When I was a child my mother never allowed me to have too much chocolate or coffee. Since moving out of home, I have formed an adoring and somewhat crazed love affair with both of them and now my dream of chocolate and coffee coming together has become a reality, with Portside Wharf hosting the Merlo Coffee & Chocolate Affair. If Cadbury and Nescafé don’t satisfy you anymore then I’m sure you’ll find something there to tickle your fancy. Once you're on a sugar high or are just a little too wide awake then you should head on over to one of the classes being held there on the science of coffee and the secrets of how to make the perfect brew, which will be hosted by the owner of Merlo coffee, Dean Merlo. Chocoholics and Coffee addicts: ready your bibs and prepare your body for what is sure to be a sensation overload! Even those people who “claim” to not like chocolate or drink coffee will become devotees once they experience the pleasure of Brazilian roasted coffee beans or handmade Swiss chocolate. Even my own mother would become a fan! As Bach once said: “Ah! How sweet coffee tastes! Lovelier than a thousand kisses, sweeter far than muscatel wine! I must have my coffee”. I’m sure this could be applied to chocolate as well.
These days, warehouse parties seem to be not just ‘a’ thing but ‘the’ thing to do. Raging BYO gigs in non-descript buildings are suddenly the number one option for every approaching weekend, but the main dilemma with these social outings is picking the best from the rest and knowing you’re getting your bucks worth. Wait, what? The kings of awesome, party conceivers I Oh You, are coming to Brisbane? And they’re throwing a party? With Velociraptor (a party unto themselves) playing and the sweet Millions DJs and John Steel Singers DJs doing their thing? Well… this just became a one-man race. Hitting up the Contortionist Studios Warehouse on the 23 July, the boys from down south will be bringing their fabled party power to Brisbane, so it's time to cause a ruckus and make sure your pennies are being put to good use (no doubt on BYO alcohol).
No one ever talks about it, but everyone knows Brisbane has a longing desire to be a little bit more French - to have that je ne sais quoi, to be a little bit more tres chic, to speak in dulcet Parisian tones while eating baguette as a man plays the accordion across the cobblestone road. No one ever talks about it, but the evidence is there – all you have to do is walk into your standard Albion McMansion to find a spread of francais-inspired tiki-tack from Ici et La. Want a coffee? Sure, the café is in the garde-manger – sorry, pantry, woops – and you can find the lait in le réfrigérateur. Oh, you’re leaving now ? Bon voyage – woops, I mean, um, excusez moi – seeya later mate ! While a lot of us won’t have the chance to claim a French passport in our lifetime, we can still celebrate Bastille Day with our froggish friends. Enter the Brisbane French Festival. Taking place on South Bank’s Cultural Forecourt, the festival will see thirteen hours of authentic French food and fun, including: Le Defilé, Cirque du Nouvelle Caledonie, Le Trois Petit Cochons puppet show, and more. If you’re feeling a little out of place with your fellow antipodeans (oui, moi!) the French Festival is the one day of the year that you can be brought closer to the Parisian dream. Je t’aime, France!
The music scene in Brisbane needs changing – lately it seems like everyone’s just going to gigs just for the sake of getting extremely tanked and checking in to Woodland on Facebook. Sorry, what was that band you saw on Friday night? You can’t remember their name? For some reason I’m not surprised… Setting a precedent for change are three of Brisbane’s finest in post-rock: Nikko, Screens and Big Dead. To give a brief rundown – Nikko are one of Brisbane’s finest acts, having formed in 2005, developing and maintaining a strong presence in the Brisbane music scene. Having released their debut album The Warm Side in 2010, the group are currently working on a follow-up release. Screens are a five-piece that make ambient progressive post-rock soundscapes, complemented live by unique visuals controlled by an unseen sixth member. Big Dead have just finished independently recording their first EP titled A Very Short Story, a compilation of material created since their conception in 2008. Set in the iconic Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, this is an unmissable event for those who enjoy their music without a side of annoying non-punters furiously tapping their iPhone’s Places app.
I find band names to be strange sometimes. The images that are conjured in my head when I hear the name Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys is, well, strange at the very least. Originally hailing from Cairns, the original Bed Wetters made the big move to Sydney three years ago, screen printing t-shirts, pressing 7”s and practising from home, gaining speed (and a fourth member) along the way. Their DIY-rock sensibilities have placed them as support for the likes of Eddy Current Suppression Rung and The UV Race, as well as sharing the stage with Dinosaur Jr and Eat Skull in recent years. Melbourne’s Woollen Kits are three nice-looking dudes who play rock n’ roll in a The-Cribs-or-The-Vaselines-esque sense, but with a little extra punk thrown in. Both Woollen Kits and Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys have 7”-ers that they’re launching this Saturday at Woodland, and they’re being joined by Bristown’s own Blank Realm! Take a stroll down Coniston Lane for this Bed Wettin’ Woollen Realm combo – it’s only a solid fiver to get in.
Now in its twentieth year, the Brisbane Running Festival is no longer a teenager – it’s a bona fide adult in marathon circles. It’s no wonder the annual event has stood the test of time – there seems to be no suburb in Brisbane that doesn’t have its stock of runners that seem to go hard at any and all hours of the day, either in packs or as a lone soldier, sweating it out solo. The Brisbane Running Festival takes all those religious runners and all those other not-so-religious runners (i.e. me) and takes them to Riverstage. Then, they run! The length of which you run is totally up to you – if you’re a marathon noob, you’re probably best going for the two-kilometre beginner run. Then there’s the ten kilometre run for the slightly more agile, the half marathon for the serious, and finally – the 42.190km epic looping around the river and ending up in Milton. Do it for yourself or do it for the prizes involved – whatever the reason, the Brisbane Running Festival is an exciting event for all who participate.
Roll up, roll up! The circus is in town. With school (and uni) holidays fresh around the corner, Le Grand Cirque is returning to QPAC for another visual feast of dangerous, entertaining and comical performances with Adrenaline. Featuring a hand-picked cast of 35 extreme athletes from around the world, including Australia, Canada, China, Mexico, Poland, Spain, Ukraine, UK and USA, Adrenaline will be a rush of some of the most spectacular circus acts from around the globe. There’s no mucking around, these characters know their stuff! Don't be expecting to go along for a night of light hearted, easy on the eyes entertainment. There are no baby animals in this show. We’re talkin’ crazy carnies here! With daredevil motorbike riders, identical flexi twins, giant swings, fireballs and cannons, expect a lot of ohhhh-ing and ahhhhh-ing. Apparently fireballs get blasted into the audience, so I might suggest back row seating to avoid singed hair. Take your friends, take your family or just take yourself for a night away from the TV. Plus, with your ticket to the show you get free travel to and from the venue. This one’s on the crazy clowns. Don't miss it!
Uni holidays are great – it’s one week of sleep ins and pretending you don’t have a 4000 word essay due the Monday following. You might also be able to sneak in a bit of drunken debauchery in your busy anti-uni schedule, and the best time to fit in a sloshy soiree is at Oh Hello on a Thursday Night when Cobra Kai brings the ruckus. This week’s party is going to be their best one yet, with Velociraptor, Dune Rats and Gung Ho invading the main stage. Then there’ll also be the usual Passion Pop jugs, Cobra Kai Pale Ale and jam jar cocktails and slew of fun time pretty party people to get low with to a DJ set from DZ Deathrays. Though Thursdays are usually reserved for quality Operation Repo viewing while eating cheese in my uni best (read: whatever I went to sleep in), this Thursday I think I’ll amuse myself within the polka-dotted doors of Oh Hello. We at Concrete Playground think you should step away from the TV lair as well, and we’ll help you out by giving out a double pass to tonight’s Cobra Kai party. Go to our Facebook page for more details.
If spending two days feasting on loukoumades, souvlaki and haloumi was on your autumn agenda — enjoying Paniyiri's first full event since 2019, too — the weather comes bearing bad news. As everyone in Brisbane has noticed, it has been wet over the past week. Yes, again. And, due to the conditions, the city's beloved Greek festival is moving its dates until spring instead. Paniyiri was due to take place across Saturday, May 21–Sunday, May 22 at West End's Musgrave Park, making a proper comeback after two pandemic-interrupted years — with the 2020 event cancelled and the 2021 fest opting for a scaled-down and largely online format. But the soggy weather, including forecast rain right through until the fest's dates, has wreaked havoc. So, you'll now need to mark Saturday, October 15–Sunday, October 16 in your diary. "We are disappointed to have to make this decision, particularly for the community groups and charities who rely on Paniyiri as their major fundraiser; as well as all the vendors, sponsors, and the team behind the scenes and for all the people who were looking forward to coming to this, particularly given the last two years," said Paniyiri Organising Committee Chairman Chris Kazonis in a statement. "But the good news is, we will be back bigger and better than ever on October 15 and 16 at Musgrave Park, and we are encouraging everyone who has pre-purchased their tickets to hold onto them as they will be valid." "Unfortunately, this is the one element of an outside festival that we can't control. This decision was not made lightly and ultimately took into account patron, stallholder, talent, volunteers and staff safety given the current weather forecast," Kazonis continued. When it does return later in October, Brisbane's massive Greek fest will take over West End with quite the array of food, drink, partying and more. Yes, there's a reason that more than two million people have gone along over the years. Think: grapes to stomp, coffee to sip, olives to consume and plates to smash, plus TV stars to rub shoulders with and cooking demonstrations to watch. Food-wise, more than 20 stalls will serve up bites from 11 Greek regions, including an abundance of loukoumades, souvlaki, haloumi and barbecued calamari. If devouring as much as you can is your idea of fun, the festival's regular food contests usually keep stomachs satisfied. Then, to wash all of that down, there'll be Greek wine, Greek beer and Greek-inspired cocktails as well. Of course, it wouldn't be Paniyiri without entertainment. Dancing is always a big feature, all thanks to Greek Dancing with the Stars and the Hellenic dancers. In addition to celebrating all things Greek in Musgrave Park, Paniyiri also takes over The Greek Club — and given that it's now marking its first regular fest in more than two years, expect both venues to host one massive shindig when October rolls around. Paniyiri 2022 will now take place from Saturday, October 15–Sunday, October 16 at Musgrave Park and The Greek Club, Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane. For more information, head to the event's website.
We all know that feeling when you've spent most of your payslip in just one weekend and subsequently have to stretch those pennies till the next payday. Add savings goals into the mix and suddenly having a full and fun life seems tricky. But that doesn't mean you have to confine yourself to the house, cook every single meal and secretly use your boyfriend's mum's Netflix account. With the right know-how, you can treat yourself to life's little pleasures — and still make sure you're saving. That's why we've teamed up with Great Southern Bank. The bank offers a great range of clever tools that help you save, so you can keep chipping away at those long-term financial goals while still treating yourself to epic art exhibitions, indulgent spa days and leisurely afternoons on a boat. One of these handy tools is The Boost, which transfers a small amount of money (between $0.01 and $5) straight into your savings account each time you use your debit card. No matter the shape of your budget, though, you'll want to have a few fun activities up your sleeve. So, here are a few great Brisbane experiences that meet different spending criteria, so you can do the things you love without spending all your hard-earned dosh. [caption id="attachment_826332" align="alignnone" width="1920"] New Farm Park, Tourism and Events Queensland[/caption] FREE A picnic should be your go-to for good times on a tight budget. Whether you're after somewhere by the water (hello, New Farm Park) or need a central location like the newly-revamped Riverside Green at South Bank, you can't go wrong with an al fresco feast. While it's no picnic without snacks, the amount you bring is up to you (and your budget). Better yet, round up your mates and organise everyone to bring a plate, so you can have your cake and eat it, too. [caption id="attachment_823925" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Springfinity, curated by Haline Ly and banner artwork by Katie Benn. Brisbane City Council.[/caption] If you're more of an art lover, a stroll through the city with your head up and your eyes off your phone (weird, I know) will help you take in the epic public art displays. Peep celebrated contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama's work outside on George Street, check out a spring-themed outdoor exhibition, follow the Expo '88 art trail or spot one of the many street art murals from Brisbane Street Art Festival. Wander through the city streets and explore these gems on your own for free, or, if you have a bit of cash to spend, join the Museum of Brisbane's public art walking tours ($30–35). [caption id="attachment_807856" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lean Timms[/caption] $20 AND UNDER Hiring your own private boat to cruise down the river with your mates sounds like a budget-breaking afternoon out — but it doesn't have to be. A GoBoat is an electric-powered, self-driving picnic boat that fits eight people and costs just $119 for one hour (or $189 for two hours). Divide that sum by eight and you're paying as little as $15 each. You can even settle in for the long haul with a three-hour float if you're game (and the wallet allows). Plus, you can bring your own food and drinks on board to keep you fuelled. Who said budgets couldn't be bougie? Keen to get bendy on a rooftop? Of course you are. Not only is the tranquility — and fitness — well worth it, but the views are what will keep you coming back. Fortitude Valley's Cielo Rooftop is taking wellness to new heights with its sky-high yoga sessions. For sunrise yoga, you'll need to block out a Wednesday or Saturday morning from 6–7am. Sunset classes take place on Mondays and Wednesdays between 5.45pm–6.45pm. The best part? There are no contracts or memberships requiring you to repeatedly dish out your dough. Just book your spot for $20, rock up with your mat and get flowing. $50 AND UNDER You don't have to go hot air ballooning or jet skiing to get your thrills. Throwing an axe at a target can be just as exhilarating, plus it's a great way to let off some steam at the end of the work week. At Maniax, there are heaps of options to suit your budget (and your need to hurl axes). You can get a full hour of unlimited axe throwing for $45 per person, or head in on a Monday and get two for the price of one. When you're on a budget or trying to save, all-inclusive packages are your secret weapon. Yep, we're talking boozy brunches. And at Covent Garden, it means bottomless gin brunches every Sunday from 11am–3pm, where you can settle in for two hours of gin cocktails and a stacked grazing board for $49 and not a penny more. So, you know what? For the sake of your home ownership goals, we say treat yourself to brunch. [caption id="attachment_701807" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption] MAKE IT RAIN (WITHIN REASON) There are fewer simple pleasures in life than a good, hearty feed and a fine glass of vino. Does it mean you should blow hundreds of dollars on dinner every week? No — but you can still wine and dine without dipping into your savings on the reg. For a Greek feast with mates, head to riverside restaurant Greca and opt for its reasonable and oh-so-filling $60 Full Greek banquet. Keen for a lunchtime treat? Grab a table at the incredibly chic Bisou Bisou where two-course lunches are dished up for $48 every Monday to Friday. It's been a pretty wild ride these last 18 months. So, you deserve a spa day. We're not saying pamper yourself silly every time you feel like it, but sometimes a little self care is just what the doctor ordered. If you've squirrelled away some spare coin (that is not in your savings account), then book yourself in for a massage, facial, body scrub or manicure this season. We recommend a trip to Kailo Wellness Medispa in The Valley for maximum chill vibes, otherwise check out our list of luxe day spas in Brisbane for a well-deserved treatment. Great Southern Bank is empowering Aussies to get clever with their banking. Whether you want to stick to your savings goals with The Boost or hide your house deposit fund from yourself with The Vault, Great Southern Bank helps you get there. For more information on savings tools and home loan options, head to the Great Southern Bank website. Top image: GoBoat, Lean Timms
If you've ever wondered what it would be like to have a close encounter with a real-life dinosaur, Hartley's Crocodile Adventures is about as close as you can get. Located between Cairns and Port Douglas at Wangetti, this eco-certified tourism operator has plenty of thrilling crocodile action that'll get your heart racing. For $43, your park pass includes a cruise with crocs at the on-site lagoon, access to the daily wildlife presentations such as crocodile feedings, snake shows and the nail-biting crocodile attack show. Plus, if one dinosaur-like creature isn't enough, you can also check out the cassowary feeding. Or, if you want keep things cuddly, make sure you stop by the koala talk.
If you've been daydreaming about tropical islands since seeing Leonardo Di Caprio in the 2000 film The Beach, it's high time to let the Mission Beach Water Taxi bring your dreams to life. Not only will you get to visit some of the islands in the Family Islands National Park, but also get to do it while visiting the Great Barrier Reef. To experience these incredible islands in Tropical North Queensland, jump aboard the Mission Beach Water Taxi's Three Island Tour. You'll spend the afternoon island hopping and learning about the history of the area before stopping for an afternoon swim at a secret beach. And, if one afternoon at the islands isn't enough, consider a luxe stay at Bedarra Island or get even closer to nature with an overnight camp at Dunk Island. And if you're wondering how you'll make your way back to the mainland the next day, the Water Taxi has your back.
After almost two years at Eagle Street Pier, Naga Thai has shut its doors, with the riverside precinct about to be torn down to make way for a new $2.1-billion development. But the team behind it can't get enough of that part of the CBD — or the waterfront — with Andrew and Jaimee Baturo, plus head chef Suwisa Phoonsang, moving over to Riparian Plaza for their latest venture. Set to open in early September, nestled into the mezzanine level between Madam Wu and River Bar, Tillerman will focus on seafood — and pair the ocean's finest, river views and a relaxed holiday-style vibe. "It's been designed for the warm Queensland climate and will make you want to stay all day," says Andrew Baturo, who also has Libertine, Walter's Steakhouse, Popolo and The Gresham on his resume. "Opportunities right on the river don't come along every day and we think Tillerman is one of the best locations in Australia for a seafood restaurant. We can't wait to serve up fabulous food, drinks and service complemented by Brisbane's riverfront as the stunning backdrop," he continued. Phoonsang will whip up a menu that's guided by fresh, premium seafood, rather than a particular cuisine or culture — but the culinary range will take inspiration from the best dishes found around the world. While the full lineup hasn't yet been unveiled, options will include salt cod croquettes, hand-picked Queensland mud crab with crab butter and chives, and salt-baked Murray cod. Among the non-seafood selection, wagyu flank, chicken roulade with mushroom duxelles and seasonal vegetable tarte tatin will feature, as well as salads and sides. And as for what you'll be sipping, the drinks menu will feature champagne and cocktails — which are suggested sips for taking in the view and the surrounding lights — plus other tipples. Design-wise, Brisbane's Hogg & Lamb are taking cues from travel, which'll shine through in the heavy use of spotted gum and botanical prints, as well as the sand-hued leather cushions. Wherever you're sat, you'll score a river vista, with both high and low tables, banquettes and mini booths on offer. Find Tillerman on the mezzanine level inside Riparian Plaza, 71 Eagle Street, Brisbane, from early September — open from 12–2.30pm Tuesday–Saturday for lunch, and 5–9pm Tuesday–Thursday and 5–10pm Friday–Saturday for dinner. We'll update you with an exact opening date when one is announced.
Ever been to a comedy fest, hopped between amusing folks tickling your funny bone, and wished you could also catch some live tunes in the middle? Or, maybe you've done the reverse — spent a day seeing band after band, but felt like giggling and guffawing to break up the music? Either way, Brisbane festival Super Fun Day wants to get you dancing as well as laughing, combining comedy and music on the same bill. The event debuted in 2022, enjoying its first-ever outing in March at Eatons Hill Hotel across two stages, both indoors and outside. And, it had such a good time of it, it's making the shindig an annual event. [caption id="attachment_879216" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tonje Thilesen[/caption] Mark Saturday, March 18, 2023 in your diary and get ready to enjoy a heap of talent — including headliners Dune Rats and Patti Harrison. Brisbane's own Dunies will top the music bill, heading home during a European tour to do the honours. As for Harrison, she'll make her Australian premiere on the comedy lineup, hitting the stage after appearing in The Lost City, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, A Simple Favour, High Maintenance and Search Party, and writing for I Think You Should Leave and Big Mouth. Also taking to the stage: FIDLAR, Ruby Fields, Pale Waves, Beach Bunny, Ocean Grove and The Reytons. More acts are set to be announced closer to the fest and, if it brings back everything from last year, you'll be able to play giant games while you're there, too, including Jenga, Connect Four and Noughts and Crosses. SUPER FUN DAY 2023 LINEUP: Dune Rats FIDLAR Ruby Fields Pale Waves Beach Bunny Ocean Grove Patti Harrison The Reytons Dan Rath Danielle Walker Frenchy & The Talent Hevenshe Hot Department John Cruckshank Juno Late November The Moving Stills Karaoke with Shaggy Knees Super Fun Day 2023 takes place on Saturday, March 18 at Eatons Hill Outdoors and Ballroom, 646 S Pine Road, Eatons Hill. Ticket pre-sales start at 9am local time on Friday, November 25, with general sales from 9am local time on Tuesday, November 29.
Spring might be in full swing across southeast Queensland, but a patch of the Scenic Rim is already thinking about autumn — and about beaming with gold. When summer ends, orange, red, brown and yellowing leaves usually take over, other than at Kalbar Sunflowers. Sat just over an hour outside of Brisbane, the farm couldn't be more vibrant when its blooms are blossoming, so much so that it puts on the Kalbar Sunflower Festival to celebrate. In 2024, the much-loved and obviously stunning-to-look-at event will return for three days from Friday, April 19–Sunday, April 21. Tickets aren't on sale as yet, but you'll want to nab one ASAP when they drop in February or March — this fest is unsurprisingly popular and sells out, with more than 12,000 people attending annually. If you're lucky enough to score entry, expect to spot sunflowers as far as the eye can see at the Jenner family farm. In its early years, more than 200,000 of the vibrant blooms reached up to the sky, which is a hefty number. In 2023, over a million sunflowers were planted across 24 acres — and the same number will bloom in 2024. All those golden petals also help the fest play host to a highlight to get lost in, literally: a four-acre sunflower maze. Next year's Kalbar Sunflower Festival won't just be gorgeous to look at and frolic through. It'll also support a supremely worthy cause. To pay tribute to her husband Russell, who battled oesophageal cancer for 18 months and passed away in July, the event's organiser Jenny Jenner is aiming to raise $100,000 for cancer research and care at the Mater. With picking sunflowers a huge part of the event, every sunflower sold during the festival will also see $1.50 go to the hospital and its Cancer Care Centres in South Brisbane and Springfield. While the fest's 2024 program hasn't been released as yet, it will include yoga sessions among the sunflowers, and also see sound-healing meditation classes among the blooms make their debut. Photo sessions will be back, of course, taking Kalbar's sea of gold to social media feeds. As always as well, the farm makes one helluva picnic spot. In past years, the event has included painting classes — yes, so attendees could channel their inner Vincent van Gogh and paint sunflowers — plus helicopter rides over the field, sunflower crafting, cooking demonstrations and classes, photography classes, a sunset soirée, champagne lunches and food trucks. The Kalbar Sunflower Festival came about after Russell and Jenny changed direction during Queensland's ongoing drought conditions. Previously, they farmed lucerne but, with water levels low, they opted to switch to a crop that doesn't require as much H2O. And, with all those sunflowers then looking rather striking, the couple was keen to let everyone else enjoy their golden petals. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kalbar Sunflowers (@kalbarsunflowers) The Kalbar Sunflower Festival 2024 will take place from Friday, April 19–Sunday, April 21 at Kalbar in Queensland's Scenic Rim. For further information, and to keep an eye out for tickets when they go on sale in February or March, head to the event's website.
I knew Simon Kean Hammerson’s name was a familiar one. When Googling his name for information on his upcoming exhibition, I happened upon a bunch of links for The Greens political party. At first glance it seems strange that an artistic photographer leads a double life in politics and the environment (and vice versa) but upon reading further, it becomes obvious; Hammerson’s passion for the environment shows in his work – with a mastered sense of light, colour and space, his photographs exhibit a certain appreciation for the subtleties of the form and shape in a landscape. In particular, Hammerson has a keen interest in the impact of time and climate on nature and man-made objects, and the beauty and emotion that is created when the two forms are introduced. Showing at the Alliance Francaise de Brisbane is Back Roads, a body of Hammerson’s work that best showcases his ability to capture the natural world through the lens of a camera. Image credit: Simon Kean Hammerson
If you’re into alternative indie rock you’re probably overwhelmed by the ridiculous amount of kids starting hip little indie bands, playing at every venue you love, almost every single night. This might be great for you, but for someone like me, who doesn’t really love the whole scene, it’s just another annoying bunch of pigeon-toed, curly haired dudes wasting my time and the lifespan of my probably already damaged hearing. But since I’m usually quite critical, it’s always for very good reason when you don’t find me viciously patronising a band. I have only recently heard of Gold Fields but when I did hear them, they blew my mind. No wonder they’ve just done a big tour in the States, they’re definitely aesthetically pleasing. They really have talent and a unique flare. They’re back from America and if an emo like me loves them, I can only expect that the more open-minded of you will go nuts for this show.
The Good Food and Wine Show. They don't dress it up, but they damn well should. I'll readily admit I love my food. I live to eat and not the other way around, and can definitely say I like the good food this show promises. In 2011, Brisbane will host world-class chefs, cooks, food lovers and wine connoisseurs for a three day feast. Manu Feildel, Tobie Puttock and Alastair McLeod will be showing attendees their mad skillz, but what's most exciting is the presence of Ainsley Harriott. You know, the guy who seems happier and more enthused than even our own Huey when he's cooking? The only thing missing is Nigella Lawson, but she's attended before. The Masterchef stars George and Gary will also be there to entice your tastebuds and make you wish you were 8 years old again to make it into Junior Masterchef (screw doing the adult version). If the following list is any indication of the absolute chaos and greatness of this show, then you actually really need to come and check it all out: there's a Fisher & Paykel Celebrity Theatre; the Riedel Decanter Bar for winos; cheese, wine, pasta, Woolworths, Sunbeam, and cocktail classes; coffee tips and chef book signings. Phew. Make sure you take full advantage of a ticket and check out the Good Food and Wine Show. They really should change that name.
Mixed media, multimedia, new media, cross-disciplinary art – there’s a lot of words to describe art that is made outside of the ‘traditional’ domain of drawing, sculpture and paint. You know one local artist that isn’t using one of those terms (or made one up herself)? Madeleine Kelly. Originally studying Science/Philosophy/Psychology at the University of Queensland, Kelly is now an oil painter by trade, part of the Queensland College of Art staff and a current PhD student. Her works are inspired by the world around her, conveying mans relationship to nature – more specifically, its relationship to the burning of fossil fuels. The pieces Kelly creates are strong and vibrant with an ephemeral feel. Kelly’s latest exhibition, Hollow Mark, will be exhibited at Kelly’s stomping grounds of the Queensland College of Art Gallery from this Friday until mid-November. If you’re looking for a little less genre-mashup headache and a little more single-layer imagery, stroll down to the better part of South Bank this Friday night.
Remember Ted's band from Scrubs? They sing in hilarious harmonies and mostly do a cappella versions of cartoon theme songs? Well they're not just a cute melodic group working from different departments of the Sacred Heart Scrubs hospital. They are actually a real band and they are on their way to Brisbane for a huge Australian tour. You may remember their remdidtions of Superman (the Scrubs theme song) Hey Ya, Charles in Charge, or their more recent radio covers of Katy Perry, Cee Lo Green and Rihanna? If you don't, seriously Youtube those last ones. The Blanks, more commonly known to the world as Ted's band, are more than just the character quartet of friends who sing cute, quirky covers to lighten the ill hospital mood. After eight years on Scrubs and over seven million youtube hits, The Blanks arrive in Australia for a show like no other, and everyone is getting excited. It will almost be like a live episode of Glee, except replace the teenage sexual tension and poppy dances with a group of middle aged men (all looking like dorky dads) bopping and chanting 'til they run out of breath. Take it from Ted, do not miss this a cappella madness!
It's a tough break being an artist these days. Turning creative ideals into tangible art is a dream that for most is hard enough before getting money, exposure and galleries involved. Becoming an artist is a dream that for most is a long, hard, exhausting journey. That's why, every now and then, we need to step back and appreciate how difficult it must be to flourish as an artist. Cameron Eaton, successful Brisbane draftsman has taken a break from his day job to create art inspired by the built environment. By day he's at the helm of Eaton Industrial Imaging producing 3D CAD modelling for the construction industry. By night he creates inspiring art for the community to enjoy. ‘Sum Random’ is his first solo exhibition and as the title suggests the series is symbolic for Eaton's beginning of a new journey as an artist. Someone fresh, unknown and ambitious. Next time you pass by Lust for Life Tattoo be sure to check out Sum Random and enjoy the creative work of a local Brisbane artist.
Mary Poppins was one of my favourite childhood films. I was lucky enough to get my hands on my very own copy on VCR (recorded from television of course) so I could watch it whenever I wanted to: frequently. Combine this with a love of stage musicals and I am one very happy lady because at QPAC this summer, we have the privilege of jumping feet first into a footpath chalk drawing of wonderful characters, originally created by P. L. Travers in the 1930s around a magical nanny who was blown by the East wind to No. 17 Cherry Tree Lane. The musical version of the story has been created by Disney as something of a mix between what we all remember from the film, and the broader storyline traversed in the series of eight books. It will contain all of your favourites, including Chim Chim Cher-ee, A Spoonful of Sugar, Feed the Birds, Jolly Holiday and of course Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Recognising the potential of creative youth is very important to the future of Brisbane and what better time than National Youth Week to shine light on this much needed support. In a week where Brisbane has experienced the loss of arts support, it's time to appreciate and enjoy what creative opportunities remain. Visible Ink is a Brisbane City Council program that offers free spaces, support, resources and opportunities for young people to be an active part of life in Brisbane city. Chances are if you're under 25 and have ever needed free printing, free internet or assistance with anything even remotely creative, then you would have visited the space. They also have a zine library and performance/band practice spaces and internet. Oh and did I mention all of this is free? Free is a word that don't hear often enough in the arts. To add to the long list of things Visible Ink do to support young people defining Brisbane, they have curated the launch of National Youth Week, featuring more than 20 bands, performances and artists over three stages and pop up spaces. Organised by the young people, for the young people, this free event will showcase the best talent in Brisbane. Even if you're over 25, come support the youngsters striving to create something good for Brisbane. Everyone is young at heart. Find timetables and performance times here.
At the start of this year I fell in with a new crowd – that of the musically inclined - and so far it seems like their sole mission of the friendship is to educate me in the world of electronic beats and take me on excursions to see their favourite artists. One such excursion has been the sole discussion and cause of excitement for the group since it was announced a couple of months ago – the Daedelus show. Brought to Australia by Silo Arts and Mistletone, the Daedelus tour has been a long time coming and as such the vibe by my friends – and all electronic music lovers - is fairly euphoric. The Los Angeles artist is famed for his all-encompassing talent as a producer, an instrumentalist and a beat maker, making his live shows something to put on your bucket list (apparently). His latest album Bespoke was full of signature genre defying compositions, which he is sure to showcase on the night along with other select danceable tunes from his discography. Supporting him are two local producers who are both fast rising in the Brisbane electronic scene - Outerwaves will be launching his EP Cosmic Triggers, whilst Tincture will be showcasing new tracks throughout his set. Also performing on the night are Dank Morass DJs, and a joint set between Dot.AY and Rubijaq. If you’re anything like my friends, then I’m sure you already have tickets for this masterful gig. And if you’re more like me, then perhaps you need to find a new musical crowd to educate you as well.
The word 'slut' gets thrown around in conversation far too frequently, but it still manages to pack a punch. How many times has a person's appearance led us to assume how they think or what they got up to on Saturday night? This is exactly what SlutWalkers are trying to stamp out. People from all backgrounds are invited to participate in the Brisbane SlutWalk to promote the belief that a woman's appearance and her dress choice should not be an excuse for rape, assault or being branded a 'slut'. The first SlutWalk took place last year in Toronto as a response to the statement, “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimised” made by a police representative at a university safety conference. Since then, rallies have taken place in cities across the world to banish slut-shaming. The speakers on the day include Fiona Patten and Rory Killen from The Australian Sex Party and speakers from sex worker's rights organisation Respect and Brisbane Rape and Incest Survivor Centre. There'll be an an after party from 5pm at the Spring Hill Hotel featuring performances from spoken word performance artist Kiera White, Sweetcheeks Burlesque, lingerie fashion parade from Miss Em's boutique and Brisbane feminist girl group, Gunk. Image Credit: Here
Hosting a city-wide arts festival during a pandemic is no small feat, but that's exactly what Brisbane Festival is doing in 2020. Returning in its usual September slot to shower Brissie in culture for three weeks, this year's fest isn't ignoring the obvious, though. If you've been peering at the heavens during lockdown, playing tourist in your own town once restrictions started easing and just generally making the most of your own backyard over the past seven months, prepare to keep doing the same, Bris Fest-style. When the festival takes over Brissie from Friday, September 4–Saturday, September 26, it definitely wants the city's residents to look up — at super-sized installations. The first, designed by audiovisual artist Robin Fox, combines lasers, lights and sounds in a huge onslaught of brightness and colour called Night Sky. Able to be seen from hundreds of spots around the city, it'll dazzle on Friday and Saturday evenings. And, it appears to replace the fest's usual Riverfire fireworks display — which was the source of controversy in 2019, when the fest's Fire Gardens centrepiece was cancelled due to a bushfire-induced total fire ban. Then, there's Messengers of Brisbane. We hope you like giant Gouldian finches, because six of them will take up residence in the Brisbane CBD and South Bank, atop the Goodwill Bridge, and at QPAC, Queensland Museum and Brisbane Powerhouse. This is the latest large-scale art work by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, who is known for placing oversized animals in iconic spots. If you've seen footage of his massive inflatable Rubber Duck sculpture, then you'll know why you should be getting excited. Hofman's inclusion on the 2020 Bris Fest program stands out for another reason — his is one of the very few projects on the bill from an international creative. Usually when the festival rolls around, it does so with a hefty lineup of overseas shows and performers; however, this year's event will feature more than 700 homegrown artists across 490 shows and 91 events. It'll also include 28 new works that have been specifically commissioned for Brisbane Festival, so Brisbanites will be seeing brand new locally made productions. Plus, 73 of the fest's shows will be free to attend. From the first Bris Fest under new artistic director Louise Bezzina (ex-Bleach* Festival), highlights include kicking off with Jumoo, a city-wide smoking ceremony that pays respects to Brisbane's First Nations peoples; unveiling Circa's latest blend of acrobatics and dance, called Leviathan; and unleashing the powerful Silence, Karul Projects' dance work about the conversations that aren't being had with Indigenous Australians. The festival will also play host to Throttle, which turns a performance into a live-action drive-in horror movie — all while attendees remains seated in their cars. [caption id="attachment_777815" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Art-Work Agency[/caption] A considerable portion of the 2020 Bris Fest program is designed to spread the love far and wide audience-wise, too, with the festival having a presence in 190 Brisbane suburbs. That includes hosting 24 gigs in different Brissie spots as part of the Street Serenades series; flash mob-style dancing in the street with All You Need is Love; and puppets and cheer squads taking over local bikeways and walking paths at Exercise Surprises. Also on offer as part of this year's fest: Embassy, which pays tribute to the Aboriginal Tent Embassy first assembled in 1972; smartphone-based mass game and social experiment Avoidable Perils; a huge black-and-white fancy dress party for Megan Washington's latest album Batflowers; a gig by Brissie legends Custard; and a time-capsule artwork about life under lockdown called Snapshot. And, over at West Village, Hiromi Tango's installations Brainbow Magic and Rainbow Circles (Healing Circles) will provide a burst of fluorescence, as well as glowing rainbow arches. Brisbane Festival will run from Friday, September 4—Saturday, September 26 — for the full program, and to buy tickets, head to the festival's website.
With COVID-19 cases numbers continuing to rise in both Victoria and New South Wales — with Melbourne just over two weeks into its second lockdown and three Sydney local government areas identified as hotspots by the Queensland Government — the Sunshine State has tightened some restrictions for licensed venues in an effort to maintain social distancing. In an announcement made on Friday, July 24, Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said that patrons will now need to stay seated while eating and drinking in pubs, clubs, hotels and nightclubs — a return to the previous rule that was in effect until the beginning of July. "For the last three weeks, patrons have been allowed to stand, although we've still asked them to maintain the one person per four square metres," Dr Young first noted, then explained that the government now needs "to send a very, very clear signal out there to everyone" about adhering to social distancing. "So I do ask that everyone, when you go into a facility, that you take a seat — because that reminds you to keep your distance from other people." In effect immediately, the compulsory restriction still enables folks to go to the bar to buy a drink, order food, and collect both meals and beverages; however you'll then need to take your drink and/or food back to your seat, whether at your table or to your chair along the bar, before you tuck in. And, while you're sitting and either knocking back your beverage of choice, eating a meal or both, the existing density rules (one person per two square metres for smaller venues below 200 square metres, one person per four square metres otherwise) still apply. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1286539042515951616 "We have seen what has happened in Victoria and NSW with just a few cases. We really need to be prepared for if we get a case in Queensland, so that we can manage it," Dr Young advised. As at midday on Saturday, July 25, Queensland has five active cases of COVID-19, from a total of 1076 since the pandemic began. The new restrictions for Queensland pubs, clubs and hotels are now in effect. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in the state, head to the Queensland Government website. Top image: Atlanta Bell
If you're a Sydneysider with a trip to Queensland in your future — or vice versa — the pandemic might've just interrupted your plans. With two new locally acquired COVID-19 cases identified in the New South Wales capital in the past two days, and the Greater Sydney region reinstating some gathering restrictions and an indoor mask mandate, the Sunshine State has announced new border rules. It isn't shutting its borders, but it does now require travellers who've visited an exposure site to undertake 14 days of quarantine. The change was announced today, Thursday, May 6, and has two components. Anyone who is currently in Queensland, or arrives in the state before 1am tomorrow, Friday, May 7, is required to quarantine at their home or accommodation, call the state's 13 HEALTH number (13 43 25 84) and get a COVID-19 test. Folks who arrive after that time won't have the same luxury, though; instead, they'll be sent to mandatory hotel quarantine for 14 days once they enter Queensland. The latter process — sending people who've visited a declared interstate exposure site into compulsory hotel quarantine for a fortnight — is part of Queensland's new Interstate Exposure Venues Direction. It came into effect on April 28, and applies moving forward. So, whenever an outbreak occurs somewhere other than Queensland, anyone who has visited declared exposure venues and then heads to the Sunshine State will be sent to mandatory hotel quarantine. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1390171507226136579 The list of exposure sites was first announced by NSW Health yesterday, Wednesday, May 5, and has been growing since. Queensland Health has also been keeping a list, if you're a Brisbanite who has spent some time in Sydney lately, or you're a Sydneysider keen to head north in the near future. Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young also advised that anyone who has been in Greater Sydney on or after Tuesday, April 27 "should be monitoring closely for symptoms and getting tested immediately if they experience COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild." And, if you need a reminder, the symptoms to look out for are coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste. For more information about southeast Queensland's COVID-19 border requirements, or about the status of COVID-19 in the state, visit the Qld COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
Brisbanites, if you've recently been to the international airport, keeping a close eye on your health and getting tested if the slightest COVID-19 symptoms arise could be in your future. Today, Friday, April 30, Queensland Health has issued advice relating to a new coronavirus case in the community — with a passenger from from Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea breaching the Brisbane International Airport's green zone for overseas departures, and subsequently testing positive. The breach occurred on Thursday, April 29, with anyone who was in the terminal between 9.45am–12pm that day requested to monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if you feel unwell. The man and his travel partner spent just over two hours in the green departure zone — including at Hudson Cafe — rather than in the red zone that's for travellers from higher-risk countries. Given that Australians can only travel to New Zealand at present under green zone arrangements — as part of the trans-Tasman bubble — just three flights between Brisbane and NZ yesterday morning are affected: Air New Zealand NZ202 from Brisbane to Christchurch, Air New Zealand NZ146 from Brisbane to Auckland and Qantas QF135 from Brisbane to Christchurch. Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young has declared the international terminal a venue of concern, though, but also advised that testing is being undertaken to ascertain whether the positive case was a historical rather than currently active case. Airport staff that came into contact with the man have been placed into quarantine. https://twitter.com/qldhealthnews/status/1387931447877521415 This isn't the first time that a case in an airport has prompted such warnings, but it is the first in Brisbane — after Melbourne Airport was linked to a case in February and another this month. As always, the usual advice regarding COVID-19 applies anyway. So, requests regarding social distancing, hygiene and getting tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible COVID-19 symptoms in general are still in effect, as they have since March 2020. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the Queensland COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. Top image: Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons.
Among the many strategies in place to help combat the spread of COVID-19, tracking and tracing the contacts of confirmed cases ranks alongside hand hygiene and social distancing as one of the most important. As a result, Queensland hospitality venues have been asked to keep a record of their patrons over the past year, all to assist with contract-tracing efforts. By now, you well and truly know the drill, because we've all spent months checking in via QR codes whenever we head out for a meal, drink or movie. From Saturday, May 1, the current system is changing. You'll still need to check in by scanning a QR code — that requirement isn't going anywhere anytime soon — but you'll need to do so via the Queensland Government's check-in app. It's becoming mandatory for hospitality venues, which means Queenslanders will need to have it on their phones to register their details upon arriving at restaurants, bars, pubs, cafes and other businesses in the industry. Called Check In Qld and available to download via Google Play and Apple's App Store, the app was launched back in February. Accordingly, you might've already been to a venue that's using it, and you could already be using it yourself. But it's only now becoming compulsory for hospitality venues, rather than using other electronic methods to collect customer information such as online forms, membership card scanners, online booking systems and a digital spreadsheet. [caption id="attachment_711273" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Atlanta Bell[/caption] The app collects your full name, phone number and email address, as well as the date and time that you're visiting a venue. It then stores that information for 56 days for contact-tracing purposes. If you don't want to use it, or you don't have a phone, you'll need to speak with venue staff upon arrival — as they're still required to record your details. Folks with the app can check in other people, too, so you can get your friends and family to do just that if you're with them but don't have the app yourself. When the compulsory use of the app for hospitality businesses was announced at the end of March — during Brisbane's most recent lockdown — Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said that the decision stemmed from the links between a number of recent cases and hospitality venues. "We've seen dozens of restaurants and cafes added to our list of COVID-19 contact tracing locations, including as locations for close contacts," she said. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the Queensland COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. Further details about the Check In Qld app can be found on the state's COVID-19 hub as well.
If you've ever set up a screen or TV within viewing distance of a backyard pool so that you could watch a film while you splash around, congrats: you've brought the joy that is dive-in movies to your own patch of turf. And if you haven't, but you want to now, you're in luck. Obviously, you could still go the DIY route — or, if you'd like to sit in a hot tub in your own yard and check out a flick, you can hit up a new service called Tubflix. Founded in September 2020 by Mazviita Foto following the first round of COVID-19 restrictions, the mobile cinema experience is as straightforward as it sounds. Book in a session, and Tubflix will bring everything you need to your backyard — tub, screen and movie included. Also part of the service: a costumed usher, who'll greet guests at your doors, ask for tickets, then escort them to the cinema space. So, if you'd like to hop in a warm pool of water with your nearest and dearest and watch a movie under the stars — and not have to venture far to do so, or go to the hassle of working out what equipment you need — now you can. Hot tub cinema packages start at $385 for one tub that can accommodate up to six people, and you'll get it overnight. It'll also be dropped off the day prior, so that the tub can heat up, and picked up the day aftewards. The projector, screen and sound system are included in the price, and so are flameless candles, lanterns and fairy lights, should you want some mood lighting. If you're keen on levelling up the experience, platters, champagne, soft drink and snacks are also available. Fancy hiring a bartender to serve drinks or whip up cocktails? You can do that as well. And, in the future, private bar hire, catering, and chefs cooking teppanyaki and Italian food will also be on offer. Movie-wise, Tubflix lets you pick from watery options such as The Notebook and Palm Springs, as well as other flicks like Casablanca, Emma, Mulan, Onward and Bad Boys for Life. At the moment, neither Hot Tub Time Machine nor its sequel are on the lineup, though. Or, you can connect to the internet and pick a movie from your chosen streaming service. And, you can turn the whole experience into a special date night thanks to Tubflix's package for just that (think: flowers in the tub, and a live musician) or take a group painting class before your movie. Tubflix operates in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast. For more information, head to the service's website.
On December 8, 1975, Brisbane history was made. That's when community radio station 4ZZZ transmitted its first broadcast, and the independent and alternative media outlet has been doing its thing on the city's airwaves ever since. Yes, it has now clocked up a whopping 45 years, in fact. That a big milestone. And, obviously, it's one worth celebrating. 4ZZZ itself is marking the occasion, of course, including via a big week of programming from Friday, December 4 — but it is also getting a big cheers from Young Henrys as well. They Sydney-based brewery is throwing some love up north via its new limited-edition H4ZZZY West Coast IPA, which is only available in southeast Queensland. Brisbanites can find the brew on tap in select venues around town, and also in long necks at some bottle shops, but only for a short period. Drinking a brew that pays tribute to a Brissie icon is all well and good. It's particularly great, in fact. But Young Henrys' H4ZZZY is going one step further — with the brewery donating 50 percent of the proceeds from the beer to 4ZZZ. Yes, having a sip means that you'll be helping support the community station, and helping to keep it on the air for decades to come. [caption id="attachment_793010" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] 4ZZZ. Image: John Robert McPherson via Wikimedia Commons[/caption] Young Henrys' H4ZZZY West Coast IPA is available in select bottle shops and venues across southeast Queensland.
Global ice cream company Ben & Jerry's is best-known for its chunk-filled scoops and bizarre flavour titles like Schweddy Balls and Dave Matthews Band. After releasing an over-the-top creation for both ice cream and burger lovers earlier in the year, the brand has now unveiled its latest frankencreation in its Fast Food Series. The Dough-licious Pizza is the ice cream-pizza hybrid that no-one asked for. Available by both the slice and as a whole pizza, the creation features a baked base made from Ben & Jerry's cookie dough and comes filled with a layer of the brand's chocolate chip cookie dough or chocolate fudge brownie ice cream. From there, you get the choice of two toppings — from chunky cookie dough pieces to brownie chunks, crunchy nuts and chocolate-dipped pretzels — plus a drizzle of either hot fudge or caramel sauce. Of course, hardcore ice cream lovers can push the boat out and select all of the above. The pizza is the second in a series of crossbreed creations from Ben & Jerry's inspired by Australia's favourite fast foods. The Impossible To Eat Burger was described as "the messiest ice cream ever". The 'Dough-licious Pizza' is available for a limited time at Ben & Jerry's shops and Scoop Stores across the ACT, NSW, Qld, Vic and WA. It's also available to order on Uber Eats.
While face masks were first mandated in Melbourne back in mid-July, the Queensland Government has only ever encouraged its citizens to cover up, rather than making face coverings compulsory. From 6pm tonight, Friday, January 8, however, that's all changing. In a bid to contain the latest coronavirus outbreak, which currently only includes one hotel quarantine worker — but involves the new, more contagious UK strain of COVID-19 — the Queensland Government is mandating the wearing of masks across Greater Brisbane. That spans the Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands local government areas, running from 6pm on Friday, January 8 until 6pm on Monday, January 11. The move is being implemented in tandem with a three-day lockdown in the same areas, with Brisbanites required to don a mask everywhere in those areas for the three days other than if you're inside your own home. https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1347309459891109888 "If you are leaving home, you are leaving your place of residence, from 6pm Friday to 6pm Monday, and you will living in those council areas — again, let me say them: Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands – you must wear a mask," said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at her daily press conference today, Friday, January 8. Children aged 12 years and under and people affected by a medical condition are exempt from the mask rule, and you're also allowed to temporarily remove your mask for eating and drinking, and if it's necessary for your job. The Queensland Health website notes that "compliance measures will be in place" regarding masks, but how much folks will be fined for non-compliance isn't listed. With a lockdown in effect during the same period, and the Greater Brisbane region returning to the rules in place during March's lockdown, that means you're only allowed to leave the house — wearing a mask, of course — for four reasons. So, you can only head out for work or education if you can't do that at home, for essential shopping, for exercise in your local area, and for health care or to provide support for a vulnerable person. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. More details about the lockdown, masks and associated restrictions can also be found on the Queensland Health website.
Brisbanites have't been able to travel far during the pandemic, but domestic flight sales have been doing big business. When Jetstar launched a heap of cheap options last year, it sold 70,000 seats in just five hours. When Alliance Airlines offered $99 trips from Brissie to the Whitsundays, it understandably received plenty of interest, too. The list goes on — because we've all been exploring our own backyards and taking whatever getaways we can get. International holidays will be back on the cards from November; however, if you're a Brisbanite still eager to head north for a getaway in the next few months (to salvage what's left of 2021, perhaps), it's now Virgin Australia's turn to help your vacation plans. The airline is holding a sale on flights from Brissie to The Whitsundays (via Proserpine), Hamilton Island, Cairns and Townsville — all costing $75 each way. The sale has already kicked off, and is available until Sunday, October 31, unless sold out earlier. Obviously, it's likely to be popular and seats will probably get snapped up quickly, if you're wondering when you should book. In terms of making the trip, you can get tropical between now and Sunday, December 12, giving you almost two months to slot in your vacation. And, heading north won't require you to navigate Queensland's border rules, given that you'll be staying within the state. The flight sale is being run in conjunction with the Queensland Government, in an $8 million campaign designed to encourage stays within the Sunshine State — which also includes reduced rates on accommodation and up to 50 percent off tourism experiences as well. Virgin Australia's $75 sale on flights from Brisbane to Proserpine, Hamilton Island, Cairns and Townsville runs until Sunday, October 31 — unless sold out earlier.
Think you've got two left feet? Or maybe you feel the rhythm in your bones, but don't know how to use it? Well, Brisbane's longest running swing dance school, Empire Swing, can show you a move or two. Empire Swing offers a positive, inclusive and welcoming space for dancers of all levels, specialising in vintage dances from the swing and big band eras of the 20s–40s: lindy hop, balboa, blues swing and the charleston — one of the most scandalous, and banned, dances of its day. You can start with the eight-week Lindy Hop Foundation Course, or join in the regular swing dance party, Swing Shack, where beginners start the night with a dance lesson and then continue to dance the night away with social dancing. No partner is needed to join in the fun, here you'll make new friends while you're tappin' your toes. And when you're feeling up for it, you could even try one of the advanced dance challenges. It also offers private lessons — perfect for folks who want to smash that choreographed wedding dance out of the park. You don't have to have a custom costume to start swingin', just a desire to get up and dance.
Maybe your weekend plans were rained out. Perhaps you were hoping to go to an event that was postponed earlier in the week when the forecast heralded wet weather. Or, you might've been woken up overnight by the sound of quite the hefty downpour. Whichever category fits — and all three very well might — Brisbane has received a drenching over the past few days. And, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, it's in for a wet and wild afternoon and evening again today, Monday, March 22. BOM has just issued a severe weather warning that covers the bulk of southern and western Queensland — including Brisbane. Heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and possible flash flooding are predicted, and the organisation is also cautioning that the conditions might become life-threatening in some areas. The warning spans Brisbane, Ipswich, the Gold Coast, Coolangatta, Maroochydore, Toowoomba, Stanthorpe, Warwick, Thargomindah, Dalby, Roma, Charleville, Birdsville, Emerald and Goondiwindi — so, yes, a big chunk of the state can expect to get wet. Rainfall could reach up to 100–150 millimetres over a six-hour period, if you're wondering just how damp today might get. Accordingly, if you're currently reading this from somewhere dry and cosy, we suggest that you keep it that way for the rest of this wet and gloomy Monday. Between 60–90 millimetres of rain is specifically forecast for Brisbane for the remainder of the day — adding to the 125 millimetres that fell in the 24 hours between 9am yesterday and 9am this morning. To put that latter figure in context, Brisbane's average rainfall for the whole of March sits at 140.7 millimetres, so the city almost received a month's worth of water from the sky in a single day. https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1373811299583426567 As the wet conditions continue, the usual common sense tactics obviously apply: secure loose outdoor items, stay inside and, if you do go outside, don't enter flood waters under any conditions. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services's number is 132 500 if you need SES assistance. Forecast-wise, it's predicted to stay wet for the next few days. Tuesday is set for more rain, receiving between 30–45 millimetres, while Wednesday is expected to get 10–25 millimetres. From Thursday through until Sunday, though, sunny conditions and tops between 29–31 degrees are predicted. For now, stay dry out there. And remember to check Live Traffic, Translink and BOM for warnings and updates. For more information about the Bureau of Meteorology's weather warnings, head to its website.
When Za Za Ta launched back in 2019, it brought Middle Eastern-style dishes and drinks to Fortitude Valley's Emporium precinct. Then, in 2020, it kept the same culinary focus while switching to an entirely plant-based menu. Now, the team behind the Ann Street spot has branched out — launching Tel Aviv-inspired cocktail bar Kazba in the same part of town. Launching earlier this month, Kazba is serious about its boozy concoctions, with 27 different types leading a menu that also features a small range of wine and beer. With the watering hole forming part of Fortitude Valley's Ovolo hotel, as Za Za Ta does, the accomodation chain's Director of Food and Beverage Jared Thibault has overseen the lineup, which incorporates Middle Eastern-style cordials made in house from the region's produce, as well as creative garnish choices. Standout sips include a Turkish coffee martini, which features spiced rum, caramelised yoghurt and chocolate cardamom bitters among its ingredients; a fig rum old fashioned, complete with almond bitters and dehydrated fig; and a Tel Aviv sazerac made with an applewood smoke blend of arrack musar, za'atar rye, peychaud bitters, demerara, lemon zest. The venue's version of the Israeli Gazoz, called the Fizzy Bubbly, comes in five different types — and if you'd like to try The Sun also Rises, which adapts the Hemingway daiquiri and is named after one of the author's novels, your drink will be poured from a flask hidden in a novel. To complement Kazba's cocktails, Executive Chef Roy Ner's street food-inspired vegetarian menu features fried sesame falafel with tahini and amba pickles, hummus, wood-fired flat bread, and chilli haloumi savoury doughnuts paired with pomegranate and chilli jam. From 10pm, the late-night range also spans murtabak gozleme, falafel wraps, and arayes with kofta. While eating and drinking, patrons will hear tunes from the venue's vinyl collection, including Afrobeat, funk, soul, disco, and Mediterranean and Arabic music. And, decor-wise, interior designers Luchetti Krelle have taken cues from the Victorian era, 1940s cocktail joints and traditional Queenslander architecture. Find Bar Kazba at 1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley — open from 5pm Wednesday–Saturday.
A giant globe has many uses, especially if you like pretending that you're in space. With the right imagery from NASA, it can look like the moon. Use visuals of the earth instead, however, and it can resemble this very planet of ours. The person making all of this happen: UK-based artist Luke Jerram, who is best known for his Museum of the Moon installation. That huge hit is coming to Brisbane for Brisbane Festival, and it'll have company afterwards — starting with Jerram's Gaia. With this eye-catching piece, a seven-metre-diameter globe orb will act as a mirror, showing a model of the earth. You'll see its details in a completely different way, and ideally gain a whole new perspective on the terrain we all call home. And if you've always wanted to stare at the planet just like you were peering down from space, here's your chance. [caption id="attachment_863579" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Natural Environment Research Council[/caption] Gaia will be on display for just six days, from Tuesday, September 13–Sunday, September 18, but you'll be able to take in its its wonders for free at West End's West Village. And if you're keen to complete the trifecta, the third piece taking over the globe is Mars, getting you up close and personal with the red planet once Gaia is done shining. Top image: Jim Hunstman.
All-male burlesque troupe Briefs are coming back to Brisbane for MELT with their latest show Close Encounters. For anyone who hasn't seen one of their performances, expect something unlike anything you've experienced — glamorous cabaret and performance mixed with humour and just a little raunch. Oh, and this one is futuristic. Formed back in 2008, the crew has moved from club shows to selling out stages in London, Berlin, Paris, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide. Holding performances from May 23 to 26, and then again on June 1 and 2, their latest effort includes dancing, acro-balancing, trapeze, lip-syncing and frocks — and, of course, plenty of social commentary about masculinity, plus a whole lot more.
In February, Brisbane's annual BrisAsia Festival returns for 2024 for 19 jam-packed days celebrating Asian culture, cuisine and art, as timed around Lunar New Year. City Hall's resident museum is getting in on the action, but it isn't just limiting its festivities to that period. Arriving with the start of the fest and running until June, Christine Ko and Louis Lim's Departure earns another iteration — and if you've seen it elsewhere before, it's always evolving. Ko and Lim explore the migrant experience using kites as a symbol, with the Museum of Brisbane exhibition from Thursday, February 1–Friday, June 7 featuring family photos that have been turned into the flying objects. The number installed in MoB's hallway will change over the showcase's free run, as more are added based on conversations and workshops with first- and second-generation migrants. To tell each person's full story, written transcripts are also featured alongside the kites, as are individual recollections — which you can explore online as well. Ko and Lim are also MoB's artists in residence from January–May 2024, a program that has previously featured Dead Puppet Society, Anita Holtsclaw, Lawrence English, Tammy Law, Liesel Zink, Vanghoua Anthony Vue, Robert Brownhall and more. Images: Louis Lim.
Think of a way to group movies together — any way you like — and there's probably a film festival doing just that. Some celebrate features from a particular country or part of the world, and others revel in the weird and wonderful side of filmmaking. There's even film fests for dog flicks, and retrospectives focusing on filmmakers and genres have become as common as popcorn. But Brisbane's latest cinematic celebration, the Brisbane Only Rotoscoped Lightning Film Festival, just might've found itself a unique niche. Its focus: movies that feature hand-drawn lightning effects. Those distinctive visual touches have graced everything from David Lynch's OG big-screen adaptation of Dune through to the early-90s all-ages delights that are The Addams Family and Addams Family Values — which are on BORLFF's lineup, naturally. The fest will make its debut from Friday, July 29–Sunday, August 7, screening at New Farm Cinemas. And yes, that acronym does sound like the noise you might make when you see hand-drawn lightning effects and are so excited that you just have to exclaim something — anything — out loud. In total, 11 films will screen over the fest's ten-day run, with Lynch's Dune opening the program. While the recent Timothée Chalamet version is spectacular, that original, lightning effects and all, is also its own kind of cinematic treasure. Also on the bill: John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China, because every film fest needs a bit of Kurt Russell; martial arts comedy The Last Dragon; 1950s sci-fi wonder Fantastic Planet; early Marvel adaptation Howard the Duck; and the one and only Hellraiser. There's also Lifeforce, from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre director Tobe Hooper; Invasion of Astro-Monster, because every film fest needs a Godzilla flick as well; and 1993's Super Mario Bros, complete with Dennis Hopper as King Koopa. BORLFF stems from Netherworld, Two Bit Movie Club — the regular cult and classic movie event that often screens at the arcade bar — and New Farm Cinemas. It'll also feature an art show, via Feature Presentation, showcasing new interpretations of movie posters for the fest's films. They'll display at New Farm Cinemas during the festival, and you'll be able to buy prints of them, too. And yes, thanks to its Addams Family pinball machine, New Farm Cinemas is clearly the ideal venue for a fest like this. The Brisbane Only Rotoscoped Lightning Film Festival runs from Friday, July 29–Sunday, August 7 at New Farm Cinemas. For more information, head to the festival's website.
Before SXSW made its way Down Under, Australia was already home to an annual event filled with live tunes, plus musicians and industry experts chatting about the business. In 2025, BIGSOUND marks 24 years of serving up that exact combination, and also of making Brisbane the centre of the Aussie music scene for a spring week in the process. How is it celebrating nearing its quarter-century milestone? With quite the hefty lineup. Briggs, Tash Sultana and Blur drummer Dave Rowntree are just some of the talents on the program — and that's just at BIGSOUND's conference. There are two key strands to this Sunshine State event: getting an array of people talking about all things music, and enlisting as many Brissie sites as possible in turning the River City into a multi-venue festival heaving with gigs. The first part is where well-known names usually come in. The second is where discovering your next favourite act is on the agenda. In 2025, you can enjoy both across Tuesday, September 2–Friday, September 5. Yorta Yorta rapper and Bad Apples Music founder Briggs will be in conversation with Gomeroi musician Kobie Dee, digging into their journeys, while Sultana is on the bill fresh from releasing her Return to the Roots EP. As for keynote speaker Rowntree, he heads to Brisbane just as he releases his new photography book No One You Know, which is filled with behind-the-scenes snaps taken by the man himself. Also among the folks on the conference lineup: Mallrat, Elly-May Barnes and Josh Pyke, adding to the musos picking up the microphone in a different way; Darcus Beese, aka the first Black President of a UK major label and the executive who signed Amy Winehouse at Island Records UK; Music Supervisor Anne Booty, who has worked on Poor Things and Kinds of Kindness; plus SXSW Music Festival Director Dev Sherlock, Reeperbahn Festival's Senior Partnerships Manager Robin Werner and The Great Escape's Head of Music Adam Ryan. The list of musicians among the 120-plus acts that will play 18 Brisbane stages includes WAFIA, KAIIT, Inkabee, Azure Ryder, The Southern River Band, Hatchie and plenty more — all following in the footsteps of Sultana, Flume, Courtney Barnett, Baker Boy, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard and others at past BIGSOUND festivals. Images: Simone Gorman-Clark and Dave Kan.
Have you ever promised yourself an ice-cold beer at the pub as motivation to workout? Well, the minds behind The Beer Run are on the same wavelength. They are quite literally combining brews with a five-kilometre fun run that stops at five Brisbane breweries along the way. The run will kick off at noon on Sunday, February 17, making its way between Aether Brewing, Newstead Brewing Co and The Charming Squire, plus Fritzenberger, and Brisbane Brewing Co as well. Punters will enjoy a beer at each location before running on to the next, with the whole event expected to take around two to three hours. The $55 ticket price includes the five brews, a bottle opener medal and a numbered bib for the run. Tickets aren't yet on sale, but you can sign up to be notified when they're available — and given that the Melbourne event sold rather quickly, that's recommended.
When December rolls around, everything in Brisbane seems a little brighter. The summer sun is shining, the city is awash with festive cheer and everyone is a more relaxed with the holidays just over the horizon. Step into one of the galleries around town, and that definitely proves the case. In short: it's not just the most wonderful time of year, but the most wonderful time of year for art lovers as well. Given that the Gallery of Modern Art is hosting Yayoi Kusama's dots and pumpkins, as well as Gerhard Richter's paintings and photographs, that's hardly surprising. And, they have company, with the Museum of Brisbane dancing its way into its new Li Cunxin showcase, and the Queensland Art Gallery letting Picasso grace its walls, and The State Library of Queensland staying neon. There's also emerging artists, creative self portraits, and a heap of bootlegs and replicas. Sounds good, right? Read on for all the details.
