shows scheduled in three cities, and music and instrument demonstrations happening at select JB Hi-Fi stores, the Japan Music Festival promises music entirely different from the usual festival line-up. For now, King is keeping focused on running a successful first festival. "This is the inaugural event so once it's finished I can sit back, take a look at it with fresh eyes and raise the bar for next year."
Spring is dating season. Winter's gloom has lifted, the air is noticeably lighter and the glorious sunshine has both flowers and people blooming. In celebration, we're giving away a bunch of $250 Mastercard cards to ensure that you lovebirds have a suitably romantic springtime soirée. It's entirely up to you how you splash the cash, you can splurge on one opulent night out — indulge in dozens of oysters at a top-notch fine diner — or opt for a more conservative approach and spread those five (virtual) pineapples across multiple dates. After all, you don't have to spend big to make a big impression. The late, great Robin Williams once said, "Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'". Well, enter the competition below and your springtime parties for two are on us. [competition]695105[/competition] If you're looking for inspiration in the meantime, check out our top five dates for less than $50 in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney and consider splitting the bill easily in under a minute with PayID (which uses the Osko payment service). Find out more here.
It sounds like something out of a science experiment: combine roasted malt, hops, water and yeast, add a serving of salt-water molluscs, and wait for the magic to happen. If only your school lessons were as fun as this, and as delicious. Yes, stout and oysters are taking over Brewski from midday on May 27, in what promises to be a pearler of an afternoon. Clamour for fresh, succulent seafood shucked to order, then sip on six different types of dark ales. Founders' Imperial Stout and KBS, Evil Twin's Imperial Doughnut Break, Imperial Biscotti Break and Even More Jesus, and AleSmith's Speedway Stout will be on the menu, and you did read that correctly — one of them tastes like doughnuts. Homer Simpson would approve. Watch out, residents of Paddington: you'll be able to hear the sounds of slurping echoing down Caxton Street. It's better than the roar of a football crowd, and tastier.
Portside Wharf's bars, restaurants and resident cinema have competition until the end of spring — and you have something new to look at while you're at the waterside precinct. Yes, the river is right there and makes a picturesque backdrop all-year-round; however, it has competition as well. Until Wednesday, November 30, the Hamilton spot is hosting Sculptures By the Wharf, an exhibition featuring 30-plus pieces of art along the waterfront and the venue's surrounding plaza. Free to see — and also pet-friendly given its location — the showcase includes pieces by big Queensland sculpting names such as multimedia sculptor Perry Wagner-Grouse and Indigenous artist Colleen Lavender. From animals to cars and everything in-between, the exhibition features art in all shapes and sizes, so you can peer at sculpted critters, abstract forms and more on a sunny afternoon. There's also an indoor component, although you'll need to time your visit just right to see it — it's open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am–2pm.
Running from October 16 through January 31, 2021, the annual Tarnanthi program brings together the best of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art from around the country and showcases it across multiple Adelaide venues — with the largest exhibition taking centre stage at the Art Gallery of South Australia. The guiding theme for this year's edition is Open Hands, which pays tribute to the role of senior artists who share cultural knowledge with the younger generations; it also calls attention to the unseen cultural work of women in Indigenous communities. Including works from 87 artists, the exhibition features mother-daughter collaborations, grand installations, talks and tours — all of which aim to fully immerse visitors in the rich culture of Australia. Online art sales and other AGSA activations are on the docket, too. [caption id="attachment_792442" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Saul Steed[/caption] Images: Tarnanthi: Open Hands installation by Saul Steed
Brisbane is a foodie city. It has that perfect mix of vibrant new restaurants (it seems like there's another popping up every weekend) and the tried and true favourites of long-time locals. There's never been a more exciting time to dive headfirst into the Brisbane hospo scene. Not sure where to start? We've got eight must-try dishes that'll change the way you think about Brisbane as a food destination. Here, chefs are slinging some wild flavour combos, pulling no punches and adding signature flourishes that make it utterly Queensland — and delicious. Wear your stretchy pants. We're going on a gourmet adventure.
You could be forgiven - and forgive me too - for judging a title by its name. The Radical Reels Film Festival sounded like it was packed full of fully sick fishing movies, but how wrong I was. As if anyone would want to see XTREME fishing, when they could be watching XTREME mountain sports instead! On closer inspection, the Radical Reels title makes sense in a less obvious way - radical because the stuff these film makers and/or their subjects do is literally radical, out of the ordinary, cool shit, and reels because um, yeah, that's what you put film on, Emma. Nevertheless, the Judy is presenting the 35th Annual Banff Mountain Film Festival and the good thing about it is that you don't need to be a thrill seeker to enjoy the experiences of these hardcore folk. You best hang onto your seats and rope yourself in to witness some of this year's best skiing, boarding, kayaking, climbing and biking adventures, all without the actual physical effort. Don't read into it too much.
Move over Walking Dead, Zombatland has arrived. Set in Blue Lagoon Caravan Park, a tranquil paradise situated in the middle of the Australian outback, things just aren't right. Something goes wrong amongst the local wombats. Terribly wrong. A mysterious disease sweeps though the population turning the wombats into blood-thirsty demons. The Guardian described Suitcase Royale's new show, Zombatland, as, “Tom Waits meets the Mighty Boosh ” - that's one big call Guardian. But when you hear the premise of this new performance, as well as the abundance of similar reviews, pretty hard not to agree. This show is founded on Suitcase Royale's recognisable twisted humour, with a combination of live music, junkyard sets and hilariously innovative concepts and ideas. It's hard to find a show that provides a new twist on the classic Zombie story, but Suitcase Royale nail it pretty perfectly with Zombatland.
Fortitude Valley’s The Brightside has been handed the coveted role of hosting the Official Laneway Afterparty, and they’ve gone to Martha Stewart measures to ensure it’s the best around. They’ve locked down some of the sweetest live acts from Laneway and organised to have them mini-vanned from the RNA to Brightside faster than you can say Mac DeMarco’s mum. Kicking off at 10pm, right around when Laneway is due to wrap up, Brightside will fling open its doors. They’ve got Jung Le DJ (aka Jungle DJ set), Violent Soho, Dune Rats, Eagulls and I OH YOU DJs parked up behind the decks, pumping out whatever tunes they see fit till the wee hours of the morning. They’ll be pouring beer and drinks from both out- and inside bars, though we suggest you stick to water, because while we hate to play daggy mum, after spending all day at a music festival you'll almost definitely have heatstroke. As much as you might deny you’ll be ‘going out’ after Laneway, be realistic and responsible and prepare yourself for the inevitable migration from the RNA to Brightside.
As so many excellent documentaries have before it, Baby God tells a tale so astonishing it can only be true. It also steps through a story that's harrowing, horrifying and downright nightmarish. For more than three decades, couples eager to start a family went to Dr Quincy Fortier, seeking his help to have children when they couldn't conceive. Alas, the Las Vegas-based fertility specialist assisted them in a thoroughly unwanted way: by secretly inseminating women hoping to become mothers with his own sperm. Directed and produced by documentarian Hannah Olson (whose next project is about the Diamond Princess cruise ship and its COVID-19 outbreak), Baby God really has to be seen to be believed. It dives into shocking circumstances, and isn't always easy to watch as a result, but it's gripping from start to finish. Olson explores her subject's history and the details of his crimes, and also surveys the aftermath through his biological children.
An exclusive experience awaits with this lush trip to Vlasoff Cay — a jewel in the crown of the Great Barrier Reef. This sandy cay, with 360 degree views of the world famous reef, is also accessible via boat, but the luxe experience is from the air. But to see the sights from above, book a full-day return helicopter trip with eco-certified reef lovers Nautlius Aviation. You'll get to spend hours with the sand between your toes, snorkelling and indulging in a gourmet picnic hamper as you drip-dry in the balmy tropical air. The cay is a popular destination, so take advantage of the summer months and beat the crowds.
2021 isn't over just yet, and none of us have worked through all the new shows currently sitting in our streaming queues. Still, 2022 is already shaping up to be a huge year in television. Stranger Things will finally return, for instance, and The Crown will also unleash its new cast. Oh, and HBO will debut a little prequel to one of its biggest hits ever. Given how successful Game of Thrones proved for HBO — even after its eighth and final season caused plenty of uproar — the on-screen world inspired by George RR Martin's books was never going to simply disappear. Indeed, before GoT even finished, there was chatter about what would come next, with the network first announcing that it was considering five different prequel ideas. It then green-lit one to pilot stage, scrapped it and later decided to adapt Martin's House Targaryen-focused Fire & Blood for the small screen as a show called House of the Dragon. Next, it opted to give novella series Tales of Dunk and Egg the TV treatment, too, and to work on an animated GoT show. And, it's been reported that another three prequels are also under consideration. Of course, all of the above announcements have been happening for so long that it's easy to forget that new GoT-related fare will eventually grace the small screen — starting next year. Although an exact premiere date hasn't yet been announced, we won't merely be talking about House of the Dragon in 2022. We'll also be watching its ten-episode first season. And, thanks to the just-dropped teaser trailer for the series, we can get a glimpse of what's in store right now. HBO released a few images from the show earlier this year, but now they've gone one better. Yes, dragons are mentioned. Yes, everyone looks suitably broody. Yes, the Iron Throne shows up, because of course it does. While the trailer really is just a teaser, viewers can expect to spend more time with flame-breathing scaly creatures and the family that adores them when House of the Dragon arrives in 2022. If you thought the Targaryens were chaotic already, delving into their history — and their love of using dragons to wage wars and claim power — is certain to cement that idea. We all know what happened to the last surviving members of the family in GoT, including Daenerys and her boyfriend/nephew Jon Snow; however, House of the Dragon, like Fire & Blood, jumps back 300 years earlier. Cast- and character-wise, House of the Dragon stars Emma D'Arcy (Misbehaviour) as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the first-born child of King Viserys; Matt Smith (His House) as Prince Daemon Targaryen, the King's brother; Rhys Ifans (Official Secrets) as Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King; Olivia Cooke (Pixie) as Alicent Hightower, Otto's daughter; and Steve Toussaint (It's a Sin) as Lord Corlys Velaryon, aka 'The Sea Snake', a nautical adventurer from a Valyrian bloodline as old as House Targaryen. These Westerosi folk will all grace a tale that harks back to Aegon I Targaryen's conquest of the Seven Kingdoms — which is what started the hefty 738-page first volume in Fire & Blood's planned two-book series — and then works through the family's history from there. Aegon I created the Iron Throne, hence the returning favourite's prominence. And you don't have to be the Three-Eyed Raven to know that this tale involves plenty of GoT's staples: fighting, battles for supremacy and bloodshed. Also set to pop up on-camera: Paddy Considine (The Third Day) as King Viserys, Eve Best (Nurse Jackie) as Princess Rhaenys Velaryon and Sonoya Mizuno (Devs) as Mysaria, Prince Daemon's paramour. Behind the scenes, Miguel Sapochnik and Ryan Condal are acting as the series' showrunners. Sapochnik has a hefty GoT history, winning an Emmy and a Directors Guild Award for directing 'Battle of The Bastards', helming season eight's 'The Long Night', and doing the same on four other episodes. As for Condal, he co-created and oversaw recent sci-fi series Colony, and co-wrote the screenplay for the 2018 film Rampage. Check out the first teaser trailer below: House of the Dragon is due to start airing sometime in 2022 — we'll update you with further details when they're announced. Images: Ollie Upton/HBO.
If, for the last 20 years or so, you've been hanging out for your acceptance letter to Hogwarts, well, sorry to say: it's not coming. But that's okay because The Jubilee Hotel is determined to make it up to you by way of Wizard Fest. There won't be: George Weasley, flying brooms. There will be: magic-themed fun aplenty. Head into The Jubilee on Friday, September 8 in your finest witch or wizard get-up (don't be a muggle, now – there's a best dressed prize) for the fest, and you can live out all your Hogwarty dreams for a night. Sure, Harry Potter may have been made for kids but, no, we're still not over it. As such, this is an 18+ event so don't bring your younger siblings (or your owls, cats or toads) and there will be firey whisky and buttery brews on offer.
If there’s one local art festival worth getting on board with in Brisbane, it’s this one. The Brisbane Artist Run Initiatives Festival's founding premise alone should have every art appreciator's attention — it’s all about exchanging ideas, exploring arts practice and bringing together some of this city’s best artists with some equally as great creative spaces. Some of our favourite galleries who consistently dose up Brisbane with the best artistic goods — like The Hold Artspace, Jugglers and Boxcopy — will be playing host to the festival's events. As far as artists go, you can catch Frank and Mimi, the talented duo who long ago surpassed the label of simple sign-writers to become one of Brisbane’s most recognised creative teams, painting up Newstead Brewing Company from 5pm on Thursday, October 9. Live graffiti comp Scribble Slam will kick off at Kerbside on October 16, and Lost Movements IX will be rounding up the festival on October 18. There’s plenty more in store and worth checking out. Have a look at the full program.
The Gold Coast, with its enviable combination of good weather and beaches, already gives off festival vibes all year round. But the real kicker happens when you add beer to all of that goodness. Add vitamins B (beer) and C (cider) to the vitamin D you cop on the coast with the Crafted Beer Festival, which returns for 2023 across two huge days — after first doubling its run in 2022 and clearing loving it. Held at Kurrawa Park in Broadbeach each year, the beer festival will unite more than 50 of Australia's top craft breweries, over 400 different brews, and some good food and live music to line your stomachs and ears. The dates to pop in your diary: Saturday, September 9–Sunday, September 10. Locals like Balter Brewing Company, Black Hops Brewing, Currumbin Valley Brewing, Burleigh Barrels, Madocke Beer and Two Mates Brewing will be joining up with visitors from elsewhere in Queensland and interstate, such as Ballistic, Slipstream and Revel — and that's but a few of the many beer houses to be represented on the day. More of a cider person? Expect a range of cideries making the pilgrimage to the coast, too. Although the focus on beer and cider is right there in the name, Crafted will also welcome Granddad Jack's Craft Distillery for cocktails and craft spirits served out of a vintage two-storey bar. And, if that still doesn't cover everything that you want to drink, Carafe Wine will be on vino duty, while seltzers, ginger beers and non-alcoholic beers will be on offer as well. Food-wise, there'll be food trucks and other street food eats, including Bigoli Italian Street Food bringing its truffle gnocchi. German sausages from Brat House, Samba Catering Co's paella and Brazilian barbecue, Flamin Grillas' low-and-slow meat plates and brisket burgers, 2 Serial Grillers' Mexican bites and I Heart Calamari's seafood dishes help round out the menu. As for music lineup, Polish Club and Fat Picnic top Saturday's bill, while Tijuana Cartel and Kurilpa Reach are among the bands doing the honours on the Sunday. Also on the fest's agenda is beer yoga, where you can perform a few downward dogs before you down your beer — it's all about balance, after all. Or, enjoy some comedy, play tipsy Twister and enter a hot wing-eating contest instead. CRAFTED 2023 LINEUP: SATURDAY Polish Club Fat Picnic Sputnik Sweetheart Being Jane Lane Lucid Safari Fragile Animals The Dandys Beatniks DJs SUNDAY Tijuana Cartel Kurilpa Reach Nana Klumpp Ruby Gilbert The Colliflowers James Street Preachers Beatniks DJs Crafted Beer Festival runs from Saturday, September 9–Sunday, September 10 at Kurrawa Park, Broadbeach. Head to the festival website for tickets and further details.
Fresh from announcing its first titles and revealing its high-profile patrons for the year, the Brisbane International Film Festival has unveiled its complete 2019 program. Thanks to a lineup of fresh international favourites, new local gems and everything in-between, the city's cinephiles will be spending plenty of time in a cinema between Thursday, October 3 and Sunday, October 13 — and plenty of time watching more than 110 features, documentaries and shorts. On the big-name front, BIFF's highlights span sumptuous Queer Palme winner The Portrait of a Lady on Fire from acclaimed French filmmaker Céline Sciamma; Xavier Dolan's emotive exploration of love and friendship in Matthias and Maxime, which he both stars in and directs; The Day Shall Come, Chris Morris' long-awaited sophomore film after Four Lions; and Takashi Miike's latest gangster flick First Love. Then there's Sundance hit Monos, Chinese underworld thriller The Wild Goose Lake, László Nemes' historical drama Sunset, Agnes Varda's joyous Varda by Agnes, and the Dardenne brothers' Cannes best director winner Young Ahmed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejZ75QFesgE The standouts keep coming, including the world premiere of a new documentary about Ben Quilty, coinciding with GOMA's current exhibition of his work. And, BIFF will also play host to the Aussie premieres of the luminous, Berlin-set O Beautiful Night, artificial intelligence doco HI, A.I., feline-friendly documentary The Cat Rescuers, and the Peter Sarsgaard and Rashida Jones-starring The Sound of Silence, about a man who finds harmony in the noise of everyday life. Among the fest's local contingent, audiences can look forward to Lupita Nyong'o fighting zombies in Australian comedy Little Monsters, Indigenous horror anthology Dark Place, Aussie queer drama Sequin in a Blue Room, and a Hugo Weaving double thanks to Hearts and Bones (from Ghosthunter director Ben Lawrence) and Measure for Measure (which transports Shakespeare's play of the same name to a Melbourne block of housing commission units). Meanwhile, fact fans can settle in for eye-opening Scientology chronicle Over the Rainbow, Danish true-crime caper Cold Case Hammarskjöld, and the bee-focused Honeyland — plus two informative and engaging docos about cinema: Memory: The Origins of Alien, about Ridley Scott's sci-fi classic, and Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché, about the medium's first female filmmaking pioneer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY3PJrrK9zU BIFF is also going big with its special events slate, as headlined by three world premiere performances — all pairing films with live scores. The aforementioned Over the Rainbow will screen with its original soundtrack performed live by Australian band HTRK, who composed it in the first place, while 1924 Russian science fiction classic Aelita: Queen of Mars will be accompanied by beatboxing from Tom Thumb. Plus, Harry Houdini will work his magic on the big screen at the 100th anniversary session of The Grim Game, with David Bailey playing the wurlitzer organ. With small strands also dedicated to flicks about the undead, new filmmaking directions, the use of sound, the creative process and life on the urban fringes, the lineup just keeps going. All of the above join the previously announced opening night pic Judy & Punch, starring Mia Wasikowska and Damon Herriman; Pedro Almodovar's Cannes Best Actor-winning Pain and Glory, featuring a sublime performance by Antonio Banderas; Jim Jarmusch's zombie comedy The Dead Don't Die, which boasts everyone from Bill Murray to Adam Driver to Iggy Pop among its cast; and seeing Tilda Swinton act opposite her talented daughter Honor Swinton Byrne in The Souvenir — and a retrospective of BIFF 2019 patron Baz Luhrmann's work, as well as a selection of his favourite films. The 2019 Brisbane International Film Festival runs from Thursday, October 3 to Sunday, October 13 at a variety of Brisbane venues. For further information, and to book tickets, head to the festival website.
When Brisbane finally had its shot at seeing Hamilton, heading to QPAC was just one way that the city embraced Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit musical. Another also took place at South Bank, on the pre-theatre dining menu at fine-diner Bacchus. Now that the Beauty and the Beast musical is in town, the restaurant is taking the same approach and dishing up bites based around the show. For Hamilton, diners tucked into a dessert that came topped with the appropriate star. Be Bacchus' guest from Wednesday, March 6–Saturday, April 20 and you'll be treated to a Beauty and the Beast-themed sweet treat in the form of a rose instead. Yes, it looks exactly like the real thing. Yes, you can eat it. It's called The Lychee Rose, and it's made with raspberry mousse, matcha and pistachio soil. To spirit your tastebuds into a tale as old as time, you'll need to opt for the pre-theatre dinner menu, which costs $89 per person. It covers three courses, starting with a consommé made with seasonal vegetables and wagyu, then plating up a beef ragout tagliatelle with parmesan cream, then The Lychee Rose. You'll also get wattleseed sourdough, plus petit fours to finish. Located within Rydges South Bank, Bacchus is pouring cocktails that take their cues from Beauty and the Beast as well. The Enchanted Zest includes Pavan, limoncello, lemon, chilli and egg white; the Royal Infusion blends Paris tea, vodka and wattleseed; and the Tavern Brew mixes vanilla-infused vodka with bourbon, apple beer syrup and egg white. The Beauty and the Beast dessert gives Brisbanites another reason to stop by the restaurant, which was among the River City's go-to spots for an indulgent restaurant experience before the pandemic, then reopened its swanky, old world-style digs in May 2022. Rydges' Soleil Pool Bar is getting in on the action, too, doing themed platters and drinks to share over the same period, with its Tale of Two Brews featuring green chartruese, apple, maraschino, lime, mint and passionfruit. Find Bacchus and Soleil Pool Bar at Rydges South Bank, 9 Glenelg Street, South Brisbane. For more information about the Beauty and the Beast-themed menus until Saturday, April 20, or to make a booking, head to the Bacchus and Soleil Pool Bar websites.
There aren't many ways to improve a trip to a bathhouse, but when Gold Coast-born chain Soak opens up its first Brisbane location, it'll dial things up a level. Set to launch sometime in the first half of 2022, the new West Village spot will move your blissful spa days upwards literally, in fact; opening on a rooftop will do that. Get ready for dips, steams and massages with a sweeping view of the city, and for hanging out on sky-high sundecks as well. West End's first rooftop bathhouse, it'll boast seven spas, as well as infrared saunas, mineral pools and relaxation gardens. And, the range of other services will expand to LED facials. Those pools are meant to be shared, so you'll be able to book in for a soak with your mates and use the occasion to treat yo'selves over a catch up. The whole vibe at Soak Bathhouse West Village is about being social, after owners Alexis Dyson and Niki Dean realised that the industry isn't currently big on wellness sessions that double as group hangouts. "A lot of social activities rely on going out for food and drinks, so we wanted to present an offering that focused on wellness and relaxation while still being a social experience to be enjoyed with friends," explains Dyson. "This is also how Soak sets itself apart from other spas, as many only cater to pairs by offering couple massages and treatments." Based on its Gold Coast setup, Soak does both casual pricing and memberships, and it'll start selling the latter for its West Village outpost at the beginning of 2022, prior to opening. While gathering the gang and soaking in everything the bathhouse has to offer will be part of the new West End spot's daily offerings, you'll also be able to book in for special occasions — which is great to keep in mind if you have some milestones to celebrate next year, or just feel like a relaxing birthday shindig. Soak Bathhouse will open its first Brisbane outpost at West Village, 45 Mollison Street, West End, sometime in the first half of 2022 — we'll update you with further details when they're announced. Images: Soak Bathhouse Mermaid Beach.
When it comes to costumes, there are a few simple rules. Have fun. Be creative. Don't act like a twit. Unfortunately, some people still have trouble with that last one, with Native American headdresses and other culturally inappropriate garments still an all too common sight at festivals and dress-up parties alike. Thankfully, the team at Sydney's Secret Garden is here to clear up the confusion. Ahead of next weekend's festivities, they've released a short, helpful video about their costume policy, which you can check out below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ9Bhv1iJAk "Our happy place is in some elaborate costume, with a face full of glitter," festival director Clare Downes told Concrete Playground. "There are a ridiculous amount of costume ideas out there. We just want to make sure everyone feels welcome." Secret Garden takes place February 24-25, but bad luck if you don't have tickets because they're sold out.
This July, you can taste your way from the city to Byron Bay without leaving the luxe surrounds of The W. As part of Good Food Month, the good folks from Three Blue Ducks will take over the hotel with nine courses of deliciousness — for just one night. Every dish will represent the region's best produce, scoped out through the restaurant's close relationships with local farmers and fishers. Just a handful of the menu's offerings include fair game venison tataki with macadamia cream, spent bread and smoked blueberry vinaigrette; Fraser Isle spanner crab with celeriac and quinoa crunch; and warm coconut custard with black cacao sorbet, blood orange and passionfruit. You can count on matches for your dishes in an extensive wine list, alongside a bunch of Byron-inspired cocktails. Meanwhile, soundtracking your feast will be one of Three Blue Ducks' favourite DJs. Hosting the evening will be Darren Robertson, Mark Labrooy and Andy Allen — the co-owners of restaurant chain Three Blue Ducks. Robertson trained at Michelin-starred Graveyte Manor in the UK, before heading up three-hatted Tetsuya's in Sydney, where he met Labrooy. The duo teamed up with Allen after meeting through appearances on MasterChef Australia in 2012. Byron to Brisbane Trail will take place on Sunday, July 7. Tickets cost $150 and include cocktails, grazing stations, wine and beer can be purchased here.
Are you the kind of person who starts plotting your next meal before you've even finished the last? Love eating more than anything else? Well, you can get right to the guts of our global food obsession when the Sydney Opera House streams its 2018 chat with culinary legend Nigella Lawson. Streaming at 3pm AEST on Sunday, April 19, the talk has a fitting topic of conversation: home cooking. Lawson's Aussie visit followed the publication of her book At My Table: A Celebration of Home Cooking, which celebrates the joys of comfort food. The famed cook will be in conversation with SBS Food Safari's Maeve O'Meara and they'll be discussing everything from frozen peas to food trends. One of the most successful food writers of all time, cooking up more than ten million book sales worldwide with her 11 culinary bibles, Lawson started out as a book reviewer and restaurant critic, going on to become the deputy literary editor of The Sunday Times. She is responsible for numerous award-winning books, including How to Eat, How to Be a Domestic Goddess, Nigella Bites and At My Table. The talk is part of the Sydney Opera House's three-month digital program From Our House to Yours, with free content streamed nightly from Wednesday–Sunday. While you wait for the full talk to stream on Sunday, you can watch some highlights below. https://youtu.be/P-Ua3wrT3o8
Whether you're heading south from Brisbane or north from Sydney, a small patch of northern New South Wales boasts your next boozy road-trip destination: Husk Farm Distillery. Located on the Tweed River at North Tumbulgum, less than half an hour's drive over the Queensland–NSW border and only 45 minutes from Byron Bay, this quiet estate whips up agricole rum at its onsite distillery — and features views across the Tweed Valley over to Mt Warning to soak in as well. Given the leafy surroundings, it won't come as a surprise to hear that Husk Farm is a paddock-to-bottle operation — Australia's first in the agricole rum realm, in fact. Focusing on sustainability, the 60-hectare site grows its own raw materials for its tipples, which includes Ink Gin as well. What isn't used in making booze is then fed to the farm's herd of cattle, and what they don't eat is used as compost on the 12-hectare rainforest. Freshly opened to the public, the distillery also features a cellar door, cocktail bar and cafe, plus an area for lawn games. That means that you can take a 45-minute tour from Wednesday–Sunday — which costs $35 and include a gin and tonic on arrival, as well a rum tasting flight at the end — then sip cocktails, nab a bottle to take home with you, tuck into a snack and relax. Beverage-wise, the cocktail list will change seasonally, not only heroing Husk's spirits but blending them with native bush food as well as locally growth produce. Think roasted wattle seed, flamed lemon myrtle and lilly pilly flavours, in concoctions such as the Husk, Finger Lime and Soda, Flamin' Myrtle, and cane honey and grapefruit-heavy winter Sun. As for the food, three types of grazing boards, marinated olives, dips and breads, a daily selection of baguettes, and a range of cakes and cookies are on offer.
Based on the classic novel by Jack Kerouac, On The Road follows Sal Paradise (Sam Riley), an aspiring New York writer, and Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund), a young and dangerously seductive ex-con, as they hit the road in pursuit of freedom and life's greatest teacher: experience. Directed by Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries) and starring Kristen Stewart, Amy Adams, Kirsten Dunst, Viggo Mortensen and Steve Buscemi, the film is in cinemas from September 27. Concrete Playground has 10 double passes to giveaway to see On The Road. For a chance to win, make sure you're subscribed to Concrete Playground then email your name and postal address to hello@concreteplayground.com.au
