Whenever Tom Cruise appears on screen, he's playing a part. But he's usually also playing Tom Cruise. Nearly four decades into his megawatt smile-flashing career, there's no mistaking the superstar's recognisable film persona, whether he's feeling the need for speed in Top Gun or living, dying and repeating in Edge of Tomorrow. It's a role he inhabits with charm and ease, as American Made is well aware. Though he's ostensibly taking on the guise of a pilot turned CIA operative turned narcotics smuggler, this based-on-a-true-tale drama is all about showcasing Cruise's well-known talents. That means aviator sunnies, flying high and oozing charisma all over anyone he can. It also means a cruisy (pun intended) vibe when he's stepping into criminal territory, skirting the law, transporting drugs and buddying up to Pablo Escobar's cronies. The '70s and '80s-set story may seem larger than life, but ultimately viewers know what they're getting, energetic central performance and all. If fighting the undead in The Mummy seemed like a bit of a departure for the A-lister, American Made is a beaming, smooth-talking return to familiar territory. Starting in 1978, Cruise plays Barry Seal. He's a run-of-the-mill commercial airline captain until his illegal cigar-ferrying antics catch the attention of CIA agent Monty Schafer (Domhnall Gleeson). Quicker than you can say "show me the way to avoid jail time", Seal agrees to quit his job, become a government consultant and take clandestine aerial surveillance photos in South America. While he's down there, he's also asked to deliver cash and trade arms by the agency — and bring back cocaine by the now-infamous Medellín cartel. It all goes well until it doesn't, as tends to be the case with these kinds of capers. And yet, even after he's caught by the Colombian authorities, forced to fill his wife (Sarah Wright) in about his new gig, and made to relocate his family to a small town in Arkansas, Seal keeps trying to work both sides to turn a profit. "Shit gets really crazy from here," Seal tells the camera at one point, as he recounts his life story down the barrel of an '80s camcorder. And he's right. Re-teaming with Cruise after the aforementioned Edge of Tomorrow, there's no shortage of wild antics for director Doug Liman to thrust onto the screen. In fact, there's almost too many, as the film morphs into an enjoyable but somewhat repetitive mix of Blow, Goodfellas and American Hustle. For what it's worth, that applies not only to the feature's jam-packed narrative, but also to its wavering tone. Call it the Cruise effect. Although Seal clearly isn't the greatest of guys, he's portrayed as a loveable rogue because that suits the movie's star. Call it the Hollywood effect as well, with flicks about affable law-breakers an eternal cinema staple — think War Dogs and The Wolf of Wall Street, just to name a few recent examples. American Made wants viewers to warm to its antihero and laugh at his endeavours, while also laying out the real and serious consequences of his actions. Unfortunately, it doesn't always get the balance right. Still, sunny cinematography, zippy pacing, an era-specific soundtrack and Cruise being Cruise all guarantee you'll be largely entertained regardless. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lolbJquVPWU
Whether you love exercise, or you need a little extra encouragement to get up and moving, getting active with a drink in your hand is a trend we can all get behind. The Flying Cock certainly is, not only holding regular Beer Yoga evenings, but also putting on the class we can't believe no one thought of earlier: Barre at the Bar. As well as scoring points for an ace name, Barre at the Bar offers up a frosé-sipping combo of pilates, ballet and yoga under the guidance of an experienced instructor. First, you'll drink your frosty rosé while running through a series of squats, plies and leg extensions actually at the bar. Then, you'll keep swilling as you head to the mat for some toning work, and while you're stretching and relaxing afterwards. There'll be a suitable soundtrack to keep you in a zesty mood, in a fitness class open to old barre pros, first-timers and everyone else. The next boozy session takes place on January 31, with $20 tickets including your first beverage. Getting fit and enjoying a cold one at the same time is certain to be popular, so booking quickly is recommended.
It's a great time to be a gin lover in Brisbane. Old gin bars, new gin bars, gin parties — everywhere you look, someone is sipping on juniper spirits (and telling you to as well). And, someone is taking the idea even further, dedicating an entire day to that glistening clear liquid we all know and love. Say cheers to Brisbane's first annual gin festival, Gin Sanity, which might just describe your obsessive love of the tipple in question. It'll take over Bakery Lane from 2pm on February 17, not only with a range of Australian and international beverages, but with each brand — Sipsmith Distillery, Whitley Neill, Archie Rose, The Botanist and the like — whipping up their own G&T and a signature cocktail. Live music, food and masterclasses are also slated, with the full lineup to be revealed closer to the event. Entry costs $15, which includes a drink on arrival. It'll have gin in it, obviously.
When the middle of the week blues hit, there's two solutions. Hitting a bar for a midweek drink is a tried-and-tested pick-me-up, while listening to someone else sing away their troubles also remains an old favourite. Triffid Acoustics, The Triffid's Wednesday night acoustic session, combines both, in the venue's latest ongoing free music series. Watching a range of talented performers doing their unamplified thing will make hump day brighter each and every week, with the laidback festivities hitting the Newstead hangout at 6pm. Their relaxed beer garden proves the perfect place for it, and an ideal spot for grabbing a few beverages — and even a burger or two. The music lineup changes weekly; however upcoming performers include Pepper Jane on August 16 and Michael David Thomas on August 30.
If The Terminator movies taught us one thing, and The Matrix flicks as well for that matter, it's that AI and humans mightn't make for friendly futuristic bedfellows. Why Future Still Needs Us: AI and Humanity and Machination contemplate the same topic, albeit without Arnie and Keanu. Given what they have on offer, we'll forgive it for that. Jumping to a time that mightn't be too far off, the first exhibition explores the space where explores man, creativity and computerised intelligence all overlap. In fact, given that AI can already draw pictures, compose music, write novels and make movies, the future is now. Accordingly, the artists featured were all asked to to learn an accessible artificial intelligence technology, then develop pieces that examine AI as a creator as well as a collaborator, testing the bounds of human-machine interaction. In Machination, stepping through the technology of the past is experimental artist duo Jesse Stevens and Dean Petersen's aim. As the permanent pairing that is Cake Industries, they fashion performative mechatronic sculptures that combine hybrid human/object forms with collaged archival video and sound, including one based on Melbourne's Luna Park. As well as seeing the end results between August 20 and October 10, opening weekend attendees can also enjoy artist talks, play with LEGO robots and discuss machine learning for creatives.
Every year, the community radio-loving folks at 4ZZZ host Radiothon, endeavouring to increase their subscriber base and raise enough money to help keep the four-decade-old station running. 2017 is no different, of course, and neither is the return of another favourite: a good old-fashioned block party. Taking place from midday on August 20, this Zed Block Party is all about two things: fundraising and mighty fine music. Your $5 entry fee will assist with the former, while DJ sets from Pass The Aux, SHOKU, Nick One and more have the later covered. In between sets, keep the cash flowing by scoping out the station's merchandise tent, or munching your way through the on-site barbecue (complete with vegan options).
Fans of Kathryn Bigelow's Oscar-winning war drama The Hurt Locker will recall that one of the film's most tense and thrilling sequences involved a lone enemy sniper laying waste to a group of US troops and UK mercenaries deep in the Iraqi desert. Pinned down in the blazing heat with little more than rubble for cover, the fear, confusion and discomfort of the men coming under fire was made all the more nail-biting courtesy of a near-silent soundtrack interrupted only by the 'hiss' and 'thwack' of bullets either missing or finding their mark. If that sequence felt somehow rushed or underplayed to you, however, then Doug Liman's latest film The Wall is every bit the fix you're looking for, since it's a movie that stretches that scenario to feature length. The setup is fantastic: six bodies – contractors, engineers and security personnel – all lie dead and scattered around an oil pipeline construction site, whilst way up in the hills a two-man American sniper team (John Cena and Aaron Taylor-Johnson) scans for any sign of the enemy. After 20-something hours of incident-free observation, they declare the site clear and march on down to make the final call in person, whereupon the enemy sniper reveals he's very much still in the picture and cripples both men with a series of sudden and devastating body-shots. As one of the soldiers lies exposed and bleeding, the other scrambles to find cover behind the tiniest, flimsiest shale wall. It's here that the remainder of the movie takes place. Without giving too much away, this is very much Taylor-Johnson's film, for it's he who occupies the vast majority of screen time, turning in an impressively physical and committed performance. You can't help but grit your teeth and squint in sympathy as he endures excruciating pain and the non-stop swirling of dust. Indeed, the immersive nature of the desert setting is one of the film's greatest strengths, evoking such a dry, overbearing heat that you feel compelled to rehydrate throughout. Where The Wall goes awry is when the enemy sniper begins taunting Taylor-Johnson's character over his radio, at which point some hackneyed horror-style lines ("We're not so different, you and I") begin to rear their head. Quoting Robert Frost and Edgar Allan Poe, and pontificating on the hypocrisies of American militarism, the unnamed gunman's dialogue feels like an attempt to bring an unnecessary extra layer of menace to what's already a fine and gripping story. It'd be like taking the shark from The Shallows and having it lecture Blake Lively on the inequities of big game fishing. The threat is already there, you don't need anything more. Even so, like The Shallows, The Wall achieves a lot with very little. Full credit to Liman and company, who have crafted a single-setting, single-actor showcase that proves you don't need a $200 million budget to tell a powerful and engaging war story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyCuUr2_hmA
Pre-loved fashion is the gift that keeps on giving; one person's sartorial trash really is another's stylish treasure, after all. Hopefully, you'll find the latter at Revive Fashion Festival. Yes, it's an event dedicated to all things vintage and secondhand — or a way to spread the pre-loved love. Popping up at the Cultural Centre Forecourt at South Bank for one afternoon only, Revive is a chance to grab a bargain and garner a heap of great outfit ideas all at once. The city's best best pre-loved and revived clothing stalls will be selling their wares at a pop-up market, but that's only part of the fun. Who doesn't want to watch a fashion parade filled with secondhand savvy, enjoy some live entertainment and feast on bites to eat from an array of the city's best food trucks as well? Plus, you can get some sewing and style tips from the experts to ensure you really are making the most of your wardrobe. Now in its second year — celebrating all things old never gets old, after all — the fest is a precursor to National Op Shop Week, which runs from August 27 to September 2, so consider it a warm-up for all of the vintage shopping in your future.
No matter what kind of diet you follow, upping your cooking game can be hard work. If finding the right recipes, following the instructions and making something that looks as good as the picture proves a chore — and you're keen on vegetarian and vegan cuisine — then the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga just might have the answer. We'd say that there's no prizes for guessing that's on offer at their Hands-On Interactive Vegetarian and Vegan Cooking Class on August 12, but if you head along, there's two. Firstly, you'll watch, learn and whip up your own culinary storm, gathering skills you can bust out for your next dinner party. Secondly, you'll get to taste what you cook as well. With super healthy eating the focus, you'll discover seven days worth of new recipes and make four dishes: breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. And, because the class takes place in a yoga studio, there'll also be meditation, gentle stretching and breathing too. Arrive hungry, and prepare to leave filled with veggie cooking knowledge — and relaxed.
It has almost been a year since Madame Rouge turned a corner of Fortitude Valley into an atmospheric Parisian-style bar and restaurant, serving up delicious dishes and decadent cocktails to match. And while they've been luring patrons behind their red velvet curtains during that time, they're now inviting them to discover a few secrets at their new monthly Look, Learn, Wine and Dine masterclasses. Kicking off on August 19, this lunchtime affair will step through French cuisine and vino, offering insider knowledge and tasty dishes paired with wine. In the first event, Madame Rouge's head chef Gert Pretorius joins forces with restaurateur and chef Philip Johnson to share a little cooking knowledge 101. Attendees will relax at the venue's horseshoe bar, watch the duo whip up some of their favourite dishes, learn the method to their deliciousness — and eat and drink, obviously. Tickets cost $120 per person, which includes food and beverages.
Talented pooches have been barking their way to big screen stardom since the birth of the medium, and Cannes Film Festival even gives out awards for ace pupper performances. Now, Australia has a new dog-themed cinema showcase. At the Top Dog Film Festival, doggos and puppers cement their status as humanity's favourite movie stars in a touring program of eight pooch-centric shorts. For two hours, dogs will leap across screens in a curated selection of heartwarming flicks about dog-powered sports, dogs in space, dogs hiking through the desert, senior dogs and more. The festival hits Brisbane's Eldorado Cinemas on August 17 as part of its national run, and rushing after tickets the way your best four-legged friend rushes after a frisbee is recommended. Given how much we all love watching dog videos online, not to mention attending pupper-centric shindigs in general, this one-night-only event is certain to be popular.
They've thrown themed nights and proms, and hosted bands and indie labels — and now, everyone's favourite Fortitude Valley bar with a woman's name is getting into the weekly wine business. Every Wednesday come 6pm, it's wine club time at Barbara, starting on August 2 and continuing for the foreseeable future. The first rule about Wine Club Wednesdays is that yes, you should talk about Wine Club Wednesdays. Let's make that the second rule as well. And, as for the third one, it's worth noting that entry is free, but you'll have to pay for your sips and nibbles. As for all of the others rules, the evening is a straightforward affair. Just show up, sit down, drink tipples that aren't usually on the list and eat cheese too. Different drinks will be on the menu each week, helping shine the spotlight on some types and labels you mightn't be aware of — and The Cheese Pleaser might even pop up to serve up bites of dairy goodness.
Kicking off with a light-hearted caper, ending with happy tears — that's what we look for in an Italian jaunt. And even if you're not heading over to Europe anytime soon, sitting in a cinema this September might be the next best thing, in the form of the 2017 Italian Film Festival. Marking its 18th year, Australia's annual celebration of Italy's filmmaking finest will kick off with screwball effort Let Yourself Go!, which won the 2017 Italian Golden Globe for best comedy, stars The Great Beauty's Toni Servillo, and follows a tightly wound psychoanalyst's dalliance with an upbeat personal trainer. Bookending the festival is a 20th anniversary screening of Roberto Benigni's bittersweet Life Is Beautiful, an Academy Award winner for best foreign language film. One of the more popular film events in Australia, IFF's 28-film, six-week national tour features brand new highlights, excursions off the beaten track, jaunts all over the country and an ode to coffee. Yes, there really is a film called Coffee in the program, which intertwines three tales about everyone's favourite caffeinated brew, and was inspired by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's 2006 Oscar-winner Babel. As for the rest of the fest, highlights include the tender portrait of conjoined twin sisters that is Indivisible (the festival's centrepiece), to Sea Girls Dreaming, a documentary about carefree grandmothers living in the tiny Italian mountain village of Daone. Plus, Italian movie buffs can also enjoy romantic comedy Emma, which comes to Australia straight from the Venice Film Festival, and the based-on-a-true-tale Sicilian Ghost Story, about the disappeared teenage son of a Mafia informant. There's more where they came from, including Roman ex-cons attempting to start a new life, broad Christmas comedies and topical accounts of ex-terrorists fleeing extradition — and a special guest and a new initiative. This year's festival will welcome Australian-Italian actor Greta Scacchi, who'll attend screenings of her latest effort Tenderness, and sit on IFF's first jury. The Looking for Alibrandi star will help pick the festival's best from a six-film competition, with help from The Space Between's Ruth Borgobello, actor Daniela Farinacci, actor Damian Walshe-Howling and Radio National's Jason di Rosso.
One of the best things about going on holiday — other than the actual break from reality, that is — is sharing accounts when you get back and Instagram pics while you're there. What if, rather than chatting and snapping everything, you took brush to canvas? Whether you're a seasoned painter not sure how to turn your travel tales into art, or you're looking for some skills, motivation and confidence, The Art of Travelling can help. A new four-week course held at Fortitude Valley's Scrumptious Read, the series is a blend of painting class meets post-holiday storytelling time meets travel inspiration. Artist duo artist duo Eddy & Sandi will unleash their stories and teach you a few new tricks. Come for one, or book into the whole lot — with prices available from the venue. As well as some great nattering and a creative outlet, attendees will receive all the materials they need, so just bring your artistic self along. The basics, journeying to India, food as art and putting your new talents into practise are all on the agenda — and so is brightening up your house with the kind of vacation souvenir you can't buy in a tourist gift shop.
If you're a Harry Potter fan keen to relive the wonder of your favourite book-to-film series, you don't need to cast a spell or wind your time turner to get some wizarding fun. Pottermore, Fantastic Beasts spinoffs and The Cursed Child might've followed the original franchise, but JK Rowling's boy-who-lived and his pals are never far away from a big screen — or a concert hall. After doing the honours with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, it's hardly surprising that this piece of prime movie and music magic for muggles has now turned its wand to the third flick in the series. On May 19 at both 1.30pm and 7.30pm, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban will be heading to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, with the film screening while the score is played live by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Prepare for John Williams' Oscar-nominated music to echo through your ears as you watch Harry, Hermione, Ron and company meet Sirius Black, realise that they shouldn't believe every dark tale they hear, learn something new about their new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and tussle with Peter Pettigrew. That means dogs, wolves, rats and Dementor's Kisses are all part of the action, plus Buckbeak the hippogriff, and trips to The Leaky Cauldron and the Shrieking Shack. It's arguably the best movie in the series, as directed by a pre-Gravity Alfonso Cuarón, and it's certain to prove even more enchanting with live music. We've said it before and we'll say it again — will sell like pumpkin pasties, so get in quick or spend eternity griping about it like some Moaning Myrtle-type character.
Dig out those once-a-year novelty gumboots, Groovin the Moo has unveiled its 2018 lineup. Taking the large-scale music festival out of the city and into regional centres for another year, GTM will kick things off on Friday, April 27 in South Australia and travel through Maitland, Townsville, Bendigo and Canberra before finishing up in Bunbury on May 12. This year sees local talent new and established taking the stage, with the lineup spanning up-and-comers like Alex Lahey, Baker Boy and Winston Surfshirt right through to favourites Flight Facilities and Australian legend Paul Kelly. International talent like Portugal. The Man, Royal Blood and Duke Dumont will make their way to the Moo too. Here's the full lineup. GROOVIN THE MOO 2018 LINEUP Alex Lahey Aminé (USA) The Amity Affliction Baker Boy Ball Park Music Claptone (Ger) Confidence Man Cosmo's Midnight Dean Lewis Duke Dumont (UK) Flight Facilities Grinspoon Lady Leshurr (UK) Mallrat Ocean Alley Paul Kelly Portugal. The Man (USA) Public Service Broadcasting (UK) Royal Blood (UK) Sampa The Great Skegss Superduperkyle (USA) Tkay Maidza Vera Blue Winston Surfshirt Image: Jack Toohey.
Does a slice of great pizza make you feel like dancing? Of course it does. Disco-themed Bakery Lane Italian joint Jonny's Pizzeria knows this — in fact, it's part of their whole vibe. And, while there's never a bad time to kick up your heels in celebration of a great slice, February 9 is a particularly great occasion. It's also known as World Pizza Day. We know, we know, every day is a pizza day if you make it one. And, actually, there's more than one Pizza Day on the long, seemingly ever-growing list of food-themed days. Either way, Jonny's is making this one a good one. On the agenda: an Italian disco, which includes $5 pizzas with a drink purchase, Aperol Spritz cocktails to quench your thirst, making shapes and listening to DJs spinning tunes. Whether you drop by before you head elsewhere or settle in for a slice and some fun, you'll be eating and dancing up a storm.
You know that feeling of unbridled joy and energy you get in the opening scene of The Lion King when you scream "naaaants een-vwen-yaaaaaaa ma-ba-gee-chi-ba-va" (or some variation thereof) as baby Simba is hoisted up by Rafiki? That's why you should pay to see the Spice World: The Movie at Moonlight Cinema on February 9. Even though you've seen it a million times, you have it on DVD and Blu-ray (for some reason), and on a USB drive that's permanently in the TV, you should still buy a ticket. The sheer thrill that you'll feel when an outdoor cinema full of adult women all scream "you gotta, you gotta, you gotta, you gotta SLAM SLAM SLAM SLAM" will be an experience like no other. The joy of sharing, nostalgia and sing-screaming are all rolled into one sing-a-long event at New Farm Park, so snap up a ticket while you can.
Everyone's doing it: taking something not-at-all scary, switching up a word or two, and giving it a frightening twist. You've seen it all over social media, and now you can see it in action at the Southside Tea Room's returning event as well. Yep, the Morningside hangout is hosting another Mourningside Scavenger Hunt. You'll be searching the suburbs as part of this little Halloween spot of fun — or one inner-east suburb, to be precise. If anyone can make Wynnum Road spooky, it's the SSTR, Death Valley and Red Robin Supper Truck combo. Prizes are on offer, obviously, and if you can prove you're a local (aka that live in Morningside's 4170 postcode), you'll even get a head start.
There's no such thing as a standard piece of clothing to The Brisbane Collective, even if the item in question has been up-cycled or recycled. Indeed, their sustainable fashion pop-up doesn't just sell pre-loved wares that have been given a new lease on life — it turns them into art. When Sustainable Wearables: The Pop-Up Shop comes to Church Brisbane (aka Crowbar's function space), it'll be offering up pieces to purchase and to marvel at. Taking place from 3pm on October 21, expect to browse and buy everything from jackets, jeans, shirts and tees to tote bags, badges and patches, all transformed into something new by 27 local creatives and makers. Artists on the bill include Harley & Händen, Sober Bob, Emma Le Strange, Cronk and Tonic and Slow Motion Collective. The end result is a range of one-of-a-kind clothing items that you'll want to wear and put on display — so, why not grab your favourites and do both? If you liked The Brisbane Collective's Battle Jackets exhibition back in 2015, it's safe to say you'll love this.
When it comes to spotting the show's '80s movie references, watching an episode of Stranger Things is like taking a quiz. Which poster will we spy on someone's wall? Which films will get a nod? Which flicks will you feel a need to watch immediately afterwards? How much do the Duffer brothers, aka the folks behind the series, love Steven Spielberg and Stephen King? As well as proving a rather fun viewing experience for movie buffs, all of Stranger Things' nodding and winking also serves another purpose. If you've been paying close attention while you binged and re-binged on the first season, you probably know the program back-to-front. And, as a result, you're ready to enter the upside down of the trivia world — aka Man vs Bear's evening dedicated to the show. Head to Electric Avenue in Woolloongabba from 7pm on October 23 to slay the demogorgons — i.e. your fellow competitors — with your knowledge of Hawkins' geography, the recipe for Eggos and #justiceforbarb. The timing is perfect, with the new season dropping on Netflix on October 27. Gift vouchers and a whisky tasting are up for grabs for the winners, and while we're not promising that the venue will live up to its luminous name by letting you answer each question using Christmas lights, we are going to live in hope.
As the title of a franchise, Insidious has already been taken. Which is unfortunate, because it would have suited the pictures of Michael Haneke perfectly. Although his movies don't comprise an interconnected series, they're linked by the filmmaker's continued obsession with the way people really behave. In the work of the acclaimed writer-director, seemingly ordinary situations become something else entirely, whether it's strangers knocking at the door in Funny Games, a family going about its normal business in Cache, or an elderly couple at the end of their lives in Amour. With considerable cunning, Haneke's stories unsettle by gradually exposing the facade behind which we all live — particularly when matters of love, loyalty and the complicated bonds of blood are involved. Sporting an ironic moniker, Happy End is no different. If you're onboard with the type of humour Haneke demonstrates in those two words, then you're well prepared for the sly comic social critique that follows. Setting the subject of social media firmly in its sights, the director's latest film doesn't hold back, tearing down humanity's contemporary fondness for screens over in-person interactions. What we're snapping, filming, uploading, posting, emailing, reading, watching, scrolling through and clicking on is one of Haneke's two main targets. How we treat even our closest relatives when we're more concerned with likes, shares and our own busy lives is the other. Opening with Snapchat footage, it's quickly apparent that something sinister is brewing. Although we don't initially know who's responsible, seeing a hamster being drugged doesn't paint a contented picture, and nor does vision of a clearly miserable woman. Then Happy End introduces 12-year-old Eve Laurent (Fantine Harduin), who is bundled off to stay with her father (Mathieu Kassovitz) and his incredibly wealthy extended family after her mother overdoses. Not that anyone in her new mansion home pays the girl much attention. They're as content to ignore her as they are her increasingly senile grandfather Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant). As Eve's stepmother (Laura Verlinden) fusses over her new baby, her aunt Anne (Isabelle Huppert) prepares to take over the family construction company, and various family crises bubble up, the pre-teen and the octogenarian form a bleak kind of bond. Other than his new social media savvy (and a standout karaoke scene soundtracked to Sia's 'Chandelier'), Haneke ticks plenty of recognisable boxes with Happy End. A little too many, perhaps. He doesn't lose his ability to intrigue, but it's obvious that he's relying upon his established tricks and trademarks, almost as if he's making his own greatest hits package. In a way, keeping to his usual beats supports the recurring message in many of his movies: that life's woes and worries tend to repeat. That said, when spotting the filmmaker's familiar flourishes is more interesting than sections of the narrative, it's also a problem. Still, even when he's retracing his own footsteps with a knowing wink and smile, Haneke's work sits in its own category. The playfulness paired with grim scenarios, the long shots urging viewers not to tear their eyes away, the unease oozing from every scene and performance: it's all there, deployed with the requisite finesse. And while the final result isn't among Haneke's best films, when it comes to plunging into the chilling darkness behind carefully cultivated public personas, no one does it quite like the Austrian master. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Jn1AIzcBQ
Last year, when Stranger Things became everyone's favourite Netflix series, one Fortitude Valley bar was pretty darn happy. They mightn't force patrons to fight a demogorgon, but Barbara sure does have one of the best possible names for celebrating the fictional town of Hawkins, its curious kids and their '80s antics. So, they threw a party. When you share your moniker with one of the show's most beloved characters, that's what you do. And when the program is slated to come back for another season just in time for Halloween, you plan a second shindig. Behold: Stranger Things at Barbara — Part 2. Taking place from 9pm on October 28 — aka the weekend before the year's scariest date — expect a whole host of weird and wonderful fun, again, including craft beverages, chats about '80s-inspired pop culture, a soundtrack of synth-heavy tunes and general Barb love. Once more, your pal Nancy won't even have to drag you there. BYO Eggo waffles.
Some lights burn bright but fast. Rainer Werner Fassbinder's was one of them. The German filmmaker made 39 films — including six television movies and series — and four video productions during his 17-year career. And, because he clearly wasn't busy enough, he also directed 24 stage plays and four radio plays, and managed to act, shoot, compose, design, edit and produce, and work as a theatre manager. Phew. If his life hadn't been cut short by a drug overdose at the age of 37, who knows what else he would've made — or how much lazier he would've made everyone else feel. Alas, that's not how things turned out for the provocative, prodigious, prolific, probing writer/director, but 35 years after his death, his immense body of work lives on. In the first major retrospective of Fassbinder's output in Australia, the Gallery of Modern Art is dedicating two separate months to the New German Cinema pioneer, and for free. Head along from October 14 to November 15, 2017, and then again from June 1 to July 4, 2018. Highlights include the shot-in-two-weeks Fear Eats the Soul; The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant, which is based on his own love affair; sci-fi series World on a Wire; and his final effort, Querelle. Plus, if you're up for a marathon or two, don't miss once-in-a-lifetime chances to see mini-series Eight Hours Don't Make a Day (as screened over two days) and 14-part effort Berlin Alexanderplatz (as screened over three).
Two bears wander around a dystopian world, trying to cope with their surroundings. They're best friends, they're attempting to avoid human hunters, and they dream of a time when bears could be free. If you've spotted some real-life parallels in the tale of One and Ursula, you're supposed to. The latest production by Black Honey Company, it's their latest work of black radical feminism. One the Bear steps through the furry duo's lives — including eating fish fingers rather than real fish — as a change occurs. One gets the chance to speak for their tribe, and finally ask for more. What results is an exploration of everything from identity and friendship to culture and appropriation, and it's hitting the La Boite stage from October 10 to 21. Written and composed by Candy B and Busty Beatz (aka Candy and Kim Bowers), and performed by the former with Nancy Denis, this isn't your usual theatre production. When we say it's hip hop, we mean it. Absolutely everything spoken is said in rhyme, with the show slinging couplets like it's slinging probing themes.
Art often deals with the things people can't talk about, or don't want to. Fears, worries, stresses, anything that makes you feel scared or worried — there's a painting or a sculpture for all it. The list goes on. Superstitions, misfortune, bad days, wondering why things never go your way: they've all inspired something creative too. All of the above factors into The Culprit Club's latest exhibition, which couldn't have a better name or date. Come 6pm on October 13 (yes, that's a Friday), No Such Luck will display a range of works inspired by the concept of being unlucky, cursed or ill-fated, as crafted by Art By Dale, Muchos, Sindy Sinn, Mike Watt, Shida, Irok, Dizzy Little Dotty, Mad Crook, Maid, Micky Hora and many, many more. Clearly, the big list of artists involved have more than a little luck — otherwise they wouldn't be part of this show, now would they? Whether their stroke of luck will improve yours is something you can only discover by going along and seeing their efforts. Perhaps don't break any mirrors along the way.
Friday the 13th rolls around at least once a year, and if you're a horror fan, it's always an occasion worth celebrating. Watching Jason Voorhees' various slasher exploits, staying away from summer camps, devouring a marathon of scary movies — they're all great things to do. Come October 13, the New Globe Theatre and Netherworld are teaming up to provide something different across the two venues. Horror costumes? Tick. A spooky vibe? Tick again. Two stages filled with bands such as The Silencio, The Von Haunts and Ghost Audio cranking out killer tunes? Yep, you guessed it — tick again. Different acts will play at each place, but a whole heap of fun awaits at Friday the 13th — New Globe Theatre vs Netherworld no matter where you start or end up. Dressing up as your favourite horror movie character could win you a prize, but you probably want to go beyond the obvious hockey mask. It all kicks off at 7pm at the New Globe, with entry costing $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Over at Netherworld, expect free entry and an 8pm start time.
If you could learn a new skill, what would it be? Whipping up a sangria and paella feast? Making restaurant-quality cocktails? Perfecting the ultimate duo of layered Italian foods — aka lasagne and tiramisu? They're just three of the classes on offer at Portside between September 27 and October 18, when the Hamilton spot rallies its retailers and endeavours to teach you a thing or two. Concocting a Greek spread of dips, salad and halva; getting fashion tips over champagne; discovering to make sushi — also over champagne: they're all on offer as well, with everyone from Byblos and Gusto da Gianni to Atalanta and Sono involved. Throw in two wine sessions — one a blind tasting of six wines, the other dedicated to Moss Wood — and you could get a dose of tasty, educational fun almost every day of the week. Prices range from zilch to $125, and while some classes run multiple times, others are on-offs. Check the lineup for further details.
Depending on how you feel about dinner parties, Beatriz at Dinner is either an accurate snapshot of getting together for a meal with friends and acquaintances, or a comically discomforting nightmare. And, depending on how you feel about the current state of world politics, it's either a pointed commentary about real-estate moguls with entitled attitudes and their enablers, or a satire of the chasm between those that have it all and everybody else. Actually, in each case, it can be both. Beatriz at Dinner hits close to home while proving darkly amusing, and offers a loaded statement about a specific person as well as a general ribbing of the big gap between the wealthy and the not so. In fact, it feels like the type of film you'd get if you took the 2011-2013 TV series Enlightened, swapped Laura Dern for Salma Hayek, and updated it to reflect just how the world has changed in the last four years. To be honest, that's hardly surprising, given the movie and the show share two key creative forces: writer Mike White and director Miguel Arteta. As the eponymous Beatriz, Hayek is all empathetic eyes and soothing voice, at least to begin with. A Los Angeles masseuse who splits her time between a cancer treatment centre and house calls, Beatriz loves her job healing others as much as she loves her pet dogs and goats — and she's happy to talk about both to anyone who'll listen. At one appointment in a gated community miles from home, she chats away with Kathy (Connie Britton), a regular client with a wheeling-and-dealing husband, Grant (David Warshofsky). When their session is up, Beatriz's car won't start, so Kathy invites her to stay for a meal with Grant's business associates. Predictably, Beatriz stands out with her jeans and earthy attitude. In fact, when eager up-and-comer Alex (Jay Duplass) and his snobbish wife Shannon (Chloë Sevigny) arrive, followed by rich and powerful head honcho Doug (John Lithgow) and his third bride Jeana (Amy Landecker), they think she's the help. The obvious difference between Beatriz and the rest of the guests provides plenty of humour early on, but White and Arteta soon start to subvert expectations. This isn't a take on The Dinner Game, casting the well-off as vacuous and oblivious idiots. Nor is it a sitcom-style comedy where someone lower down the social ladder causes a few laughs and changes a few opinions, like the recent Madame. Rather, the film slowly but surely lets an impassioned and unwavering Beatriz loose on Doug, and watches everyone else squirm. Sharp, smart and funny, the end result is entertaining viewing for a number of reasons – even if its ending doesn't wholly satisfy. Warmly shot but purposefully awkward in tone, the film is unafraid to take chances with its class-conflict concept, but at the same time refuses to make even the most villainous characters mere one-note caricatures. White's astute dialogue helps in this regard, ringing true from both Beatriz and her dinner companions. The same applies to Arteta's framing, particularly his decision to always shoot his protagonist as though she's the shortest one in group. And then there's the cast, including well-judged supporting turns from Britton, Sevigny and company, a decidedly human foe in Lithgow, and the wonderfully textured, quietly commanding Hayek in career-best form. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI8_8O3uKhY
Two weeks. 12 movies. Four venues. Many, many bumps, jumps, frights, spooks and scares. That's Kristian Fletcher's Halloween 2017 Movie Program, with the cult movie buff going all out in honour of the most unsettling time of the year. It might've been easier to list what's not playing between October 13 and 31, given that all of the horror classics are covered: Friday the 13th on Friday the 13th, Re-Animator, Slumber Party Massacre, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Nosferatu, Evil Dead... they're all on the bill. Also on the lineup is the return of Fletcher's Roaring Twenties Cinema program with live piano accompaniment, a night of Halloween-themed music videos and a Halloween dance party, should you be after some scary variety. Gracing screens at New Farm Cinemas, the New Globe, Metro Arts' Lumen Room and Ipswich's Studio 188, many of the movies screen as double, triple and even quadruple features, with prices ranging from $13.50 to $21.50. And while any evening in the program offers an ace night out, October 27's pair of Night of the Living Dead and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a must — not only because they're such iconic flicks, but to pay tribute to the recently dearly departed George A. Romero and Tobe Hooper.
If you're a vintage fiend, fond of theatrical outfits or a lover of costumes, you've probably dreamed about being let loose in a theatre's wardrobe and rifling through their rows of eye-catching pieces. Every year, Brisbane Arts Theatre opens its doors to let fashionistas do that and more. Here, you'll scour their racks for fab finds that you can buy and take with you. As you can imagine, quite the array of clothing goes through a venue dedicated to the performing arts, so their spring clean falls on the massive side. Entry to the Costume and Vintage Clothing Garage Sale is free, bargains will be plentiful and your own closet will thank you. Who knows, maybe you'll nab an item that was worn in Jurassic Park the Musical, or one of the numerous other shows the Petrie Terrace space puts on. Both cash and EFTPOS will be accepted, but don't forget to bring your own bags to cart your wares home.
Think you've heard every horror and Halloween party theme there is? Think again. At Sabotage Social on October 28, things are getting musical — and maybe a little bit morbid, but hey, that's part of what this time of year is all about. Welcome to Night of the Living Dead Rockstars. It's really just an excuse to throw a spooky shindig that not only nods to the occasion, but has a playlist that spans beyond 'Monster Mash' and 30 Rock's 'Werewolf Bar Mitzvah' — and it's genius, really. Dress up as something scary or your favourite rocker that's no longer with us, listen to the latter's tunes and have a frightfully fun evening. The Ann Street bar will also be serving up creepy cocktails, decking out the place with all the thrilling trimmings and giving out prizes for best outfit. And if you can't decide which dearly departed icon to take inspiration from, just remember that David Bowie had a character called Halloween Jack — not to mention plenty of other personas that'd make great costume choices.
In 1999, You Am I frontman Tim Rogers broke out on his own to record his first solo album, What Rhymes with Cars and Girls. Fifteen years later, playwright Aidan Fennessy turned the album into a stage play which examines the blossoming of an unlikely romance in contemporary Australia. Now, that production is heading to Brisbane Powerhouse for just over a week of raw, complex and highly relatable urban romance. Running from October 25 to November 4, it's a record come to life and one entertaining show. Tash (Sophie Ross) is a feisty singer in an indie rock band. Johnno (Johnny Carr) is a pizza delivery guy 'from the wrong side of the tracks'. Then one fateful night — yep, you guessed it — their worlds collide (to a Rogers-arranged soundtrack). If you're looking to see Timmy Rogers treading the boards than you're sadly out of luck, but to hear his songs transformed into theatre will undoubtedly bring new life to a classic album. Image: MTC / Jeff Busby.
Here's a fun cheese fact: scientists recently discovered that eating fistfuls of your favourite fromage can induce a euphoric effect (similar to that produced by taking morphine). And far be it from us to argue with the smart guys in white coats — we've been cheese addicts since day dot. Which is why we're giddy with excitement over this tasty morsel of news: a new cheese festival is taking over Newstead House on Sunday, October 1. From 10am to 5pm, enjoy an eye-watering selection of cheese, charcuterie and condiments at the stunning, heritage listed property. If cheese isn't your steeze, then there will be beer and wine masterclasses with which to while the afternoon away. Plus, there's a lineup of live music and entertainment to help keep you out of that (inevitable) cheese coma. Entry is free, with all of the above edibles available to purchase on the day.
When The Octoroon premiered in New York in 1859, the plantation-set effort brought politics to the theatre by tackling the topic of slavery. Clearly, playwright Dion Boucicault didn't have any Australian parallels in mind. Neither did fellow theatre scribe Branden Jacobs-Jenkins when he adapted the text into An Octoroon, which made its debut in 2014. At Queensland Theatre, however, Nakkiah Lui does. In her first directorial effort, the indigenous Australian writer and actor helms a new version that doesn't just nod to local similarities — it makes them plain. Hitting the Bille Brown Studio's stage from September 16 to October 8, the Queensland exclusive finds the Aussie core of a global issue, pondering race in a provocative comedy. Accordingly, the production blends everything from historical Louisiana to Far North Queensland, and the act of play-writing to the way culture is portrayed on stage into one satirical, statement-making package. The US version was described as "this decade's most eloquent theatrical statement on race in America today" by the New York Times, so expect something similar, but Australian.
Cast Kate Winslet and Idris Elba in a survivalist drama, and you'd expect tension, thrills and impressive performances to follow. Cast them in a romance, and you'd expect hearts to melt like snow. Unfortunately, if you throw the pair into a combination of the two, the results are as mixed as the blend of genres. The actors are great in The Mountain Between Us, of course, but there's no mistaking the feeling that they're stuck in a marginally classier Nicholas Sparks-style flick. While Charles Martin actually wrote the book that this survivalist romance is based on, all of Sparks' basic elements are present. The diversity that Elba's involvement represents isn't something the author behind The Notebook is known for, but characters meeting in unlikely circumstances, struggling through tough times, and finding love while overcoming obstacles are Sparks' bread and butter. With The Mountain Between Us sticking closely to that formula, you know where the movie is going from the moment you sit down in the cinema. As such, only one question remains: can Winslet and Elba make it all worth it? The duo play Alex, a photojournalist heading from an assignment to her own wedding, and Ben, a neurosurgeon due to usher a sick boy into his operating theatre the next day. When bad weather strands them in Idaho at the last minute, Alex introduces herself and her plan to Ben. They'll charter a plane, beat the oncoming storm and get to their Denver destination in no time — and that might've worked out just fine if their pilot (Beau Bridges) hadn't had a stroke over Utah's white-topped mountains, causing them to crash. Soon, they're in the icy middle of nowhere with no phone reception, little food and an unnamed dog as their only other company. Prior to shooting, The Mountain Between Us went through a number of casting changes, from Michael Fassbender and Charlie Hunnam to Margot Robbie and Rosamund Pike. Given the end product, you can't help but feel that they all dodged a bullet. That Winslet and Elba are the best things about the movie is evident from the outset. Screenwriters Chris Weitz and J. Mills Goodloe don't do nearly enough to make Alex and Ben seem like well-rounded characters, while director Hany Abu-Assad does little more than make them look attractive. Even so, the pair manage to bring some much-needed nuance to their paper-thin parts. Bland dialogue, routine backstories and cliched plot developments can't frost over their natural charms or rapport entirely. As much as the actors do with the material, however, they can't quite lift the film beyond standard sappy romance territory. That's primarily because the movie isn't trying to be anything different — although it's not eager to be seen as disposable fluff, either. Accordingly, Abu-Assad is saddled with a juggling act that he just can't manage to master, asked to both show the stressful, solemn side of his characters' plight, while offering up warmth and hope as his protagonists slowly discover their affection for each other. Ultimately, he doesn't come close to succeeding. Still, at least the scenery looks great, as shot by Australian cinematographer Mandy Walker of Lantana, Tracks and Hidden Figures fame. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jyzGKXBOxA
When it comes to exploring Brisbane's neon-lit past, The State Library of Queensland isn't just talking the talk — they're also walking the walk, literally. With The Salon Electric illuminating the South Bank spot's walls until February 11, there's plenty of glowing love flowing. But, seeing signs from and photos of times gone by just can't compare to trotting around town to experience the real thing. Well, their remnants anyway. Brissie isn't the neon-filled spot it once was — which is largely what the exhibition is about — but there's still some bright lights to spy on a mosey by twilight. You know the obvious ones, at the XXXX factory and at The Beat, among others. Now, as you stroll the streets of Fortitude Valley with guide and contemporary neon sign-maker Michael Blazek, you'll discover more. The free wander takes place from 6pm on February 3, meeting at the corner of Little and Wickham streets. Registration is required, as are comfortable walking shoes — and BYO camera and water as well.
There's never a bad time for a food truck meal — whether you just can't face another brown bag sandwich come midday, or you're in the need for something to soak up last night's fun. Or, maybe you've just finished work and want something more exciting to eat on a Tuesday evening, or you're looking for a Sunday afternoon meal with a couple of beverages. Enter Truckin' Hungry. Brisbane's newest food truck hub has set up shop on the corner of O'Keefe Street and Ipswich Road in Woolloongabba — opposite the Princess Alexandra Hospital — and they're not just dropping by for a short stay. Seven days a week, from 7am to 10pm, you'll find between five and eight of the city's finest meals-on-wheels purveyors cooking up a storm. And, if you'd like a couple of brews while you're there, it's BYO so you can bring your own.
Everybody loves a countdown. Watching rage, voting in Triple J's Hottest 100: they're all Australian traditions. In Brisbane, we love all of the above — and we're also very fond of 4ZZZ's Hot 100. It's the poll voted by locals, celebrating locals and brimming with the best of everything that's hit local airwaves throughout the past year, and it's coming to The Triffid once more. See in the new year with a song (or 100) as the Newstead venue throws their first hangout of 2018. From midday, the entire 100 tracks will be blasted through the Triff thanks to the power of radio, as you sit, drink, recover or do whatever it is you need to on January 1. There'll be beer, ace tunes and hair-of-the-dog hangover cures aplenty. Happy 2018 indeed.
When the middle of the week blues hit, there's two solutions. Hitting a bar for a midweek drink is a tried-and-tested pick-me-up, while listening to someone else sing away their troubles also remains an old favourite. Triffid Acoustics, The Triffid's Wednesday night acoustic session, combines both, in the venue's latest ongoing free music series. The music lineup changes weekly; however watching a range of talented performers doing their unamplified thing will make each hump day brighter, with the laidback festivities hitting the Newstead hangout at 6pm. Their relaxed beer garden proves the perfect place for it, and an ideal spot for grabbing a few beverages — and even a burger or two.
Chocolate and Easter go hand-in-hand, but one Brisbane restaurant is upping the seasonal sweet treat ante. For the four-day long weekend only, Nest is throwing a decadent high tea that'll have chocoholics thinking they're in heaven — and it's super affordable, too. For $50, you and your chosen chocolate-loving companion can work your way through a choc-tastic menu that features chocolate-filled doughnuts, triple chocolate cookies, and dark chocolate and orange brulee, plus cinnamon churros with warm chocolate sauce, white chocolate-dipped strawberries, opera cake and macaroons. And, because you can't have a high tea without some actually tea, that'll be on offer as well. Plus coffee — and, if they're smart, mocha. If you'd like to take more than one pal, extra folks can be accommodated for $25 per head. Bookings are essential, with sessions taking place from 12pm to 2pm between March 30 and April 2.
It's a great time for stage versions of film and TV shows, or at least it is in Brisbane. A Back to the Future parody is coming, and so is an X-Files musical. But first? A bit of the old ultraviolence thanks to Alex DeLarge and the droogs. Yes, A Clockwork Orange was a novel by Anthony Burgess and an iconic film by Stanley Kubrick, and now it's a play at Brisbane Arts Theatre. Running on selected dates between January 6 to February 17, it's the story of disaffected youth and the state's response to anti-social behaviour, complete with a Beethoven soundtrack performed live. That's all well, good and exciting, but we heartily recommend heading along January 12, 19, 25 and 28, or February 2, 9, 15 and 17 if your diary permits it. Why? That's when A Clockwork Orange won't just bring the story to life in front of your eyes, but it'll also boast a female cast taking on the principal roles.
New year, new you — right? If learning a new skill and reducing your stress levels rank among your 2018 plans, then Work-Shop has an unexpected solution to both. Forget yoga or pilates, or getting into crafty. With their suggestion, you can relax while you're making melodic music. At Mind, Body... Ukulele?, the calming effects of playing the stringed instrument are in the spotlight. Under the guidance of musician Erin Harrington, you'll step through the basics, pick up a few well-known songs and discover how playing the uke can clear your mind. If you can — and you're committed to your new de-stressing skill — then you should take a ukulele with you. You can pick something up for around $25, if you need to buy one before you head along. Or, you can hire one for an extra fee. If you don't have your own, you can't put your new talents into action the moment you walk out the door, though.
To understand why Brisbane-based, extreme acrobatics circus troupe Circa has gained such a dedicated global following, look no further than their new show Humans. After world premiering at this year's Sydney Festival, it's swinging into town to show why the company keeps earning rave reviews. Here, Circa's award-winning director Yaron Lifschitz fuses jaw-dropping acrobatics with contemporary dance and theatre in a joyous celebration of what it means to be human. See amazing poses like the one above, as performers explore the physical limits of their bodies and push themselves to the extreme, as they question how much we can take as humans.
We've all done it: looked at an album cover and thought of ways to improve the artwork. We've all rifled through old vinyl and found ourselves amused by some of designs, as well. Record Wreckers takes a little from column A, a little from column B, and turns it into an exhibition — gracing Church's walls for one night only on December 7. The brief is simple enough, with the likes of Sober Bob, Kimi Schieren, Erin Kennedy, Nelson Gibbins, Jackson Hambridge and more all finding a cover to revamp however they seem fit. Sure, whoever was responsible for the album's original imagery will probably think they're wrecking the records, but this group of artists is clearly aiming to make improvements. The end result promises to deliver artwork you'll wish you had in your own collection, all while marking the last showcase for the year for the creative folks at The Brisbane Collective. Entry is free from 6pm. Following the exhibition's lead once you get home is free as well.
Why drink at one watering hole, when you can head to two, three, six or more? That's always been the motivation behind everyone's favourite boozy journey, aka a pub crawl. And, it's the exact same type of thinking behind the Urban Wine Walk. Taking its first wander around Brisbane after previously strolling through Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth during 2017, it's the bar-hopping excuse every vino lover has been waiting for. Think Bite, Sip, Stroll, but without the restaurant meals — or Grapest, but without convincing yourself that you're going to run five kilometres. From midday until 5pm on February 17, you'll saunter between the likes of La Lune Wine Co, Super Whatnot, Wandering Cooks, Greenglass, Saccharomyces, The Laneway and more, sampling wines and having a mighty fine time. As for the tipples, they'll be taken care of by South Australia's Commune of Buttons and By Jingo Wines, and Queensland's Bent Rd / La Petite Mort and Cush & Cush, among others. Early bird tickets are currently on sale for $45, with full tickets costing $55 once the initial allocation has run out. Places are limited, but this moving cellar door will not only serve up wine tastings, but also your own tasting glass — plus a voucher for another beverage, and a guide to help you plan your mosey between bars.
We might never know what the future will hold, but we do know one thing: come December 31, Brooklyn Standard will throw one heck of a party. As 2017 becomes 2018, they're not only taking over Eagle Lane — they're turning it into a Midnight Disco. Actually, the fun starts at 6pm — and the five-hour drinks and street eats offering from 7pm — but you know just what's on offer. As the clock ticks towards the top, getting glam under a mirrorball, making your best shapes, drinking vodka and whiskey cocktails are all on the agenda. Plus, an array of bands will be taking over the bar's stage, extending the revelry even further.
Ask anyone what they're doing for New Year's Eve, and they'll probably spin a tale of raucousness and revelry. Ask anyone what they wish they were doing, and the answer might be a bit different. 2017 has been a big one, and it's okay if you want to say goodbye to these busy times in a less hectic way. With karaoke and slurpees, for example. Yes, the frozen beverages will have alcohol in them. Of course they will. Other than that, Death Valley and Southside Tea Room will take care of the shenanigans — think $99 for drinks, burgers, fries and canapes; getting comfy at a picnic table (which can be booked in advance for groups); belting out one of 6000 songs; and having a stellar Low-Key NYE.
You have to hand it to Wandering Cooks. Every day of the year, there's something tasty on offer at their South Bank base — and on many of them, a fun food, drink or creative-related event as well. They could've easily taken New Year's Eve off, and no one would've blamed them. That's clearly not their style, however. Instead, they're giving 2017 a sweet, sweet finish. And, they're giving Brisbanites a choose-your-sweet-adventure kind of experience. Entry is free all day and night, as always, so you can simply drop by and see what Rani's Cuisine and East to Middle East are cooking up. Or, you can head on over at 10pm when Indietreats, 31 Degrees, Little Birdy Cakes and Chokolaj will be serving up two types of indulgence: sweet treats to send the year with for $53, or a boozy version (with sparkling) for $84.
Video killed the radio star, or so the song goes. New technology killed the maritime use of Morse code too, although that doesn't sound quite as catchy. Still, that hasn't stopped Angelica Mesiti from trying to turn the predicament into art — or from creating a three-channel work inspired by the last Morse transmission sent by the French Navy. "Calling all, this is our final cry before our eternal silence," they conveyed via dots and dashes at the end of 1997. It's a particularly poetic way to cope with technological obsolescence, and you'll probably find yourself thinking something similar as you wander through Relay League. Its trio of parts include a percussive score from musician-composer Uriel Barthélémi, which echoes throughout the gallery space; a form of physical exchange between two dancers, Emilia Wibron Vesterlund and the vision-impaired Sindri Runudde; and dancer Filipe Lourenço creating his own choreography from Barthélémi's sounds. Together, they have quite the sensory impact, as Mesiti ponders communication, language and expression in its many forms. The work is on display at Griffith University Art Museum until February 24, 2018.
