January 26 as been given many labels. On a difficult occasion, Survival Day is one of them. Commemorating and celebrating the endurance of Australia's Indigenous population, marking the date involves recognising and paying tribute to the nation's First Peoples in morning ceremonies. In Brisbane, the Benarrawa Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Solidarity Group and Benarrawa Community Development Association will lead a gathering along the banks of the Brisbane River and Benarrawa (Oxley Creek). Meeting at the bronze canoe near Simpsons Playground in Graceville, the event will pay tribute to the original inhabitants of the area, with all Australians welcome to participate. Attendees are asked to arrive at 7.15am for a 7.30am start, and to bring clap sticks, a hat and native flowers, with the posies cast into the river at the end of the ceremony. Also recommended: bringing a rug or chair to sit on. Following the official proceedings, everyone is also invited to stay for a bite and a drink, so don't forget your cold or hot beverage of choice and a plate to share. Top image: Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons.
Poirot goes horror in A Haunting in Venice. As unsettling as it was in its pointlessness and indulgence, Death on the Nile's moustache origin story doesn't quite count as doing the same. With Kenneth Branagh (Belfast) back directing, producing and starring as the hirsute Belgian sleuth for the third time — 2017's Murder on the Orient Express came first — Agatha Christie's famous detective now gets steeped in gothic touches and also scores the best outing yet under his guidance. The source material: the acclaimed mystery writer's 1969 novel Hallowe'en Party. Returning screenwriter Michael Green (Jungle Cruise) has given the book more than a few twists, the canal-lined Italian setting being one. Venice makes an atmospheric locale, especially on October 31, in the post-World War II era and amid a dark storm. But perhaps the most important move that A Haunting in Venice makes is Branagh reining in the showboating that became so grating in his first two Poirot movies. Even if you've never read Christie's work or seen Poirot on the screen before, three details have become as widely known as the figure's existence: he's a detective, he's eccentric and, to the benefit of solving cases upon cases, he's obsessive. Thankfully, three also seems to be the magic number in letting the investigator's quirks feel lived in during his current cinema run, rather than constantly overemphasising every idiosyncrasy. Both A Haunting in Venice and Branagh's performance are all the better for that choice. When not just puzzling but also spooking is on offer, such a shift is essential, allowing bumps, jumps and eeriness to set the mood and style over an overdone central portrayal. Branagh is helming a haunted-house story this time around, after all — and while ghost tales need people to torment, overblown identities shouldn't be the most disquieting thing about them. He's also made a picture about grief and trauma, two experiences that change personalities. In relocating to the sinking island city and withdrawing from the whodunnit game, his new status quo when the film begins, A Haunting in Venice's Poirot has already done his own toning down. It's 1947, a decade after the events seen in A Death on the Nile, and bodyguard Vitale Portfoglio (Riccardo Scamarcio, The Translators) helps keep life quiet by sending away everyone who seeks the sleuth's help. The exception: Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey, Only Murders in the Building), a Christie surrogate who is not only also a celebrated author, but writes crime fiction based on Poirot (with Fey slipping into her shoes, she's a playful source of humour, too). When the scribe comes a-knocking, it's with an invite to a séance, where she's hoping that her pal will help her to discredit the medium, Joyce Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All At Once), who has the town talking. The supernatural isn't Poirot's thing, unsurprisingly. Usually, that applies to the stories that he's in and his perspective. But Ariadne herself is starting to be convinced that Joyce might be the real deal, as she explains while persuading her friend into assisting. In A Haunting in Venice, belief isn't much Poirot's thing either — although unnerving visions do begin lingering in his view. As much as Branagh, cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos (another veteran of the first two pictures), composer Hildur Guðnadóttir (an Oscar-winner for Joker) and editor Lucy Donaldson (The Midnight Club) have fun diving into horror, and they do, embracing the occult was never going to be on the cards for movie's main character. Instead, getting his mystery-solving mojo back is part of the predictable plot; more than in Branagh's past two Poirot flicks, A Haunting in Venice feels comfortable rather than inert in its formula. From that setup, the film unfurls over one night and in a sole spot: a grand yet crumbling palazzo. The building was previously an orphanage where many kids met their death and has seen other folks follow them since, with local legend chalking up the abode's misfortunes to "the children's vendetta". Ex-opera singer Rowena Drake (Kelly Reilly, Yellowstone) now owns the structure — and it's her daughter Alicia's (feature debutant Rowan Robinson) passing that's inspired her to enlist Reynolds' services. Count her among the suspects when a body shows up, alongside Leslie Ferrier (Jamie Dornan, The Tourist), Drake's family doctor; Leopold (Jude Hill, Branagh's Belfast breakout), his precocious son; Olga Seminoff (Camille Cottin, Call My Agent!), the mansion's housemaid; Desdemona and Nicholas Holland (The Crowded Room's Emma Laird and Everyone Else Burns' Ali Khan), brother-and-sister war refugees; and Maxime Gerard (Kyle Allen, West Side Story), Alicia's American former fiancé. The expected Poirot template still dictates A Haunting in Venice's basics; few deductive skills are needed to see why Hallowe'en Party's name and city were changed to fit the franchise's mould, for instance. So, murders occur, fingers are pointed, everyone has a motive and the movie's main man gives his brain a workout. Also, getting the pool of accused jostling — and the actors playing them, of course — remains as baked into the feature as in its predecessors. This rogues' gallery makes a finer job of it than the past talents in the same position with Branagh. They're more cohesive as a group, and even as well. Fey sparkles with acerbic wit, Yeoh is confidently serene, Cottin frays nervily, Laird is a picture of unease, and having Dornan and Hill play father and son again after Belfast is a nice touch. With Branagh bringing more nuance to his role than ever, his co-stars never feel like they're being thrust into the shadows by their director and lead. There's zero subtlety in the filmmaking, though, nor should there be in a gleeful gothic-horror spin on Poirot. Cue a wealth of visual flourishes that convey a murder-mystery with purposefully disorientating excess — and shine. Thanks to Venice, the horror genre's fans will already be thinking about 70s great Don't Look Now, which arrived in cinemas before that decade's Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. Spotting odes to Italian giallo master Dario Argento are easy to find, too. Close ups, tilted angles, wide-angle shots, leaping from high to low perspectives, tight focus, making the utmost of the Venetian architecture: they all add to the macabre-and-loving-it air. They also boost a much-needed point of difference in these whodunnit-heavy times. Branagh's flicks have been outshone comically by everything from Knives Out and its sequel to the small screen's Only Murders in the Building and The Afterparty, so getting creepy proves a successful way of fending off their spirits; fittingly, it's a canny trick and enough of a treat.
Since setting up its local base in Murarrie back in 2019, BrewDog has been serving Brisbanites plenty of cold ones, with the Scottish beer behemoth making this sunny city of ours its Australian home. Over that time, you've probably sat by the river and knocked back the company's brews — but at its annual Collabfest festival, you'll be encouraged to try yeasty bevvies from other breweries. Running from Thursday, October 19–Sunday, October 22 at both its OG Brissie site and its Fortitude Valley beer bar, this weekend-long event celebrates brews from other beer-making outfits from across southeast Queensland. Each watering hole will give four other breweries some love, and the chosen spots always brew brand new (and unique) beers for the occasion, too — so expect to taste something that you haven't sipped before. Also, there are two parts to the shindig. First, it all kicks off with a Thursday night launch, which is obviously when the party begins. Then, until Sunday, you'll be able to drop by and drink the Collabfest brews whenever you like. Although BrewDog is making a big deal of teaming up with other brewers, this fest is simply an expansion of its current approach. Already, its DogTap taproom serves up other tipples from the Sunshine State — but when it comes to beer, any excuse for a party will do.
If mashing buttons and hitting flippers while standing up in public is your idea of a great time out, then you'll be a fan of Brisbane's arcade bar scene, aka Netherworld, B. Lucky & Sons and Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq. Here's another way to get your fix: Esc. With Us, Brisbane Festival 2023's contribution, although it isn't quite like any of the other options. From Friday, September 1–Friday, September 22, Bowen Hills' King Street is going retro during the citywide arts fest, all thanks to a heap of inflatable consoles. This is a nostalgic tribute to old-school gaming, and it will indeed let you endeavour to reach your latest high score. The puffy installation takes its colour palette from the 80s, of course, so if you see hues that make you think of Tang, Fanta and Lifesavers, there's a reason for that. Melbourne-based art studio ENESS is behind Esc. With Us, after also bringing Sky Castle and Airship Orchestra to Brisbane Festival in the past. Pop by to check out its latest effort for free from 4–10pm on opening day, then 10am–10pm daily afterwards. On Saturday, September 16, Esc. With Us is part of an 80s street party from 5–9pm, too, complete with rollerskating and DJs.
In 2022, New Farm Cinemas gave Brisbanites another excuse to head to the movies: the first-ever New Farm Queer Film Festival. Celebrating LGBTQIA+ filmmaking on Brunswick Street, the event unsurprisingly proved a hit. So, it's returning in 2023 for a 12-day run from Thursday, September 21–Monday, October 2. Queer classics and the latest festival fare sit side by side on this event's lineup, as its bookending picks make plain. 2023's fest opens with Passages, which hails from Love Is Strange's Ira Sachs, dives into a love triangle, and stars Franz Rogowski (Great Freedom), Adèle Exarchopoulos (The Five Devils) and Ben Whishaw (Women Talking). Then, when NFQFF comes to a close, it'll do so with the one and only John Waters' Pink Flamingos. In-between, movie lovers can look forward to Afire, a Berlinale Silver Bear-winner for Undine and Transit's Christian Petzold; Blue Jean, a four-time British Independent Film Award-winner about a lesbian teacher in Thatcher's England; and Beau Travail, Claire Denis' (Stars at Noon) 1999 standout. Other highlights include the Australian premiere of the 1987-set Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, more German cinema with both Bones and Names and Drifter, 60s Japanese effort Funeral Parade of Roses and Denis Côté's (Ghost Town Anthology) That Kind of Summer. On the homegrown front, NFQFF will also feature The Winner Takes It All and Single, Out — one a comedy about a woman who finds out that her husband is cheating, the other about a life-changing first sexual encounter (and the latter with the cast and crew doing an introduction).
Trust a movie that's all about connection and pluck to boast plenty itself. The second of cinema's recent father-daughter pictures out of Britain that's directed by a first-time feature filmmaker called Charlotte — the first: Charlotte Wells' Aftersun — Charlotte Regan's Scrapper couldn't be better cast or any more fearless about telling its tale. Starring as 12-year-old Georgie, a pre-teen striving to survive on her own with any help from adults or the authorities after her mum Vicky's (Olivia Brady, The Phantom of the Open) death from cancer, debutant Lola Campbell is an electrifying find. Fresh from playing a model in Triangle of Sadness, Harris Dickinson is now an absent rather than ideal dad, a part that he infuses with equal doses of soul, sorrow, charisma and cheek. And, recognising that she's hardly skipping through new narrative territory, writer/director Regan heaps on character and personality. This is a perky, bright and bubbly take on a kitchen-sink story. There's sadness in 2023's Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize-winner, too, with Scrapper scoring its award in the fest's World Cinema Dramatic Competition. There's anger as well, especially about a society that has Georgie convinced that staying solo in the council flat she lived in with her mother — a space that she's now fastidious about keeping exactly as it was before heartbreak struck — is her top choice. But Regan sees colour amid the grey, plus possibilities alongside struggles. Her view is clear-eyed but never steely. Regan unblinkingly witnesses the realities of working-class existence, yet also spies joy and whimsy, and similarly isn't afraid of getting surreal. This is a flick with talking spiders — cue literal bubbles, of the speech variety — alongside scrapping to get by. Indeed, while Scrapper may owe one of its debts to Sorry We Missed You's Ken Loach, aka England's go-to kitchen-sink filmmaker and one of its all-time directing icons, it also slides in next to Del Kathryn Barton's Blaze. That searing debut had its own 12-year-old protagonist's existence forever altered by witnessing horrific violence, which isn't part of Georgie's plight; however, the Australian feature similarly understood the power of escaping to cope so deeply that unleashing its imagination was always its approach. Both movies pair fantasy with empathy, winningly and resonantly so, knowing that seeking solace from life's worst moments is essential and universal. The two films also want their audiences to take in the world from their lead character's perspectives — which being dreamy and leaning into magical realism couldn't be more crucial to. When she's not maintaining her humble abode as her mum left it — even the couch cushions need to sit in the same place they've always been — Georgie has two key ways of getting by. She makes cash by stealing, repainting and selling bicycles with her friend Ali (fellow newcomer Alin Uzun), with the no-nonsense Zeph (Ambreen Razia, Ted Lasso) her fence. To stop child services from stepping in, she tells them that her uncle Winston Churchill is on guardian duties, using taped snippets of the local convenience store clerk saying pivotal phrases to back her up when anyone official rings. Practical, resourceful, enterprising, resilient: these all fit the resolute adolescent, who is determined to retain as much about her days when her mother was alive as she can. Georgie is well-aware that she's working through the stages of grief, diligently tracking them with Ali, but she's certain that she's found the best way of dealing with her situation. Enter Dickinson's Jason, who drops in with bleached-blonde hair — and by jumping over the back fence — to stay with the daughter that he's never known until now. Georgie is wary and flatout unwelcoming, but she's a kid and he's an adult, which means that he's sticking around regardless of her attitude. From there, of course this is an account of two strangers bonded by only blood initially, then getting to know each other. It's never as formulaic as that setup sounds, though, including by constantly embracing openness and playfulness. When Regan has Georgie and Ali ponder what Jason's real motives might be, for instance, she brings to life their fears that he could be a gangster or a vampire. And, often offering to-camera commentary is the picture's chorus of supporting characters, as shot in Super 16, in another of Scrapper's lively stylistic touches. Strip all of Scrapper's aesthetic flourishes away and it wouldn't be the tender, sincere, charming and creative standout that it is. Its rich and energetic look and feel are that evocative, affecting and indispensable, as aided by talented cinematographer Molly Manning Walker — a director herself, with her own feature debut How to Have Sex also an applauded 2023 release, taking out Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard. But, if Regan had served up a visually and tonally standard movie with the usual grit, Campbell and Dickinson's work would've still been gleamingly exceptional. Their dynamic would've remained unmissable as well. Just like Scrapper's palette and production design, there's nothing black and white about Regan's two main characters, who bound across the screen with their strengths, flaws, joys hopes and disappointments on full display — and also nothing straightforward about their complicated relationship. Not just because this is her first-ever acting credit, Campbell's efforts never read like a performance. Authenticity shines as vividly as the paint adorning the film's central housing estate's outer walls, no matter whether Georgie is clinging to her mum's ways for comfort, mischievously palling around with Ali, pulling off her ploys with confidence or ever-so-slowly warming to Jason. In what's proving a prolific chapter of a burgeoning career that's only going to keep blossoming, The King's Man, The Souvenir: Part II, Where the Crawdads Sing and See How They Run's Dickinson also inhabits the role of a wayward dad returned with lived-in commitment and emotion. There are no scraps in these portrayals, and there's nothing piecemeal about this movie; Scrapper and its upbeat yet unflinching slice-of-life chronicle arrives fully and gloriously formed.
Their contributions to music — to stage and screen, too — are filled with tunes that virtually demand a call for an encore. For its production based on George and Ira Gershwin's songs, Queensland Ballet is now doing exactly that. After proving a soldout hit in 2016, Strictly Gershwin is bringing its tribute to Hollywood musicals and the Gershwin brothers' show-stopping tracks back to QPAC, taking over the Lyric Theatre from Thursday, September 28–Saturday, October 7. Expect not just ballet, but also tap, jazz and ballroom — and expect to feel like you're being whisked off to both Broadway and Tinseltown a century ago as well. Created by British dancer, choreographer and director Derek Deane for the English National Ballet in 2008, Strictly Gershwin pairs multiple styles of dance with iconic tunes. Strike up the band indeed. Whether or not you saw An American in Paris when the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical was in Brisbane in 2022, the fact that Strictly Gershwin ends its shows with a nod in that direction is a massive highlight. So, expect 'I Got Rhythm' and ''S Wonderful' among the glitzy production's big numbers, obviously — and everything from 'Rhapsody in Blue' and 'Shall We Dance?' to 'Summertime' and 'Someone to Watch Over Me'.
There are a million ways to meet someone in 2023. The options range across physical and digital, making it easier than ever to find the right someone. One of the fastest ways to find the right person is the classic choice of speed dating. It's a great way to speed up the process if you want to cut out the endless swiping and waiting for a match. That's what Cheeky Events Australia is here for with its weekly speed dating series. That's what Cheeky Events Australia is here for with its weekly speed dating series. After spreading love among singles in Sydney and Melbourne, it's coming to Brisbane from Friday, November 3. The events cater to anyone aged 25-35, 30-45 or 35-49 — Cheeky Events Australia aims to open it up to more age groups and cater to LGBTQIA+ customers in 2024. [caption id="attachment_922332" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] millann via iStock[/caption] How does it work? Simply book your sport at one of the many regular events via Eventbrite or the Cheeky Events Australia app (and use code PLAYGROUND15 for 15% off). Once you arrive, your hosts will greet you and supply you with a complimentary beverage to enjoy while mingling with fellow daters before the action begins. Women will stay seated while the men rotate around, with a brief mingling break at the halfway point of the night. Once the time is up, participants will open the app to input their likes, and matches will be finalised via the app later that night. Any matches will be able to find each other's contact details in the app. The odds are in your favour — on average, everyone has one or two matches per night, with many finding a long-term partner by their third event. Keep an eye out for more than just the weekly series — there could be themed boat parties on your dating horizon. To get started with Cheeky Events Australia, follow them on Instagram, download the app or find the next event on Eventbrite. For more information, visit the website.
If your resolutions for any new year involve being your best self in the kitchen, here's one way to help achieve it in 2024: with the one and only Nigella Lawson enjoying her latest visit Down Under to hit up three cities that she didn't make it to when she last was here in May 2023. Dubbed An Evening with Nigella Lawson, this second leg of the tour will see the television and cookbook favourite again chat through her culinary secrets — and food in general, her life and career, and more. If you're the kind of person who starts plotting your next meal before you've even finished the last, or loves eating more than anything else, Lawson's visit will help get right to the guts of your food obsession. And, the Brisbane event at QPAC's Concert Hall from 7.30pm on Thursday, March 14 will also feature a Q&A component so that you can ask Lawson whatever you've always wanted to yourself. Even when she isn't answering audience questions, Lawson will have plenty to cover — she has a hefty pile of cookbooks to her name, starting with 1998's How to Eat: Pleasures and Principles of Good Food and including 2020's Nigella's Cook, Eat, Repeat. When she hasn't been filling our bookshelves with recipes, she's been whipping through them on TV, too, on everything from Nigella Bites, Nigella Feasts, Nigella Kitchen and Nigellissima through to Simply Nigella and Nigella: At My Table. And, she's been popping up on Top Chef, MasterChef Australia and My Kitchen Rules as well.
Calling all Scandi cinema diehards, Nordic noir buffs, fans of the region's oft-icy climes, and lovers of mythology and folklore: the 2023 Scandinavian Film Festival has something on its lineup for you. When it gets frosty in Australia each year, this big-screen showcase celebrates titles primarily hailing from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden — and its latest lineup is full of must-see highlights. Screening from Wednesday, July 19–Wednesday, August 9 at Palace James St, Palace Barracks in Brisbane, the fest's latest program will kick off with the Australian premiere of Let the River Flow, which won the Audience Award at this year's Göteborg Film Festival. Based on a true tale, it tells of a young woman who unintentionally becomes involved in a protest against a dam, with the new structure set to possibly flood Indigenous Sámi land. The standouts keep coming, such as Godland from Icelandic filmmaker Hlynur Pálmason (A White, White Day), which gets the festival's centrepiece slot — and Fallen Leaves, the latest from Finnish great Aki Kaurismäki's (The Other Side of Hope). Both hit the Scandi Film Festival after bowing locally at other events around the country. Also boasting a high-profile name is Burn All My Letters, which follows the consequences of a love affair, and stars Barbarian and John Wick: Chapter 4's Bill Skarsgård. Or, there's Swedish thriller Shadow Island, Darkland sequel Darkland: The Return and psychological drama Copenhagen Does Not Exist for devotees of Nordic cinema's dark side. If that's your favourite way to get a Scandi film fix, you'll also be in your element with Scandi Screams, the fest's six-movie retrospective. That's where that focus on myths and eerie tales comes in, and of course Let the Right One In is on the lineup. So is Ari Aster's Midsommar, the Oscar-nominated Border, Mads Mikkelsen in Valhalla Rising, twisted Christmas flick Rare Exports and the fantasy-heavy Troll Hunter. Back to the event's slate of recent releases, comedy lovers can get excited about Iceland's dinner party-set Wild Game, Denmark's Fathers & Mothers and The Land of Short Sentences, the new film in The Grump franchise, and absurdist-leaning period piece Empire. Also on the lineup: Unruly, another 2023 Göteborg Film Festival award-winner, this time for Best Nordic Film; documentary The King, about Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf; Munch, a dramatisation of the Norwegian artist's life; coming-of-age drama Norwegian Dream; One Day All This Will Be Yours, about a Swedish cartoonist and her siblings dividing up the family farmland; and polyamory love story Four Little Adults.
Short on the sides, long at the back, goes well with fries — and it's going free before State of Origin's second 2023 attack. We're talking about the humble mullet, of course. If it's your hairstyle of choice or you've always wanted it to be, you can get one thrown in with your pre-rugby league meal at The Lord Alfred on Wednesday, June 21. Just hit up the Caxton Street pub between 3–6pm prior to the game, order a burger with chips and a beer, and get ready for new tresses. Jimmy Rods Barbershop will be onsite to do the snipping, so you'll be getting a professional haircut. While the mullet is free, you do need to pay for the food and booze as part of The Lord Alfred's Mullet Meal Deal, which'll cost you $35. Obviously, the idea is that you get a new head of hair, then head to the game at Suncorp Stadium to show off your look.
Peering at art isn't just an indoor activity confined to galleries and museums. It's something that you can do across Brisbane's streets, too, if you know where to look. That's what Brisbane City Council's Outdoor Gallery offers the city's art lovers, first popping up in 2016 and filling locations around the CBD with eye-catching work ever since — in spots as varied as Howard Smith Wharves and Fish Lane. Exactly what graces the Outdoor Gallery changes regularly — and from Monday, June 19–Monday, October 2, First Nations art is in the spotlight. So is the Brisbane River, with Reflections: A Reflection of Brisbane's Waterways enlisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to muse on the H2O around us. Both emerging and early-career creatives are in focus, showing new and existing works across large-scale banners, installations and projections lighting up the nights. Ten artists have works on display: Lewis James, Ben Barker, Dean Tyson, Tai Bobongie and Taliah Saylor, plus Kylie Hill, Nicole Williams, Paula Dewis, Brett Leavy and Luke Mallie. As for where else to visit, hitting up a laneway — including Eagle Lane, Irish Lane, Edison Lane, Giffin Lane and Hutton Lane — is recommended. Or, you can head to Ann, Queen and Elizabeth streets, or the King George Square car park.
Brisbane's annual show serves up many things, from fireworks and showbags to dagwood dogs and oh-so-many strawberry ice creams. But you won't find strawberry cocktails 21 floors up and strawberry sundaes in a French patisserie at the Ekka. Instead, you can score them both at Emporium Hotel South Bank while the exhibition takes over Brisbane Showgrounds. Head here and you can avoid the Ekka crowds, plus get a sweet treat. Until Sunday, August 20, Brisbanites can mosey upstairs at The Terrace for a Strawberry Pavilion cocktail. It combines strawberry gin, rhubarb and sherry, comes topped with vanilla foam, and also includes a white chocolate lollipop — and it's the Ekka-related treat that you didn't know you needed until now. If that's not enough Royal Queensland Show-themed fun for you, you have another choice downstairs at Belle Epoque. The Parisian-style purveyor of baked goods and desserts has whipped up its own take on a pink-hued dish, featuring a tropical cheesecake as a base inside a chocolate cup coated in wafer flakes. A strawberry mousse popsicle also sits within, and then cream is dolloped on top. You'll pay $24 for the cocktail and $12 for the sundae — and both venues are open daily.
Anything a human can do, a dog can do too — at least according to every single canine that's become someone's best friend. If you have a pet pooch, you know the drill. Wherever you go, they want to go. Wherever you sit, they want to sit. Whatever you eat, they want to eat as well. Sadly for your four-legged bestie, that mindset doesn't always pay off — but throughout August at The Prince Consort in Fortitude Valley, it's Pawgust time again in 2023. The Wickham Street pub is dedicating the entire month to pairing pints with pooches. The beers are for you, obviously, not your barking companion. A heap of special events are on the agenda, including the venue's Four-Legged Pub Crawl on Saturday, August 5, a Paws and Pints session on Sunday, August 6 and a fundraising brunch on Saturday, August 12. Also on offer: cocktails named after canines and fundraising for the Animal Welfare League Queensland. Indeed, $1 from each of those special tipples will go to the AWLQ.
It's that time again, Brisbanites: time for another commemorative day that heroes one particular type of food or drink. Whatever you think of these celebrations, this one is worth saying cheers to, with International Beer Day set to inspire plenty of clinking glasses all over the River City. The occasion itself falls on Friday, August 4 in 2023; however, CBD rooftop bar Sixteen Antlers is getting into the spirit — or should that be yeast and hops? — for a five-day stretch to prolong the merriment. From Tuesday, August 1–Saturday, August 5, it's hosting Wing It, Sip It, Vibe It, complete with cheap brews and wings. Head 16 levels up to enjoy $8 beers and $8 wings, plus those free city views, and also live music and DJs spinning tracks. The drinks special covers selected types of both bottled and canned beers, as well as ciders. And no reservations are necessary unless you plan on heading up with nine pals.
For almost a century and a half — 146 years in 2023, to be exact — Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake has delighted ballet lovers. Premiering in 1877, it's one of the most famous works that's ever been performed on pointe shoes. A version has rarely been far from a stage somewhere, the music is as stunning and haunting as compositions get, and we wouldn't have Black Swan without it. Now, the classic gives rise to Duck Pond. Here, Swan Lake gets the circus treatment, plus new tunes and haute-couture costumes. The folks to thank: Yaron Lifschitz and the Circa ensemble, who've reimagined the iconic ballet in quite the inventive way, including with sequinned flippers instead of the usual attire. Pirouetting, waddling, leaping, all-around acrobatics: that's all part of this world-premiere show, which plays QPAC's Playhouse from Wednesday, July 5–Saturday, July 8. Audiences can also look forward to duets, humour, surrealism, aerials and feathers, plus a tale about a film crew, a duck army and a burlesque black swan. Libby McDonnell takes care of the outfits, Jethro Woodward reworks the tunes — while still nodding to Tchaikovsky, of course — and ten Circa performers will get quacking.
Like Underworld's 90s anthem 'Born Slippy', Brisbanites will be shouting "lager, lager, lager, lager" at Howard Smith Wharves for three days across the long weekend of Saturday, September 30–Monday, October 2. The reason? The arrival of Lagerpalooza, Felons Brewing Co's new gift to fans of, well, lager — aka a three-day outdoor booze festival by the river that'll hero one type of beer, pouring 34 different varieties from 16 breweries. Felons' own Crisp Lager will feature, of course, but it's also celebrating tipples from fellow beermakers locally, across Australia and internationally. Range, Revel and Heads of Noosa are among the other Queensland outfits set to serve up their top lagers. Hop Nation, Stomping Ground and Wayward are on the Aussie list, too. Eagle Bay joins in from Western Australia, and Lost & Grounded from Bristol in the UK. Felons' riverside location in the HSW precinct means taking over a grassy patch and a waterside perch, with the event hosting five sessions: 11am–4pm and 5–10pm runs on both the Saturday and Sunday, and a public holiday event from 11am–6pm on the Monday. Attendees can opt for a $20 ticket that includes their first fill, or a $90 pass that covers all tastings, plus a festival tote and access private al fresco area. While lager is the drink in the spotlight across the entire event, there'll also be gluten-free beers, non-alcoholic sips and cocktails to enjoy. Food-wise, attendees can look forward to barbecued meats fresh from an eight-metre Argentinian grill, as well as rotisserie chicken rolls, artisanal cheese, and a seafood range that goes big on local catches — and the almost-obligatory oysters, too. Live tunes and roaming performers will help set the cruisy mood — and if it sounds big, Felons have advised that it's both Australia's largest lager party and the first fest of its kind.
When a team makes it to the final four at the FIFA World Cup, their time at the tournament doesn't end if they don't score their way into the final. That very last game of the competition decrees who takes home the ultimate piece of football silverware, and also who comes in second, but the two squads that missed out on the decider also battle it out for third place in a playoff match. Accordingly, while the Matildas can't turn the 2023 Women's World Cup green and gold, they can still nab bronze from 6pm on Saturday, August 19. Sam Kerr and her teammates will take on Sweden at Suncorp Stadium, in what's understandably the hottest ticket in Brisbane this weekend. Didn't manage to get a seat? Enter the River City's live sites again, including at Riverstage. When Australia's national women's soccer team made the semi-final, the city and state's powers-that-be added more public places to watch the match. South Bank has been the official FIFA base since Thursday, July 20, and that hub gained more screens around the riverside precinct. King George Square joined in as well, as did Riverstage. [caption id="attachment_913581" align="alignnone" width="1920"] LittleBlinky via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption] Obviously filling a huge venue with huge crowds to watch a massive game on a massive screen turned out nicely at in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, even if the 3–1 score in England's favour didn't for Matildas fans. If you're heading along for the Sweden game, prepare to have company, with amphitheatre able to fit in 9000 soccer lovers. Will you be able to hear the roar from Milton, from the actual match itself? Here's hoping. Football fans have been coming out in force to fill live viewing sites around the country — and also tuning in at home to watch the Matildas in droves. The quarter-final match against France smashed ratings records, becoming the most-watched Australian television sports event in a decade, while the semi-final against the Lionesses is now the most-watch Aussie TV program since 2001, and likely ever (OzTAM's ratings records only go back that far). [caption id="attachment_913179" align="alignnone" width="1920"] LittleBlinky via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption]
No one needs an excuse to slurp their way through a brothy bowl of ramen, especially in winter, but Motto Motto Gasworks has a good one: $1 serves. The chain's Gasworks Plaza store is celebrating its official opening in the 4006 postcode with 406 super-cheap meals on Saturday, July 29. Gold coins at the ready. For $1 Ramen Day, only this store will be serving up the deal, and you will need to get in early. If you're the 407th person to rock up from 11am, sadly you'll be too late. That's your Saturday lunch sorted, while stocks last — so having an early bite to eat will be a smart plan. Also, there's a limit of one $1 bowl per person. You'll be tucking into Motto Motto's signature classic tonkotsu, which obviously features pork broth, plus shoyu kaeshi, freshly made noodles, a marinated soft-boiled egg, fresh shallots and seaweed.
Brisbane whisky fiends, here's an event to give a dram about, especially if you like sampling and tasting spirits from distilleries around the globe. Across three sessions from Friday, June 16–Saturday, June 17, Whisky Live hits the River City to celebrate fermented grain mash. New, inventive, classic, rare: they're all on the whisky menu. Hosting three-hour sessions — from 6–9pm on the Friday, and from 12–3pm and 5–8pm on the Saturday — this whisky fair groups its tipples by brand, and has experts onsite to chat you through each. You'll sip, you'll learn, and you'll also get a printed whisky guide to use as a roadmap. If upping your whisky knowledge has always been on your bucket list, Whisky Live includes classes about various aspects of whisky as well. You'll find out what's on offer on the day, and no bookings are required. Your $145 to this whisky-sampling event covers tastings from distilleries around the world, bites to eat and access to the classes, with everything taking place at W Brisbane. And, if you'd like to try the rare and old sips, there'll be an entire bar dedicated to them, including releases from years and years back, and from now-closed distilleries. These tipples aren't included in your ticket, however, costing $28 per 15-millilitre serve. [caption id="attachment_831071" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Marriott International Hotel[/caption]
El Camino Cantina likes tacos, which isn't new news to anyone in Brisbane that's hit up the chain over the past few years. But on one specific day, it's ramping that taco affection up a notch and giving the people what we want. If you're heading to a Tex-Mex bar and eatery, then you're clearly after a taco feast — and, ideally, you want them cheap. Enter World Taco Day's all-day $1 taco special, which is exactly what it sounds like. Head by on Tuesday, October 4 and you can tuck into a highly affordable feed in Bowen Hills, South Bank and Chermside in Brisbane; Surfers Paradise and Robina on the Gold Coast; and Sunshine Plaza on the Sunshine Coast. Bookings are essential, and the deal runs from open till close — but there is a caveat. You'll need to buy a drink to get up to five $1 tacos. Fancy more? Then get another beverage. El Camino Cantina is known for its OTT margaritas, after all.
Brisbanites, the last long weekend of the year before Christmas is upon us, and there are plenty of ways to spend it. But only one will have you dancing to an impressive lineup of bands at Kings Beach Amphitheatre — soaking in the spring weather, enjoying the beachside spot, and catching everyone from The Presets and Baker Boy to Client Liaison, Ben Lee and Art vs Science. That event? The returning Caloundra Music Festival, which marks its 15th year in 2022. The all-ages fest runs from Friday, September 30–Sunday, October 2, which is perfect if you've actually given yourself a four-day long weekend (with Monday to recover), are keen to head along after work to get your break started with live tunes, or even just have a day or two to fill. Also taking to the stage: Missy Higgins, Skunkhour, The Black Seeds and The Waifs, all from a wide-ranging bill that spans a diverse range of genres — and up-and-comers alongside veteran talents. The list goes on, too. Camping facilities are available at Caloundra State Primary School, if you're coming along from Brisbane and don't want to make the trip up and back multiple times. And, because it's a family-friendly affair, there's also a zone for kids — if that helps make your festival experience easier. CALOUNDRA MUSIC FESTIVAL 2022 LINEUP: Adam-James Alys Ffion Andy V Art vs Science Asher Beau Aspy Jones August River Band Baker Boy Bearfoot Ben Lee Bobby Longstaff Bradamon Burger Joint Caitlyn Shadbolt & Melanie Dyer Client Liaison Coterie Darcy Kate DÉ SAINT. Dorah Jacson Drop Legs DUB ZOO East Coast Alien Felicity Lawless Felivand Flag Duty Fools Frank and Louis Hallie Harry James Angus Hayden Hack Hellhound Brown Hope D Horns of Leroy featuring Thando Hot Potato Band In2natioN James Desbrow Jason Daniels JaZZella JC and the Tree Katie Who Lachy Doley and The Horns of Conviction Lamkin Lane Lucy Gallant Mason Hope and The Teachers Mayah Missy Higgins Monique Clare Nanas Pie Pat Tierney Ruby Jo Skillz FJ Skunkhour SoLar Sugarbag Blonde Sunny Coast Rude Boys T H U M P Tanya George The Black Seeds The Fins The Holy Rollercoasters The Moonsets The Moving Stills The Presets The Regime The Rolling Stones Revue The Waifs Those Folk Transvaal Diamond Syndicate Ukulele Death Squad Vaudeville Smash
Spandex leotards, chunky leg warmers and feathered hair at the ready, Brisbanites: it's time to get sweaty 80s-style. Sydney favourite Retrosweat is finally bringing its throwback aerobics class our way, making its debut appearance more than ten years after setting up shop down south in 2011 — all for one fitness-fuelled evening. If you're new to Retrosweat, it was founded by Shannon Dooley, who studied at the Fitness Institute Australia and also at NIDA (learning from Baz Luhrmann's official choreographer John 'Cha Cha' O'Connell, among other teachers). The vibe really is all there in the name, combining bending, stretching and all the usual aerobics moves to 80s tunes — aka a fitness-fuelled step back in time. So, if you turned to streaming Aerobics Oz Style during pandemic lockdowns to keep fit, you'll know the drill — or you might've actually checked out Retrosweat's own at-home workout, including its VHS workout club, too, or its recent Olivia Newton-John tribute. In Sydney, Retrosweat hosts several weekly sessions; however, for its first-ever Brisbane class, it's holding a one-off hour-long stint from 6.30–7.30pm on Monday, October 10 at the Bombshell Burlesque Academy Studios in Bowen Hills. Fingers crossed that this 80s-loving motivation to get active comes back Brisbane's way again, because everyone deserves to star-jump, flick-kick and grapevine to tunes by Prince, Madonna, David Bowie, Bananarama, Pat Benatar, WHAM! and more.
Every September, BIGSOUND takes over Fortitude Valley, showcasing the best up-and-coming music talents the city — and the country — has to offer. But if you're more about three chords and the truth, then you might be interested in the fest's new spinoff at South Bank: BIGSOUND Country. (Just spent the last few days at BIGSOUND and aren't done with live music for the week? That's another reason to add this to your weekend plans, too.) Also forming part of Brisbane Festival like almost everything else around town at the moment, BIGSOUND Country is exactly what it sounds like: a country music-focused version of BIGSOUND. For one night only, from 6–8pm on Saturday, September 10, it's taking over the South Bank Piazza with a soundtrack worth busting out your RM boots for. On the bill: country star Adam Brand, plus The Wolfe Brothers and Shane Nicholson, with the BIGSOUND Country house band on backing duties. They're joined by Sara Storer and James Blundell, as well as Loren Ryan, all against the city lights.
If this returning Brisbane food event needs a theme song, it has plenty of options to choose from. Sure, most tracks that reference wings in their name come soaked in emotion (we're thinking about Jeffrey Osbourne's 'On the Wings of Love' and Bette Midler's 'Wind Beneath My Wings', for starters, because 80s tunes are just that impossible to forget). But hey, who isn't in love with crispy, deep-fried chicken wings? We're going on about potential anthems because the Australian Buffalo Wing Festival will make you want to sing an ode to its titular dish, we're betting. That's what showcasing all the great places in Brissie that sell these delectable sites of poultry does. Well, that and fill your stomach. Featuring everywhere from King of the Wings and KaiKai Chicken to Fritzenberger and Sea Legs Brewing among its locations — and Wing Fix, Seoul Bistro and Buffalo Bar, too — the fest is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of affair. Basically, pick an eatery between Monday, August 29–Sunday, September 4, and start munching. Or, go on a buffalo-crawl in search of the many deals on offer. Each joint will be serving up their own flavours, so you really will want to taste them all. Top image: Atlanta Bell.
Cross your fingers, dog lovers — here's hoping that your four-legged friend feels like heading to a brewery. From 1–5pm on Saturday, August 27, Ballistic Beer Co will be turning its Salisbury space into a pupper wonderland, all while people knock back a pint or several. On the Dogs Go Ballistic agenda: craft brews (obviously), dog-centric market stalls, canine activities, an obligatory dog show, a chance to raise money for dog rescue organisations, and live music. We can't promise that the latter will feature pooch-related tunes, but perhaps both you and Fido will be wondering who let the dogs out, asking if the dog days are over and crying all the time like a hound dog. Entry is free, and all woofers great and small are welcome at the picnic-style event — although these very good doggos must stay on their leashes. And, your pupper can compete in a few contests like they're in Best in Show, including vying for the best dressed and best trick titles.
Ever since Freddie Mercury teamed up with Brian May and company back in the 70s, Queen has never been out of fashion. Thanks to Bohemian Rhapsody, however, the band has been roaring up the charts again. You could call it a kind of magic. You could say that their songs must go on. Either way, if you're happy to let the British group keep rocking you, then head along to The Brightside on Friday, March 1. Been feeling a crazy little thing called love for Freddie and his bandmates? Then you'll be in the right spot. And if your approach to the group's music is "I want it all!", that's what you'll hear at Don't Stop Me Now — the UK's Queen-focused club night, which is set to break free in Brisbane. Because it's a hard life, DJs will spin the band's tunes from 9pm, and you and your fellow champions will dance and sing along. Entry costs $10, and other tracks from huge artists of the 70s and 80s will also get a whirl. Basically, prepare to step back in time — and if you miss out, you'll feel a little under pressure.
The Triffid has long been Brisbane's home of roots tunes, and has been since the Newstead hangout started running acoustic gigs back when it opened. The venue is also the host of the city's annual roots festival — starting back in 2016, running annually since, and returning for another round from 4pm on Saturday, February 2. Meet the Newstead Roots Festival. With Band of Frequencies, Dave Orr Band, The Long Johns, JB Paterson and Mardi Wilson on the bill, it's the ultimate weekend roots session. Entry is free, with full sets rocking the main stage and acoustic sounds filtering through the beer garden — where you'll obviously find plenty of drinks to accompany this laidback festival outing.
From the moment that you read the name of this one-night event, you had one song lodged in your head. Don't run, run, run, run, run, run, run, away from it. Embrace it. Even better — make your way to The Triffid on Friday, January 25 for one huge night of celebrating Talking Heads. The Newstead venue puts on these kinds of gigs every now and then, but this is the first time that these particular legends will be in the spotlight. With The Toxic Garden Gnomes, Dirty Hearts, Requin, Simi Lacroix and Fugitive & the Vagabond doing the honours, the lineup will take you on a road to nowhere (when they're not burning down the house). Psycho Killer: A Tribute To The Talking Heads mightn't be a once in a lifetime opportunity, but there are worse ways to watch the days go by — and it won't just be the same as it ever was. Tickets cost $24, with the tunes kicking off at 7.30pm. No word yet if someone will don a big suit like David Byrne, but if you've ever wanted to pretend you're in iconic concert film Stop Making Sense, here's your chance.
Dear Pluto finally arrived in Brisbane in 2018 — and for its first speed-dating event of 2019, it's giving people what they love. Pizza. Oh-so-much pizza. If you can't bond over a slice of flat, cooked dough piled high with toppings, then perhaps there's just no hope. Love at First Slice combines meeting a bunch of folks you might want to spend more time with (up to 20, in fact)i, munching on pizza and drinking negronis, all on the night before the (supposedly) most romantic day of the year. Mark the occasion by indulging in the cheesiness that comes with forced celebrations of love. And by eating cheese on your pizza, obviously. The pizza — the main attraction alongside the speed-dating, let's be honest — is included in your $20 ticket price, but you'll need your wallet for a few drinks. Aimed at straight and straight-ish 20–35-year-olds, the event takes over Barbara from 7–10pm on Wednesday, February 13, and tickets are on sale now.
A westside staple, Rocklea's Brisbane Markets have long been the place to head for a spot of browsing and buying, especially if you're looking for fresh foods on a Saturday morning and a little bit of everything on a Sunday. You'll now have another reason to stop by, with the Sherwood Road spot adding a Friday night market to its lineup from February 15. It's another all-in-one affair. Think street food to keep your stomach satisfied, beer and wine for that after-work tipple, a main stage graced by musical acts, roving performers livening up the space, and both arcades and stalls selling artisanal wares. You'll be able to tuck into a burger and brew, snack on a churro for dessert, and pick up some clothes, jewellery, candles and homewares to take home with you, all between 4–10pm. Even better — like the other weekend shopping extravaganzas at the site, this one is a weekly event. Entry costs $2.50 per person, and there's a whole heap of free parking available. Given how busy the Saturday and Sunday markets get, arriving early is recommended. Image: Brisbane Markets.
By the time that Thursday night rolls around each, most of us are thinking about escaping the 9-to-5 grind. There's still one pesky weekday left to go until the weekend, of course, but sinking underground with a glass of whiskey in your hand — and with jazz tunes setting the upbeat but relaxing mood — sure does sound enticing. That's a regular Jazz Thursday at The Walrus Club, aka the Regatta spot you go to when you've got malt drinks and a cosy, dark space on your mind. The event is a regular fixture from 8–11pm, combining the watering hole's hefty array of 300-plus spirits and prohibition bar vibes with lively — and live — music. If we were lucky enough to be living in an episode of Parks and Recreation, you'd probably find Ron Swanson there. Because we're not, you can always don some snappy threads, order a Lagavulin neat and pretend.
The humble ol' gin and tonic might sound like a simple beverage, and it can be; however this old classic is a versatile little devil. Add a different variety of juniper spirit, switch up the type of tonic, throw an array of herbs and fruits into the mix, pick your garnish — there's plenty of combos to create, discover and enjoy. You'll want to do just that at Dutch Courage Officers' Mess gin-soaked Australia Day party, which runs from 4–7pm on Saturday, January 26. Stop by the DIY G&T station, whip up your own blends — while choosing from 20 Aussie tipples such as Ink and Four Pillars — and then get sipping. Eucalyptus highballs will also be available to mark the occasion. Yes, this Extravaginza (the bar's term, not ours) is going heavy on the cocktails. And, it's serving up non-stop drinks for a three-hour period. You'll also snack on your choice of gourmet mini steak sandwiches or mushroom and goats' cheese arancini, which are included in the $79 per person price.
In 2011, in this very country and galaxy, a pop culture favourite gained a singing, stripping burlesque parody. It's the mash-up that was bound to happen. Who hasn't looked at George Lucas' space opera, its sprawling drama and ample spectacle, and wondered what a steamier, funnier version with more visible butt cheeks would look like? Russall S. Beattie clearly did, and had a good feeling that other people would give it a shot. The Empire Strips Back was the end result. It became a hit around Australia, then took itself overseas to much acclaim. Now it's returning home for a 2019 tour — once again showing local audiences that lightsabers aren't the hottest thing in the Star Wars galaxy. The saucy show promises "seriously sexy stormtroopers, a dangerously seductive Boba Fett, some tantalising Twi'leks, a delightfully lukewarm Taun Taun, a lady-like Skywalker [and] the droids you are looking for", according to its website. Apparently Yoda doesn't get the sexed-up treatment, but there is plenty of song, dance, acrobatics and — because it's burlesque — the removal of clothing. A dancing Chewie and Han is just the beginning of this cheeky take on Star Wars cosplay. Given that it's got an upbeat soundtrack, the costumes are extremely detailed and the show throws out lots of references to George Lucas' original plot, it's not surprising that local audiences — presumably the same ones that pack out Star Wars parties and large-scale screenings with a live orchestra — have latched onto the production. Heading to The Tivoli between Thursday, January 31 and Saturday, February 2 , The Empire Strips Back sits alongside Dame of Thrones in Beattie's pop culture parody stable — so if you've already seen one of your fantastical screen obsessions get the burlesque treatment, then you know what you're in for. If you're super keen, you can also nab a Wookieerotica magazine online: a 116-page, 70s-style men's mag, just casually featuring all of your favourite jedis, siths, ewoks and other Star Wars characters. Either way, it could be a great introduction to burlesque or Star Wars, depending on which way you're coming at it. Images: Jon Bauer, Leslie Liu and Josh Groom.
Saturday afternoons and spritzes go hand in hand. So does that familiar feeling — when your glass is empty and you'd like the drinks to keep on coming. Throw in a couple of sliders, and you've got a cruisy way to kick off the first full day of the weekend. Or, you've got The Defiant Duck's $35 Spritz Saturdays. On the agenda is two hours of bottomless Aperol and Chambord spritzes, which'll more than take care of your hankering for a few beverages. You'll also tuck into two sliders, with vegan options available. Lining the stomach is important, of course. The Newstead bar throws this affordable shindig each and every week, and you have two time slots to choose from: 3–5pm and 5–7pm. Bookings are required by contacting the venues, and this is the kind of special that's available for both small groups and big occasions — so catch up with your bestie or gather the whole gang.
Following its long-awaited unveiling in late-2018, West Village is keeping the momentum going into the new year. February marks the official launch of the dining precinct's outdoor area, The Deck WV. To celebrate, the space is taking advantage of both the exceptional Brissie weather and our penchant for the old weekend wind-down with a series of fun-filled Sunday sessions. Across the first three Sundays in February, the space will host an afternoon of food, drinks and entertainment inspired by one of The Garden Pantry's (West Village's dining precinct) retailers. After kicking things off with a Lunar New Year celebration with Mr Bunz, Cheeky Poké Bar is taking the reigns on Sunday, January 10 for an island-inspired soiree. The greenery-filled space will amp up its tropical vibes with hula dancers, plus a design-your-own poké bowl and taco station. There'll also be a pop-up gin bar serving refreshing tipples to pair with your island snacks — including a tasting 'paddleboard' of six different gins. By now, the glow of summer holidays has probably started to wear off — so running to paradise, if only for a couple of hours, sounds like a pretty good antidote to us. Gin & Poké Sunday Session will run from 3–5pm on Sunday, February 10. Tickets cost $50 per person and can be purchased here.
Remember those childhood days sat in front of the television, watching your beloved Disney flicks over and over? Of course you do. While you were binging on The Lion King or The Little Mermaid on repeat, you probably weren't thinking about your future adult self partying to 'Hakuna Matata' or 'Under the Sea' — but Woolly Mammoth is about to blow your inner kid's mind. From Beauty and The Beast to Aladdin to Frozen, if it's a piece of music from a Disney flick, you'll likely hear it on Saturday, February 16. The soundtrack will also span a heap of Disney TV shows and their stars, plus hits by former Mouseketeers. Think Hilary Duff, The Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera — and back on the movie front, High School Musical obviously. Kicking off at 10pm, this Disney Party will get you dancing to your Disney faves and belting out many a tune while you do so. Tickets range from $13–20, and are on sale now.
There's much that's great about indulging your inner kidult, but one thing stands out above the rest. All those activities that you loved when you were a child — playing games and watching Pixar films, for example — you can now do with a drink in your hand. At Pixar Trivia, you can combine all of the above in a way, as well as burgers. You've seen everything from Toy Story to Finding Nemo to Wall-E to Inside Out, and you've loved them all. Now it's time to answer a toy box full of questions about your favourite animated movies, with Man vs Bear doing the asking. Burger Urge is the place to head to at 6.30pm on Tuesday, January 22, with sessions taking place at the chain's George Street, Windsor, Crestwood and Redbank Plains stores (and Chermside too, but that one has already sold out). Tickets are free, but you'll need to register in advance. And bring your wallet so you can have dinner and a few drinks while you dazzle the competition with tidbits about Monsters, Inc, Up, Ratatouille and Coco — and call your team The Incredibles, obviously.
If you've never hallucinated a coyote, or simply really really like hot chilli, then get to Kettle and Tin for their annual Chilli Cook Off. If Kettle and Tin's last six cook-offs proved anything, it's that this festival isn't one for the timid of stomachs. Things will really heat up on Sunday, March 24, when some of Brisbane's best chefs compete to win the event's coveted trophy. The competitors don't mess around, the chilli proves off-the-scale delish and everything from the food to the drinks bites hard. Admission is $25, and includes live music, one free beer and all the chilli you can eat. Our tip: if you're not a fan of spice, BYO milk. The Chilli Cook Off begins at 9.30am and is expected to run long into the evening, with plenty of craft brews all part of the fun. If you think you can handle the heat, pack your chilli spoon and head along.
You saw the huge Fyre Festival social media campaign, featuring every Instagram celebrity imaginable cavorting on a scenic Bahamas island. You witnessed the massive fallout when the fest didn't turn out as planned — how could you have missed it?. And in just the past few weeks, you watched Netflix's revealing Fyre doco, which details the whole mess. You might've even watched it more than once, because it's that mind-boggling and compelling. Now, you can head on over to Black Bear Lodge, listen to tunes by acts who were supposed to play the event, and help those who were left high and dry in the aftermath. That's Fyre F#ck Fest, which takes over the Valley venue from 8pm on Wednesday, March 6. Fyre Fest itself didn't happen, but you can bet this party will (and that it'll be must better organised, obviously). Tracks by Major Lazer, Disclosure, Migos, Blink 182, Lil Yachty and more will provide the soundtrack, tropical cocktails will set the mood, and a portion of bar sales will go to Exuma Point Resort and Pamela Carter — who didn't get paid for their catering work when the fest imploded. Image: Netflix.
On Saturday, March 23, the night sky beckons at South Bank — and, no we're not just talking about staring over the river at the city's twinkling lights. No, looking up at the Wheel of Brisbane doesn't count either, and nor does enjoying the glowing colours at the Flowstate precinct. Instead, as part of this year's World Science Festival, stargazers will flock to the Cultural Centre Forecourt to spend the evening looking up. If you've ever wanted to peer into the heavens while standing in the middle of the city — and actually be able to see the stars shining in all their glory — this is your chance. Don't have a telescope? Don't worry. A heap of the remote-viewing optical instruments will be set up for everyone to use as part of this free, fun, one-night-only event, with thanks to the Brisbane Astronomical Society. It all starts at 6pm, with the neck-craning running through until 9pm.
Returning for its 20th year, 2019's Brisbane Queer Film Festival starts with a restored masterpiece and ends with a new look at an icon. Sounds fitting for a fest that celebrates LGBTIQA and gender diverse tales on screen. It opens with Buddies, the 1985 movie that marked the first feature-length film about AIDS — and then closes with Wild Nights With Emily, starring Molly Shannon as poet Emily Dickinson. Across BQFF's 11-day program, the festival has plenty of other stories to show when it arrives at New Farm Cinemas between Thursday, March 7 and Sunday, March 17. French film Sauvage follows a 22-year-old selling his body on the streets, rom-com Anchor and Hope contemplates the mechanics of starting a family with Oona Chaplin and Game of Thrones' Natalia Tena, and Mapplethorpe sees Matt Smith play the famous photographer. Or there's also Obscuro Barroco, TransMilitary and Genderblend, which take three different looks at gender — one charting the life of transgender figure Luana Muniz in Rio de Janeiro, the second focusing on four US soldiers trying to serve as their country keeps changing its policy on their rights, and the last honing in on five folks who neither feel male or female. BQFF also features multiple shorts programs from its 20-session lineup, delivering diversity in plenty of ways.
When it's festival time in Brisbane, the city lights up. That said, expect this town of ours to shine a little brighter when Curiocity Brisbane rolls around. A first-time event that's all about imagination, innovation, creativity, science, technology and art, this fest will see immersive installations pop up all over the place between Friday, March 15 and Wednesday, April 3. Leading the charge is Ross Manning's Wave Opus IV, a large-scale self-playing instrument that resembles a waveform. A new iteration of a work first commissioned by the Institute of Modern Art back in 2017, it's headed to Brisbane Powerhouse — and it's just one of the pieces on the bill. From making stickers out of your own shadow to wandering between luminous statues, there's plenty to pique your interest, all thanks to a lineup of local and international artists, technicians and makers. The free interactive installation trail will span from South Bank and New Farm, running day and night across the 20-day period. And if you're looking for talks, performances, movies and more, Curiocity also includes this year's World Science Festival Brisbane from Wednesday, March 20 to Sunday, March 24.
It's streamers, balloons and confetti time at Little Big House, the huge South Bank watering hole that always feels like it's throwing a party anyway. Now open for more than a year, the venue is throwing a weekend-long shindig to mark the occasion. And sure, this birthday party comes a few months after the pub's official first birthday, but better late than never. All weekend across Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24, Brisbanites will find drinks specials and free karaoke on offer; however that's just the beginning of the fun. Each day offers its own drawcards — but award-winning booze and toe-tapping music are permanent fixtures on the agenda. Helping LBH's celebration is Balter Brewing, fresh from being crowned the country's best craft beer for the second year running. The crew is stopping by as part of their Smiles All Round tour, which involves plenty of yeasty tipples, plus different musical acts each day. Stop by on Saturday for Cutloose and Rhythm, then head back on Sunday when The Jungle Giants jump behind the decks for a DJ set. While the overall party will run from open till close, this part of the proceedings kicks off at 2pm daily.
Slurp your way into the weekend at Darling & Co, with the Paddington bar turning every Friday into an Oyster Friday. And while the texture of this seafood morsel isn't to everyone's liking, the feeling it evokes should be — who doesn't want to slide into a couple of days off the way that an oyster slides across your tastebuds? If you are a fan, then your wallet will be as well. Serving up the city's new cheap oyster feast, Darling & Co is slinging natural oysters for $1.50 each and oysters Kirkpatrick for $2 a pop. There's no minimums or conditions, although it's well-accepted advice that pairing oysters with something boozy is a given. All that's left is to mosey on down to Given Terrace from 4.30pm and settle in for your fair share of saltwater bivalve molluscs. After-work drinks? Dinner before you head out? This special caters for both options. Updated April 26.
Chair design might seem simplistic to the amateur eye but, in reality, there are hundreds of years of evolution and thought behind this everyday object. Paying homage to the humble piece of furniture, Germany's Vitra Design Museum has spent the past 20 years building up a collection of precise miniature replicas and has transformed it into a world-renowned touring exhibition. And for the very first time, it's touching down in Australia. Presented by Living Edge, Vitra 100 Miniatures features tiny versions of chairs created by legendary designers including Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier and Otto Wagner. These miniature versions are all presented precisely in 1:6 scale of chair designs from distinct periods in history — from art nouveau to Bauhaus, postmodernism and the trends of the present day. They also stay true to the originals in every conceivable way, including construction, materials and colour. Showcasing 100 classic examples, the exhibition illustrates the importance of the chair and how it has become a marker of progress within the wider field of industrial design. To complement the Vitra 100 Miniatures exhibition, there's also an impressive range of photographs, sketches and assorted documents that explore the importance of the medium. The exhibition is presented at St John's Cathedral from Friday, February 8 to Tuesday, February 26. It's open Monday to Friday between 9am–5pm and Saturday between 10am–4pm. For more information, visit Living Edge's website.
Making a powerhouse acting debut, Zain Al Rafeea carries the entire weight of Capharnaüm on his slender shoulders. Playing a young Lebanese boy also named Zain, the untrained talent puts in a raw, soulful performance that nearly bursts off of the screen, all while capturing a truth that is rarely uttered. With a weary expression where an impish smile should be, he conveys the toll of simply existing, a burden that nobody initially asks for. Indeed, when Zain is introduced in court, suing his parents for bringing him into a life of relentless hardship, Al Rafeea's exasperated face alone sells the character's existential angst. While Zain's unconventional lawsuit provides Capharnaüm's entry point, writer-director Nadine Labaki (Where Do We Go Now?) is quick to explore the basis for the 12-year-old's legal challenge. In his dismal Beirut home environment, his parents (Kawthar Al Haddad and Fadi Kamel Youssef) make him work to support the family, his baby sibling is kept in chains, and he witnesses his beloved younger sister (Cedra Izam) sold into marriage for a few chickens. More than that, his birth was never registered, so he can't get the necessary identifying paperwork to attend school or to even prove that he exists. Running away, he's soon caught in another difficult domestic situation — taken in by kindly Ethiopian immigrant Rahil (Yordanos Shiferaw), he cares for her infant son (Boluwatife Treasure Bankole) while she works, but is left stranded when she suddenly doesn't return. Scripting the film with four co-writers, Labaki puts the despairing yet resourceful Zain through even further misery — the type that'd be badged 'poverty porn' if it wasn't drawn from reality and told with such empathy. Those traits prove Capharnaüm's main strengths, aside from the highly sensitive work by the movie's non-professional actors. Much of the cast, including the mesmerising Al Rafeea and captivating toddler Bankole, have lived lives that hew much too close to the events seen on screen, while Labaki's commitment to bringing their plights to light shines through in her narrative. Ranging beyond the feel-good charm of Slumdog Millionaire and the tender reunion of Lion, Capharnaüm actively wants viewers not just to engage with its bleak story, but with the truth behind it. From crumbling shanties to overcrowded juvenile jails, this is a fictional tale wrought from the toughest type of real-life pain, and it's designed to feel that way from start to finish. The key word there is feel. Labaki wants audiences to be moved by her gritty, warts-and-all portrait — and given everything that Zain experiences, that's exactly what happens. Alas, although the actor-turned-filmmaker clearly recognises the potency of her material, she doesn't seem to trust it to get the job done alone. Every stylistic decision, from the lingering camerawork to the button-pushing score (by her husband and producer Khaled Mouzanar) to the lurching narrative structure, is calculated to poke and prod viewers. Every choice cajoles those watching not just to react with sympathy, but to respond harder and deeper, eventually to the point of overkill. There's a difference between stressing the point in an earnest and affecting way, wallowing gracefully to truly communicate the enormity of a character's struggle, and hitting people over the head. Bluntly bludgeon someone for long enough, and they might just stop feeling anything. As a result, even with a Cannes jury prize and an Academy Award nomination to its name, Carpharnaüm can't overcome its obvious contradictions. It knows that it's spinning a worthy tale, but isn't confident that anyone will care about the gruelling minutiae without applying force. It possesses two of the most authentic, endearing child performances committed to celluloid in recent times — on par with its thematic sibling, The Florida Project — and yet packages their naturalistic work with overtly manipulative storytelling. It argues that unthinkingly birthing kids into a downtrodden life is a heinous crime, while also championing a boy whose engaging persona and enduring resilience was forged through weathering immense difficulties. Although it's impossible to ignore these clashes, when Al Rafeea lights up the screen, he'll make you wish otherwise. Stirring but never self-assured enough to be subtle, Capharnaüm is a heartbreaking movie that stops well short of being a heartbreaking masterpiece. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBecbs52Fpo
It's been a year since Welcome to Bowen Hills first opened its doors, and the permanent food truck park is still offering new reasons to stop by. Late in 2018, it added both an onsite pizza joint and a whole heap of arcade games to the mix, and now it's combining the two — and beer as well — in the best possible way. From February 14, Thursdays are now Bottomless Pizza, Pale Ale and Pinnies night, delivering exactly what the name suggests. "I wish I could eat more slices", "geez, I could really go for another beer" and "I just don't want to stop hitting those flippers" aren't things that you'll be saying here. Yes, the main attractions are all endless. For $35, attendees will enjoy as much of Harry's Pizza's finest as they can handle — and the same applies for pale ales from the bar, and playing pinball, NBA, Pac-Man and the other games around the place. If that sounds like your ideal way to spend an evening, the fun runs from 7pm each week. Image: Adam Shaw.
Mid-September brings warmer weather, sunnier skies and the unmistakable feeling that spring has sprung, but it's not really an occasion. Of course, you can always make it one. An endless supply of beer and cider for two hours will definitely help, because if there's one thing that makes everyone feel merry, it's unlimited alcohol. You could show up at Welcome to Bowen Hills on any given weekend and some sort of party would be raging; however on Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23 you'll find a Bottomless Beer and Cider Party. For $49, attendees can enjoy free-flowing tipples while DJs spin tunes and everyone enjoys a happy weekend. Because you should never drink on an empty stomach, food is also included in the price, with everyone receiving 'truck bucks' to spend at the food truck of your choice. Mr Burger, Wild Rissole, Paco's Tacos and Sliced N' Loaded will be in residence, ready to whet your appetite as you get your fill of brews.
Once you've brought mountain pose to Mt Coot-tha, bridge pose to Kurilpa Bridge and balancing cat pose to Boggo Road Gaol, what comes next? Getting Brisbane's yoga lovers to unleash their flexibility on a tennis court, obviously. A space that's usually the domain of racquet-swinging players, the calm and tranquility that can only come from bending and stretching, and taking part in a silent disco yoga class inside Pat Rafter Arena all combine at Sound Off in the Arena, Urban Bliss Yoga's latest adventurous exercise outing. If you thought rooftop yoga, mountaintop yoga and bridge yoga were all exciting, then this yoga session will once again take you to another level. Doing tree pose in the middle of a tennis court is just the beginning Taking place on Sunday, October 7, yogis will step into the arena for this unique Sunday evening session, with all of the fun kicking off at 6pm. 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. Image: tripletrouble via Flickr.
