Planning a date night during June? Lock it in for the middle of the week, as Post Office Square has the perfect activity. Each Wednesday, the inner-city space is hosting Rom Coms & Nom Noms for another year. There'll be flicks and food, obviously. Attendees can feast their eyes on the pop-up big screen for free — but if you're keen on a snack, there'll be grazing boxes for available from micro pub Isles Lane. And, if you're thirsty as well, the pop-up bar can help with that as well. It'll be serving wine, beer and soft drinks. As for the movies, a swoon-inducing lineup will grace the big screen. Mamma Mia! starts things off on June 2 — yes, here we go again — followed by Suddenly 30 on June 9, Sleepless in Seattle on June 16, Ali's Wedding on June 23 and 17 Again on June 30. The event opens at 5pm each week, with films starting at 5.30pm. [caption id="attachment_665789" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Isles Lane[/caption] Top image: Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons.
Whether you're picnicking on your nearest patch of grass, filling your house with greenery every chance you get, or building everlasting bouquets out of Lego, there's always something soothing about plants and flowers. Perhaps it's the fact that, if they're not made out of plastic, their beauty only blooms for a limited time. Perhaps it's just that they're calming to look at — or, that being in their presence is one of the easiest ways to feel connected to nature. Even merely peering at images of plants can be relaxing — as the State Library of Queensland's Entwined: Plants and People exhibition well knows. On display until Sunday, November 14, it ponders the link that humans have always had with the flora around us. In fact, it's filled with photography, illustrations, projections and historical objects that demonstrate that very bond. Some of the items on display date back centuries. Botanist Joseph Banks, who used to be featured on Australia's old $5 note, had engravers create 738 copperplates of his drawings of the plants that Captain Cook collected on the HMS Endeavour, for instance — and, as printed more than 200 years after Banks' death, a copy of those prints is held by SLQ. The library's dig into its own collection also includes nods to orchid fever in the 1800s; traditional weaving, fibre art and contemporary fashion items; and rare photos. And, you can expect to see vivid arrays that span far beyond your usual pictures of flowers, too. [caption id="attachment_820821" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Quantum metamorphosis of a glory vine, 2021. Courtesy: Man&Wah[/caption] Top image: Micro-x-ray fluorescence images showing the concentration of selenium in a native Queensland legume. Courtesy: University of Queensland.
It's easy to make, it tastes great and it's incredibly versatile. Garfield loves it, too. We'd keep listing reasons that the humble lasagne is one of the best Italian meals there is, but we're certain that we don't need to convince you. Here's another anyway, though: it's an excellent go-to when dinner time hits, you definitely don't want to cook, and you want to tuck into something both hearty and delicious. Salt Meats Cheese clearly feels the same, because it regularly dedicates a whole night to the Italian staple. And, for National Lasagne Day on Thursday, July 29, it's doing just that again — but it's changing things up a bit. Five different types will be on the menu for $19 each, so you can pick which ones you'd like to try. There'll be a classic bolognese version, a mortadella and pistachio lasagne, and one that heroes fior di latte, padano and truffle paste. For vegans, a mushroom ragu lasagne is on offer as well — and, for dessert, a peanut butter, chocolate pudding and Oreo type will get your tastebuds salivating. If you're keen to eat in, you'll need to book in advance, given that folks sure do love this dish. SMC's Lasagne Affair is only happening at select venues — so you'll want to make a date with the chain's Newstead and Surfer's Paradise locations from 5pm. There's also a takeaway option, which means that you can choose however many of the five dishes you'd like and then enjoy them all at home.
Earlier this year, just in time for Mother's Day, Brisbane scored a new riverside market. That was handy then, but it wasn't a once-off. Yes, the Portside Local Markets are returning — because everyone likes shopping by the water, even when they don't have an excuse. And for the event's third outing, it's celebrating spring. If you really like browsing and buying, taking in the riverside air, and having a reason to stop for a bite and a drink, you'll want to head to Hamilton on Saturday, September 18. From 12–4pm, you can shop, stroll and sip, which sounds like a mighty fine weekend itinerary. A sizeable lineup of stalls will offer up plenty for you to browse and buy, including art, plants, ceramics, accessories and more. If you've been to markets at the Gasworks, or in Fish Lane, Coorparoo and Gabba South City, you'll have a firm idea of what you're in for — because The Market Folk is behind all of the above, and is running this returning Portside event as well. To give your shopping a soundtrack, live piano tunes will echo through the Hamilton precinct. And, if those hunger pangs strike — or you're just keen on having a drink — everywhere from Pineapple Express Cafe, Bamboo Basket, Burrito Bar and Ginga Sushi to Mr & Mrs Jones, Belvedere Bar 'n' Grill, Byblos Bar and Restaurant, Gusto da Gianni and Sono will be open. Images: Claudia Baxter.
One day, in the not-so-distant future, perhaps Brisbanites will take their pet puppers with them everywhere. For now, we'll all just have to grab our four-legged best friends and head to another doggo market. It's the trend that won't go away, and we'd all be barking mad if we wanted it to. More excuses to take energetic ol' Rufus places? More chances to go "awwwww" over other people's pooches? Count us in. The Doggo Day Pop-Up Markets are the latest such event, taking over Virginia's VEND Marketplace between 8am–2pm on Sunday, June 27. The shindig's name also acts as your instructions, so round up your woofer and take them on an outing. There's even a dress-up competition, as there usually is at these things. That's how adorable pups get even cuter. Also on the agenda: doggy stalls, a dog play area, a dog wash, puppuccinos and dog ice cream. And the northside spot's general array of markets and greenery, too.
UPDATE, July 13, 2021: Top Dog Film Festival's Brisbane dates have changed, with the fest no longer screening on Friday, July 16 and Saturday, July 17. It'll now show on Friday, August 27 and Saturday, August 28 instead. This article has been updated to reflect that change. 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. In Australia for a few years now, we also celebrate the intersection of canines and cinema — via our very own dog-themed movie showcase. At the Top Dog Film Festival, doggos and puppers cement their status as humanity's favourite film stars in a touring program of pooch-centric shorts. For more than two hours, dogs will leap across screens in a curated selection of heartwarming flicks about humanity's best friend. Over the last few years, the lineup has included films about dog-powered sports, dogs in space, dogs hiking through the desert, senior dogs and more. The festival hits Indooroopilly's Eldorado Cinema on Friday, August 27 and Saturday, August 28 as part of its 2021 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 event is certain to be popular. You'd be barking mad to miss it, obviously.
Yeerongpilly's Plant Empire sells greenery every day of the week, helping folks with green thumbs — and those who wish they had them, too — fill their homes with leafy babies. But on Sunday, September 6, it's doing something more than that. You can still browse the store's shelves for plants, of course; however you can also head round back to check out the pop-up spring market. As well as plants, you'll be able to peruse a range of pots. If you're going to buy some greenery, you'll want something to put it in, obviously. Also on offer: ceramics, jewellery and other handmade crafts. And if you happen to arrive hungry — Sunday mornings can do that to even the most satisfied stomach — there'll be food available as well. Just drop by the Station Road spot between 9am–1pm, when the morning-long market will be in full swing. The usual advice applies here, as it does to all plant markets: yes, more greenery is always a good thing. The Plant Empire Spring Market runs from 9am–1pm on Sunday, September 6. Images: Plant Empire.
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. 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. Top image: Art-Work Agency
If there's one thing Brisbanites like, it's watching Studio Ghibli films. Understandably, a whole heap of cinemas around town have been more than happy to oblige, hosting their own events dedicated to the Japanese animation house over the years. Now it's Palace James St's turn, screening 15 Ghibli favourites between Thursday, September 10–Sunday, December 19. As part of the 35 Years of Studio Ghibli program, fans will get yet another chance to catch these Japanese gorgeous features on the big screen — in their original Japanese-language, English-subtitled versions. Yes, you should make like a moving castle to see Howl's Moving Castle this time. And yes, you'll feel like you've been Spirited Away once again. Both of the above films are on the lineup, as are everything from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, My Neighbour Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and Princess Mononoke to Tales from Earthsea, Ponyo, The Wind Rises and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. Each film will screen twice, on Thursdays at 6.30pm and on Sundays at 2pm. If you've missed these flicks in their limited cinema runs or fest appearances in the past, consider this your chance to catch up (with tickets costing $15 per session, or $12 for Palace members). Check out the Spirited Away trailer below to get in the mood, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByXuk9QqQkk 35 Years of Studio Ghibli screens at Palace James St between Thursday, September 10–Sunday, December 19 — on Thursdays at 6.30pm and on Sundays at 2pm.
Spring means different things to different people. Flowers, cleaning, spending more time outdoors, being pleased that winter is over for another year — they're all on the list. At The Bavarian for three months from Wednesday, September 2, however, the season also means tucking into a German-style meal and washing it all down with bottomless beverages. That's what's on offer at the The Bavarian Spring Fest, which is available every day throughout the aforementioned period. It'll cost you $69 per person, which includes a range of dishes — think pretzels, chicken schnitzel with mushroom sauce and fries, and apple strudel — plus two hours of beer, cider and cocktails. You'll be able to choose what you'd like to sip, including from an Aussie range of brews, plus cocktails such as The Bavarian's new strawberry margarita, apple-tini and lychee paradise. Bookings are recommended — and Spring Fest is happening at The Bavarian venues in Eagle Street Pier, Chermside, Robina, Sunshine Plaza and Toowoomba. The Bavarian Spring Fest runs from September 2–November 30 at the chain's venues in Eagle Street Pier, Chermside, Robina, Sunshine Plaza and Toowoomba.
Due to COVID-19 shutdowns and restrictions throughout the year, the big screens at the Gallery of Modern Art's Australian Cinematheque haven't been shining as brightly as usual in 2020. That's changing with the venue's next retrospective program, with Life's a Drag spending a month celebrating drag in cinema. Screening for free between Friday, October 23–Sunday, November 22 — with sessions on Friday and Wednesday evenings, and Saturday and Sunday during the day — this curated movie lineup flits between stone-cold classics, movies you should be keen to discover (or rediscover) and a selection of more recent flicks. Drag Kids, a Canadian documentary from 2019, firmly falls into the latter category. Following four kids with a love of performing in drag (yes, as the title suggests), it opens the program. Other highlights include John Waters' Pink Flamingos and Multiple Maniacs, each starring the inimitable Divine; the Berlin-set, Liza Minnelli-starring Cabaret; seminal 1990 ball culture doco Paris is Burning; and rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch. And, if you're wondering about the obvious, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is on the bill because of course it is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SqvD1-0odY
No one wants to live in a world where Parasite, the best movie of 2019, doesn't exist. But if it didn't for some reason, it's highly likely that Corpus Christi would've been this year's Best International Feature Film Oscar-winner, rather than just a nominee. This Polish drama also focuses on people pretending to be something they're not. As directed by Warsaw 44 and The Hater's Jan Komasa, and written by the latter's screenwriter Mateusz Pacewicz, it casts a wry eye over much about life in their homeland today, too. And it isn't afraid to call out hypocrisy, societal divisions and greed, either — literally in the latter case, via its protagonist's speech at the local sawmill. There are few other similarities between Corpus Christi and the movie it lost to, but perhaps the only one that really matters is how potently, blisteringly and rousingly it unfurls its on-screen gifts. Well that, and how striking every second of the film looks, pairing its ashen, almost-hazy aesthetics with its complicated account of an ex-juvenile delinquent who poses as a small-town priest. The imposter's name is Daniel and, as played with soulful intensity by star-in-the-making Bartosz Bielenia, he's a complex figure. First seen serving the final days of his reform school sentence, he has made a fan out of the facility's head priest, Father Tomasz (Lukasz Simlat). In fact, if Daniel's criminal record didn't preclude it, he'd desperately love to follow in the elder man's footsteps and join the seminary. While the correctional centre's hierarchy means that he has to take on look-out duties when his fellow inmates brutally rough up one of their own — lest he be on the receiving end instead — the look in the 20-year-old's eyes whenever he's reminded that his past choices have stripped away his preferred future is haunting. There's much about Bielenia's exceptional performance that sears itself into memory, but that firm, mournful gaze that adorns his face again and again is unshakeably powerful and poignant. When Daniel is released to work at the aforementioned sawmill in rural Poland, it's better than incarceration. Of course, it's hardly what he has dreamed about. Call it fate, call it divine intervention, or call it either good or dumb luck, but he's soon given the chance to pursue his calling. Through a series of events that never feels convenient or strained, Daniel claims that he's a priest — and that contention largely goes unquestioned. In a close-knit community of devout but struggling souls, with the area rocked by a recent tragedy that still lingers, locals eagerly welcome him as their new spiritual advisor. Daniel's devotion to the task helps to mask his youthful years. With those around his age, he's particularly at ease. He also genuinely has faith and believes in the job, so the jump from jailhouse scraps and drug-addled post-release parties to assisting his surprise congregation is both easy and natural. Corpus Christi is loosely inspired by real-life details, but even though this is a movie about an unconventional priest, it isn't the type of religious true tale that might instantly spring to mind. It couldn't be further from the dutifully pious standard, which remains the case even as it gifts its young protagonist with an unexpected second chance — an unlikely opportunity to follow his heart and make a difference to an insular yet divided town, too — and demonstrates that he's not the only one within the movie's frames with a troubled past to overcome. Whether he's attempting to convince the locals that an old grief-fuelled grudge reflects badly upon their character or getting closer to parishioner Marta (Eliza Rycembel) to an ungodly degree, Daniel is a wiry and magnetic bag of contradictions. Much the same can be said of his potential absolution, too. His motives are sincere, but his shot at vindication springs through subterfuge — well-meaning subterfuge that's purely a result of grasping an opportunity, rather than any misdeeds or maliciousness, but subterfuge all the same. Crafting a film that starts with grey hues, grim visuals and a mood to match, and never buffers out or prays away the grit in its aesthetics, Komasa uses Daniel's situation to veer down an important path. Benevolence and redemption are key tenets of Catholicism, and of many faiths, but there's a difference between speaking of them and putting them into action — which Corpus Christi explores in every reaction that comes its central figure's way. The film doesn't deify its protagonist, nor shy away from his mistakes and woes, but it clearly sees and accepts his desire to aid others. And, in the process, it asks what might be considered a sacrilegious question to some: if people can find the solace, warmth and comfort they yearn for in biblical characters who teach compassion and charity, why can't they in a tattooed, scarred, street-smart ex-criminal standing in front of them, getting to know them, willingly dedicating his time to helping them, and driven by the same kind intentions and aspirations? If that train of thought sounds thorny, tricky and even anxiety-inducing, that's Corpus Christi. When he's lost in prayer, Bielenia's face may look angelic; however, nothing else about this movie is ever so blissful or simple. As a film about a rehabilitated crim-turned-masquerading cleric, tension and foreboding unsurprisingly seethes through every second. First, Daniel wonders how he'll ever be seen as anything other than "scum", as he's called. Next, he worries about maintaining his deception and keeping the position he treasures. As it bubbles and broods, Corpus Christi doesn't ever offer simple answers — to audiences or to its lead character. That's to be expected; this is a feature that spends its entire time rallying against easy solutions, after all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU-Z90SEqGQ&t=20s
Of all the country-specific film festivals that reach Brisbane's big screens each year, the British Film Festival might have the weakest reason to exist. Rather than showcasing flicks from a particular part of the world that viewers probably won't get the chance to see in cinemas otherwise, it screens a number of movies that are destined for a bigger release — and a heap of films with very well-known stars, too. But if you want to spend a few weeks immersed in the latest and greatest that UK cinema has to offer, all at once, it's definitely the event for you. And, in 2020 as it does every year, it features a jam-packed lineup. Hitting Palace Barracks and Palace James Street from Tuesday, November 10–Sunday, November 29, this year's BFF boasts one of the most anticipated movies of 2020: Ammonite, the Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan-starring romance set in 1840s England, as directed by God's Own Country's Frances Lee. The tender tale only premiered overseas in September, so it's coming to Australia rather quickly — and yes, it's already garnering awards buzz. From the 22-film lineup, other highlights include Misbehaviour, in which Keira Knightley helps recreate the true story of feminist protesters at the 1970 Miss World competition in London; thriller The Nest, with Jude Law playing a British entrepreneur who moves his American family to an English country manor; and Summerland, a World War II-set romantic drama led by Gemma Arterton. There's also opening night's Blithe Spirit, based on the Noël Coward's comedy and starring Dan Stevens, Isla Fisher, Judi Dench and Leslie Mann — plus folk-horror thriller Fanny Lye Deliver'd, about a woman in 17th-century Shropshire whose unhappy marriage gets a shake up by a younger couple on the run. The British Film Festival also looks back at British greats gone by, so expect to check out 80s sci-fi flick Flash Gordon, and watch Sir Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers in The Ladykillers for its 65th anniversary. Something extra special: a 40th anniversary screening of David Lynch's The Elephant Man, which earned him the first of his three Oscar nominations for Best Director, and is a movie that everyone genuinely needs to see at least once. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp3WjuJJYB8
When summer has rolled around on the Gold Coast in past years, a heap of music festivals have typically come with it. And while you might expect that 2020's warmest, sunniest portion would be a little different than usual — it's been that kind of year — the coastal spot is welcoming a brand new event, which'll feature more than 50 bands over ten nights at ten venues. Feedback Festival will run from Thursday, December 3–Sunday, December 13, taking over the stages at HOTA, Home of the Arts, Miami Marketta, Mo's Desert Club House, Soundlounge and Vinnie's Dive Bar — and Elsewhere, Southport RSL, Southport Sharks, Southport Yacht Club and Spaghetti & Jazz, too. Although it boasts a lineup big on variety, clearly you know what you're in for at the last joint on that list. There'll be jazz and there'll be dinner, obviously. Across the entire bill, attendees will be treated to more than 100 hours of live music across everything from rock and indie to electronic and punk — and it's a case of buying tickets to whatever you'd like to attend during the festival period. There'll also be secret shows popping up around the place, so keep an eye out for future additions to the lineup. FEEDBACK FESTIVAL LINEUP: Alexander Williams Amy Elise Angel Strings Benny D Williams Black Rabbit George Buttered CC The Cat Col Atkinson and John Whyte Smooth Jazz Duo Debt Cult DENNIS The Dreggs Ella Fence Felicity Lawless Ghost College Headlice Hussy Hicks Hot Coffee Jeff Martin The Jensens Karl S Williams Koi Boys Luke Pauley Nadia Sundae Trio Peach Fur Radolscent Russell Morris Santa Taranta Steve Cummins Tim Freedman The Unknowns Trichotomny Vavachi The Yams Zambebam Trio
Until 2020 hit, heading to a trivia night usually involved sitting in your favourite watering hole, sipping a few drinks and answering questions while a pub rock soundtrack played in the background. This year, however, that ritual has had a makeover — but in Isolation Trivia's latest online quiz night, those pub rock tunes remain. If you have a head full of otherwise pointless tidbits about the kinds of tunes usually blasted in pubs and bars around town, then this is a live-streamed trivia evening for you. Pub Rock Virtual Trivia is being held in collaboration with the current Pub Rock exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, so get ready to show just how much you know about everyone from AC/DC and Jimmy Barnes to Midnight Oil and Paul Kelly. If you're wondering how it works, you'll join the event from your couch, jot down your answers at home and everyone can compare scores virtually — and battle for trivia supremacy. Pub Rock Virtual Trivia takes place on from 7pm ADST Thursday, October 8. To play along, head to the event's Facebook page. And if you need some inspiration, this video just might help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLBfdyJ3cpw Pub Rock Virtual Trivia takes place online from 7pm ADST on Thursday, October 8. Top image: Not On Your Rider.
Thirsty? If you're not now, you will be once you've read this. That's the only appropriate reaction to a festival of beer, after all. Just think of all the amber liquids and foamy goodness. Okay, enough drooling; here are the important details that every ale-lover needs. When Beer Fest On the Grass returns from 11am on Saturday, March 6, 2021, more than 130 beers and ciders will be on offer from over 50 different brewers. To line your stomach, there'll also be a range of international food trucks. Basically, if there's a beer heaven, this is it. It's the eighth year that Eatons Hill Hotel has hosted the tipple-fuelled shindig, once again celebrating drinking, eating and enjoying a day in Brisbane's glorious outdoors. If you're serious about your beverages, you'll want to taste, sip, sample and chat to folks from a huge selection of breweries. And if you're serious about fun, you'll want to gather some mates and take part in the event's other fun activities — in previous years, there's been an inflatable beer obstacle course, a keg-stacking comp and a life-sized game of foosball. Tickets are on sale now, with entry costing $10. Top image: Brisbane Beer Fest.
Ever since Freddie Mercury teamed up with Brian May and company back in the 70s, Queen has never been out of fashion. Thanks to Bohemian Rhapsody, however, the band roared up the charts again over the past few years. You could call it a kind of magic. You could say that their songs must go on. Either way, if you're happy to let the British group keep rocking you, then head along to The Brightside on Friday, October 9. Been feeling a crazy little thing called love for Freddie and his bandmates? Then you'll be in the right spot. And if your approach to the group's music is "I want it all!", that's what you'll hear at Mamma Mia — Let Me Bingo and Sing-Along. And some ABBA songs, too, because why not? The one-night event will break free across two sessions, at 6.30pm and 9pm. This is a COVID-safe, seated version of the popular shindig — which is why bingo and sing-alongs are on offer, and dressing up as well. You won't be able to unleash your inner dancing queen, but you will still be able to thank everyone for the music. Yes, here we go again, just in a different format. If you're wondering how much money, money, money it'll set you back, tickets cost $29.13 — and buying in advance is recommended, because it's likely to sell out. Because it's a hard life, DJs will spin both band's tunes, and you and your fellow champions and super troupers will take a chance on singing along. You'll be able to say 'gimme, gimme, gimme' to other tracks from huge artists of the 70s and 80s, plus plenty of festive hits as well. Basically, prepare to step back in time — and if you miss out, you'll feel a little under pressure. Mamma Mia — Let Me Bingo and Sing-Along takes place on Friday, October 9, with sessions at 6.30pm and 9pm.
Saturday afternoons are great for kicking back, getting cosy in one spot and being leisurely with time. At Ivory Tusk until Saturday, October 3, they're also great for bottomless drinks over tacos. Every week from 12-5pm, the Palm Springs-inspired bar is pairing its pastel decor with plenty of beverages and a plate of filled tortillas. If that sounds like your ideal way to spend an arvo — or two hours, because that's how long the unlimited drinks package runs for — it will cost you $50 per person. Drinks-wise, you can sip your way through tap beers, Hills Apple Cider on tap, and white, red, rose and sparkling house wine options. As for the tacos, selections include cauliflower, black bean, baja fish, beef carnita and pork chicharrones. A few ticketing caveats: you need to pre-book in advance, and everyone on your booking has to take part in the package. Ivory Tusk's Saturday Siestas take place on Saturdays from 12–5pm until Saturday, October 3.
Staying motivated to keep crushing your exercise goals can be a challenge at the best of times, let alone in the middle of a pandemic. To provide a little incentive for all those runners out there, Lululemon is hosting a virtual version of its annual Seawheeze run. With both a half marathon (21.1 kilometres) and ten kilometre available, the digital races can be completed anywhere you like. On a treadmill? Yep. By doing ten laps of your one-kilometre block? Sure can. How about 500 laps of your 20-metre balcony? Whatever floats your boat. The races just need to be recorded in a single activity on the Strava app (which you can download for free) between Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 23. It costs $28USD to sign up (about $36AUD and $43NZD), which includes a training plan by Lululemon Global Ambassador Rob Watson, a digital badge for your Strava trophy case, an IRL finisher medal and a $2USD donation to Vinyasa Yoga for Youth and Red Clay Yoga. Of course, depending on where you are in the world, there may be some other restrictions you need to abide by while completing the challenge. If you're in metropolitan Melbourne, you can only leave your house for exercise once a day for up to an hour — and you can only venture up to five kilometres from your house. When choosing your distance, keep in mind that the world record for the half, set by Geoffrey Kamworor late last year, is 58.01.
This year hasn't involved wearing as much smart casual and business attire as we imagined — come on, we all wore PJs out of frame in at least one Zoom meeting. Right? But with society starting to open back up at different rates across the country, our neglected wardrobes are going to be back in rotation very soon. And, if you've realised that you didn't really miss your 'nice' clothes during lockdown, it may be a sign you need to do a little outfit rejig. Big fan of signs? Here's another one: menswear label M.J. Bale is hosting a huge two-week sale. The Australian fashion house focuses on producing timeless pieces that'll last beyond the seasonal trends, and this month you can get your hands on some high-quality, suave styles for an absolute steal. We're talking suits for just $399 (for one week only, between September 14–20), plus casual attire like jackets for under $199, trousers for under $99 and shirts for under $69 — it's all up to a whopping 50 percent off. The sale is running from Monday, September 14 to Sunday, September 27. You can jump online here to check out what's on offer. If you live in NSW or Queensland, you can also go to your closest M.J. Bale store. The M.J. Bale Spring Bale Sale is running between September 14–27, both online and at its stores (besides Victoria).
You can never have too much greenery in your life, both inside and outside your house. And, whether you're decking out your interiors or setting up a luxe outdoor hangout zone, you can never have too many homewares either. At least that's what you'll keep telling yourself while you're browsing around The Home Collective, which has made its post-COVID-19 lockdowns return. At its next event, the northside market will be offering up an array of plants, pots, furniture, cushions, art, ceramics, candles and other items that belong in your house or garden. If you're keen for a sneak peek, or some design inspiration, check out the event's Instagram page. That'll motivate you to head along, we're certain. Taking place at the Wavell Heights Community Hall from 8am–12pm on Sunday, September 13, the market will kit out your abode with plenty of choices, with more than 50 stalls ready for you to peruse. Sure, there's an excuse to boost your garden and homewares cred every weekend in Brissie, or so it seems, but you just can't have to much of a good thing. Entry is via gold coin donation, which'll go to the folks at Animal Welfare Queensland. And, there'll also be caffeinated beverages from Mana Coffee to help perk up your Sunday morning — plus bites to eat from a range of food trucks. The Home Collective Market takes place at the Wavell Heights Community Hall from 8am–12pm on Sunday, September 13.
Sunny Sunday afternoons are made for rolling a few bowls; however, even a crackerjack idea like that can benefit from a few boosts. Throw in some of the city's favourite food trucks, as well as a few great brews and tipples, and you've got yourself the perfect way to see out the weekend. Taking place at Bardon Bowls Club from 12–5pm on Sunday, August 16, that's exactly what the venue's Show Day Food Truck Pop-Up is serving up. Hop on the grass to do your sporting best, grab a feed from Micasa Burger Truck, Rolls Pho Mi, Rolling Stone Pizza, Donut Kitchen and Gelato a Go-Go, and knock back a few beverages. You'll be so relaxed, you'll completely forget that Monday is just around the corner. You'll also be able to listen to live tunes, while making the most of your long weekend. Yes, the Ekka isn't happening, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy some of its best elements elsewhere: food, music and hanging out with your mates, obviously. Bardon Bowls Club's Show Day Food Truck Pop-Up runs from 12–5pm on Sunday, August 16, and entry is free. Top image: Bardon Bowls Club.
When August hits in Brisbane, everyone in town starts craving the same thing. We've been well-conditioned that way, because this time of year usually heralds the Ekka's arrival — and the annual return of its famed strawberry sundaes. As we all know, things are quite a bit different in 2020. In fact, the Ekka isn't going ahead in its usual form. Don't worry, those strawberry desserts are still on the menu at the event's online iteration. Plus, if you'd prefer to combine them with a brew or several, Stone & Wood has something extra special on offer. Say hello to the brewery's Ekka-inspired 'Strawberry Sundae Kisses' beer. Yes, it's a boozy version of iconic dessert, and it tastes like strawberries and cream. As made from 60 kilograms of Queensland strawberries, Stone & Wood have whipped it up in the traditional Berliner Weisse style. It also features lactose and vanilla — and is available to drink (including to takeaway), and in beer ice cream floats. To enjoy a taste, you'll need to head down to Stone & Wood's Brissie brewery between Wednesday, August 12 (which would've been this year's Ekka public holiday)–Sunday, August 16. Remember that Friday, August 14 is now a day off, although the beer will still be flowing over the bonus long weekend. Stone & Wood will donating all the proceeds from the beer and floats to The Common Good's usual fundraising efforts for The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation. Stone & Wood's 'Strawberry Sundae Kisses' beer is available from its Brisbane brewery between Wednesday, August 12–Sunday, August 16.
On any given Saturday morning across Brisbane, plenty of pooches can be found descending upon the city's markets. Come 6am–12pm on Saturday, October 24 in Carseldine, dog lovers and their furry four-legged BFFs will be doing what they usually do — with the added bonus of attending the northside spot's returning Barktoberfest. What do cute canines have to do with celebrating this time of year? Nothing, but don't let that get in the way of a dapper doggo-friendly morning out. As well as the usual food and fresh produce, an array of pet-related stalls will ramp up the fun to barking great levels. There'll also be a pupper fashion parade and a pawparazzi photo contest — to determine just which canine cutie friend is the most adorable. And, if you don't have your own pooch nipping at your heels, there's no need to stress. For ultimate pat time, the Animal Welfare League Queensland and Guide Dogs Queensland will be onsite with some pals. Entry is free, and live entertainment is part of the market as well.
In 2020, we've all been staring at our own patches of turf for what feels like a lifetime. Fancy a change of scenery, even without physically going anywhere? Welcoming a few new pieces of greenery into your home could do just the trick — and there'll be plenty on offer at Brisbane's newest plant market. Next taking place on Saturday, November 14, The Plant Lovers' Market will be jam-packed with indoor plants, tropical plants, cacti and succulents, plus handmade pots to put them in. Head by from 8am–3pm, and also expect to spend some time perusing artwork and jewellery, all at Aspley Central. Actually, if you're a music fan, you might just end up leaving with some extra listening material for you and your new green babies. The Plant Lovers' Market is happening right next to the Brisbane Record Fair, because who doesn't want to rifle through vinyl and leafy marvels at the same time? Updated November 8.
Sunday afternoons tend to fall into two categories. The weekend is almost over, so you're either keen to get as much couch time as possible before the working week starts all over again — or you're eager to get out and about and fill the day to the brim. Heading to a bar can still be a cruisy way to farewell the weekend, though. It certainly is at Hello Gorgeous. The Newstead bar has introduced a new weekly Sunday session, called Sundaze Spritzes and Sunsets, so you can head out but still kick back. Obviously, plenty of spritzes are on the menu. Each week, you can choose from six varieties of spritz — including a mandarin version with gin, a lemon concoction made with limoncello and prosecco, and a Cuban spritz that includes rum, raspberries, prosecco and ginger beer. There's also a passionfruit and mango option, and a non-alcoholic apple-flavoured spritz. As for the sixth kind, it changes each week. Drinks will set you back $12 a pop (or $8 sans booze), and you can also tuck into a bite to eat with prices ranging from $8–30. It all kicks off at 12pm each Sunday, and runs through until closing. Tunes-wise, expect a beat-filled soundtrack. And if you're eager to sit on the deck, you can bring your dog along, too. Sundaze Spritzes and Sunsets takes place every Sunday from 12pm at Hello Gorgeous, 32A Chester Street, Newstead.
Until now, you've probably gone through your life thinking that August 5 is just another day on the calendar. If you like oysters, prepare to have your view changed. When that date rolls around next, it'll happen to celebrate Oyster Day — and so should you by slurping down more than a few, obviously. Alchemy will be doing just that in its riverside Eagle Street digs. Even better: it'll be doing so by offering up $1 oysters. There's no missing numeral in the price, either, so gather your gold coins for a feast of Tasmania's finest. What you decide to pair them with, drinks-wise, is up to you — and you can do so for lunch, a mid-afternoon snack, an after-work tipple or an early dinner. Head by from 12–6pm, and we're betting that both your wallet and tastebuds will thank you. Alchemy's $1 Oyster Day runs from 12–6pm on Wednesday, August 5.
Think you know everything there is to know about Brisbane? Think again. In a year that's seeing us all stay close to home — exploring our city rather than venturing too far — there's plenty more to learn, including at the Museum of Brisbane's new major exhibition: The Storytellers. On display now — and free to enter — this sprawling showcase examines the city's history, myths and tales. But, it doesn't do so in a standard, straightforward way. Rather than just displaying historical objects and artworks, this interactive and immersive exhibition has enlisted nine Brissie storytellers to help spin both written and narrated accounts of Brisbane's past. Doing the honours: Victoria Carless, Simon Cleary, Matthew Condon, Trent Dalton, Nick Earls, Benjamin Law, Hugh Lunn, Kate Morton and Ellen van Neerven, aka a lineup of names that'll be familiar to anyone who loves both Brisbane and words. One huge highlight, other than tales about everything from Boggo Road Gaol to Kangaroo Point's link with kangaroos, is the showcase's distinctive storybook aesthetic. Keep an eye out for walking tours of the city, workshops on creative writing and other storytelling-focused events as well. Expect this huge celebration of all things Brissie to stick around for a while, too — at least until the end of the year. [caption id="attachment_777680" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Toby Scott[/caption] The Storytellers is on display at the Museum of Brisbane — with free entry from 10am–5pm Saturday–Thursday and 10am–7pm on Fridays. Images: Toby Scott.
Next time you slurp down some oysters, you needn't just opt for natural molluscs served with lemon and Tabasco. There's nothing wrong with that old favourite; however you can get a bit more adventurous with your oyster dishes at One Fish Two Fish's returning Oyster Frenzy. Making a comeback for National Oyster Day on Wednesday, August 5, the Kangaroo Point eatery is serving up a six-course oyster feast, taking seafood lovers through six different flavours. Start with the tried, tested and aforementioned combination, then move onto oysters battered in squid ink tempura and served with Asian salad and sriracha aioli, three-cheese baked oysters, and oysters with limoncello and finger lime caviar. You'll also be snacking on oysters with tarragon and garlic butter pangrattato, plus oysters paired with an oak-aged chardonnay mignonette granita. In total, you'll eat your way through 18 oysters all up — three per dish — for $59 per person. That price includes a glass of prosecco or a Stone & Wood Pacific Ale upon arrival, too. Because oysters are always popular, bookings are essential. Oyster Frenzy will run across two seatings: from 5.30–7pm and 7.30–9pm.
When the middle-of-the-week blues hit, there are 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. Acoustic Wednesdays, The Triffid's Wednesday night acoustic session, combines both — and, with the venue back in business post COVID-19 lockdowns, the free music series is livening up your hump day until Wednesday, September 2. The music lineup changes weekly, with Joel Myles and Wolfe Petersen hitting the stage on July 22, Tiarne and The Letter Elle doing the same on July 29, OJ Mengel and Willow taking the microphone on August 5, and Ruby Gilbert and Meg Ripps doing the honours on August 12. Or, check out Hugo Stranger and Cryss on August 19, Shallie and Patrick Williams on August 26, and Hello Jane and Nathan Melvin-Tong once the beginning of September rolls around. These talented performers will do their unamplified thing and make your midweek brighter, with the laidback festivities taking over the Newstead hangout at 7pm. The venue's relaxed beer garden proves the perfect place for it, and an ideal spot for grabbing a few beverages — and even a bite to eat. The Triffid's Acoustic Wednesdays run from 7pm each Wednesday until September 2.
Treating yo'self hasn't been the easiest thing to do in 2020. For one week, however, Salt Meats Cheese at Gasworks is serving up a rather tasty menu that'll do the trick. That'd be its Truffle Week lineup, with truffles popping up in all kinds of dishes — including cocktails. From Monday, July 20–Sunday, July 26, SMC will be adding truffles to bruschetta, pizza and pappardelle — so that's three of the Italian eatery's staples covered. It'll also be whipping up wood-fired truffle brie, if you feel like getting extra cheesy with your truffles. And, because you'll need something to wash it all down with, truffle margaritas are also on offer. In Brisbane, Truffle Week is only taking place at the Newstead SMC venue. If you happen to find yourself on the Gold Coast during the seven-day period, it is also happening at SMC Surfers Paradise. And if you're wondering why SMC has suddenly gone truffle crazy, it's to celebrate the Australian truffle season. That's as good a reason as any, of course. Truffle Week runs from Monday, July 20–Sunday, July 26 at Salt Meats Cheese at Gasworks, Newstead.
When it comes to soaking in the splendour of neon signage, the Paradise Centre on the Gold Coast is embracing the idea in a big way. Thanks to a new pop-up called Neon Paradise, the Surfers Paradise spot is positively glowing until Monday, October 5, with 18 custom neon lights brightening up the place. Because this is on the Goldie, these neon signs feature a melted ice cream, ocean waves, a pair of thongs and a surf lifesaving flag — as well as a koala and a Cavill Avenue street sign. Like most of these types of pop-ups, it's tailor-made not just for gazing at, but for snapping as well. The free pop-up runs from 9am–9pm daily; however if you'd like some DJ-spun tunes with your bright lights, you'll want to head by from 5–8pm on a Friday or Saturday evening. It's a family-friendly affair, too — as you'd expect given the location and the fact that it's on during school holidays — so expect to have company. Neon Paradise is on display until Monday, October 5 from 9am–9pm daily.
Holey Moley Golf Club has been bringing friendly, booze-fuelled competition to Brisbane for a couple of years now. In both Fortitude Valley and the Wintergarden, it combines a mini-golf course with the humming atmosphere of a bar, turning traditional putt putt into a sensory labyrinth for kidults. On Monday, September 21, the chain will be celebrating International Mini-Golf Day with nine rounds for just $1. Across two sprawling venues, you'll be able to tap, tap, tap your way through multiple holes with pop culture themes — because this definitely isn't your usual mini-golf course. And, once you've completed a trick shot or several, head to the bar to enjoy a pun-laden cocktail list — plus bites to eat from the kitchen. You can either book online or roll up after 4pm on Monday to nab the dirt-cheap one-buck deal. Holey Moley Golf Club's International Mini-Golf Day takes place from 4pm on Monday, September 21.
Getting creative is a tried-and-tested way to de-stress. Sometimes, you don't just want to whip up a masterpiece, though — you also want to blow off steam. Enter splatter rooms, aka the paint-flinging alternative to smash rooms such as Rage Cage, which lets you hit stuff with a baseball bat. At this imaginative activity, you can throw colours at the canvas in the name of art and catharsis. Keen to get a-splattering? Meet The Splatter Room, which is part of Portside Wharf's new Art Month in May. You'll find it next to the Dendy cinema from Friday–Sunday across the month, letting you get messy in a space that'll be white when you enter, then covered in paint when you leave. The paid activity costs $60 per session, which includes all of the supplies that you'll need and an hour to use them. An obvious word of warning: don't wear something that you're not comfortable with getting covered with paint, even though you'll be donning a protective garment over the top. The Splatter Room sits on the Art Month lineup alongside a big street party at the Hamilton precinct, and also dedicating the month's markets to local creatives and artists. At the first, which takes place from 1–6pm on Saturday, May 4, there'll be free art activations, plus pop-ups serving up bites to eat and sips to drink. At the second, more than 35 stalls will sling their wares. The street party will also include free splatter sessions at 3, 4 and 5pm four groups of ten — until booked out. And, away from the paint, there'll be live tunes thanks to a roving brass band, Caribbean percussion and a DJ. The folks from Pink Flamingo, which opened in Hamilton late 2023, will also be family-friendly circus shows. Fancy lawn games instead? That's also on the bill. As for the food, Fosh, Rise Bakery, Bird's Nest Yakitori, Byblos and Gusto Da Gianni are among the venues taking part. Then, when it's time for the Portside Wharf Creative Market on Saturday, May 18, free splatter sessions will be on offer again at the same times — and for the same group sizes. You'll also be able to shop for pottery, homewares and art. Pet portraits will be available, too, for free for the first 25 folks or for $10 afterwards. You'll either need to bring your furry best friend or a photo of them. Your dog can also get creative via peanut butter lick painting, which is exactly what it sounds like. [caption id="attachment_819236" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Claudia Baxter[/caption]
If you're all about thinking green, living in a more eco-conscious way and doing your utmost for the planet — as we all should be — then you likely already know about Brisbane's Green Heart Fair. This event regularly takes over a leafy public space to celebrate sustainability, all by giving away plants, teaching attendees about relevant topics and serving up plant-based food truck dishes. For 2024, mark 9am–3pm on Sunday, May 26 in your diary, with all of the above is on the agenda once again. Also part of the fair, which'll be settling into the 64-hectare expanse that is Victoria Park / Barrambin in Herston: markets selling pre-loved threads, wildlife displays, taking test rides in electric vehicles, and learning more about sustainability and gardening (plus other related subjects). If adding some greenery to your yard has particularly piqued your interest, there'll be native plants on offer — all for free. They're available on a first-come, first-served basis, so arriving early is recommended. And, the fair also spans live tunes, plus activities for kids. This time around, the latter includes a Bluey show — for real life.
When he launched his first Brisbane restaurant in 2023 and paid tribute to the Amalfi Coast in the process, Guy Grossi started giving Italian food lovers in the Sunshine State capital plenty of treats. He isn't done yet, not only because Settimo is still going strong, but thanks to its first-birthday celebrations — complete with free cannoli. Crispy tubes filled with sweet ricotta, without paying a cent? That's what's on offer in the Queen Street Mall for one morning only. You'll need to make a beeline to the inner-city spot's main stage on Tuesday, February 20 from 7–10am. Yes, cannoli is the breakfast of champions. The full birthday festivities also include an anniversary dinner, a pasta-making masterclass with Grossi and the debut of a new aperitivo hour — but free cannoli trumps almost everything. If you haven't made a date with Settimo yet and are keen to after your complimentary dessert, you'll find it at 111 Mary Street.
Queer Screen doesn't just host two LGBTQIA+ film festivals in Sydney each year, with Mardi Gras Film Festival arriving in the first half and Queer Screen Film Fest in the second. It also takes those fests to the rest of Australia via online versions. So, to start September, you can get cosy on the couch while streaming your way through a number of movies from the QSFF lineup without leaving home. While the fest runs from Wednesday, August 28–Sunday, September 1, it goes virtual from Monday, September 2–Sunday, September 8. Closing night's Gondola, about female cable-car conductors expressing their emotions in the sky, is among the titles you'll be able to catch on your own screen. So are the gay, sapphic and trans and gender-diverse shorts strands, with Lukas Gage (Road House) and Keiynan Lonsdale (Swift Street) making appearances via the bite-sized Stay Lost. Plus, at-home viewers have American Parent, about a lesbian couple raising a toddler during the pandemic; Big Boys, focusing on a teen with a crush; All Shall Be Well director Ray Yeung's 2019 film Twilight's Kiss; and The Judgment, about US-based Egyptian boyfriends returning home and dealing with the supernatural, among their other choices.
Go on, drink your Easter treats this year. That's what Choctails at Fosh is all about. The riverside bar and restaurant at Portside Wharf in Hamilton is still slinging seafood, of course — that's what it does all year round anyway — but it's also letting patrons sip their way through boozy versions of hot cross buns and creme eggs. Ever tried a hot cross bun martini? You can now. It's made with spiced rum, cinnamon schnapps and vanilla liqueur, and costs $24. Prefer a creme egg tipple? For the same price, you'll be enjoying vodka, Baileys and pieces of crushed creme egg mixed together. This four-cocktail menu is on offer from Monday, March 25–Monday, April 1, and also includes the blend of vanilla vodka, chocolate liqueur and cream that Fosh is calling the Smartini ($24) — and a Sunshine Splash mocktail made with orange, pineapple and strawberry juice, plus ginger ale ($15). Every day over the break, the eatery is open from 11am — and yes, long weekends are all about boozy brunches, if that's when you want to tuck into the choctail menu. Images: Markus Ravik.
If an arts festival is happening in Brisbane, Hiromi Tango is normally a part of it. The Japanese Australian artist's work has featured on a heap of Brisbane Festival lineups over the past decade — including in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2023 — as well as at Botanica in the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, plus other events around town. Usually, then, checking out her work means rushing along during an extremely limited window; however, that isn't the case with Tango's current Museum of Brisbane residency. Brisbanites have five months, until Sunday, August 11, 2024, to not only enjoy Tango's colourful creativity but to get involved themselves. Her time at the King George Square gallery includes 花弁 Hanabira (Gentle Petal), a public installation that everyone is invited to contribute to. In order to take part, you'll need to help fill MoB's Adelaide Street Pavilion with sculptural flowers. Onsite, upcycled textiles and foraged local materials await. Attendees can fashion them into blooms, then add them to the artwork. If you'd benefit from some guidance, drop-in sessions are taking place from 10am–1pm on Thursdays and Saturdays throughout Tango's residency. Or, you can just head by whenever suits you within the 10am–5pm daily opening hours. 花弁 Hanabira (Gentle Petal) takes inspiration from Brisbane's florals, as well as the changing seasons. The idea of the piece is to turn its home into a temporary flower-filled sanctuary. If it all sounds incredibly relaxing and gorgeous, it's also designed to be a meditative experience, with healing and wellness among the concepts that Tango is exploring with the work. When the Japan-born interdisciplinary artist contributes flowers to the installation herself, she does so in her usual cumulative style, which involves taking everyday objects and materials, then weaving and wrapping over them, then joining them together. Images: Joe Ruckli.
Beer festivals can happen anywhere, because events dedicated to showcasing and sinking brews are all about the drinks, not the location. Host a beer fest in stunning surroundings, however, and it's a sure-fire way to level up an already enticing celebration. That's what Range Brewing's Gerard Martin and Matt McIver decided back in 2022, when the pair gave Brisbane a brand-new booze event that's all about independent beers. That festival? Juicy. And its glitzy locale? The one and only Fortitude Music Hall. That initial event was clearly a hit, because the Range crew are back to do it all again in the eye-catching Valley Mall venue. 2023's Juicy Beer Festival takes place on Saturday, March 11, this time with up to 90 different brews from 20-plus brewers ready to be sampled beneath Fortitude Music Hall's chandeliers. As it did last year, it'll host two sessions: an afternoon slot from 12–4pm and an evening one from 6–10pm. As well as getting attendees sipping beers under those chandeliers, this one-day event pairs yeasty beverages with a soundtrack, all as part of a ticketed affair that covers everything you'll taste for that one price. Martin and McIver took inspiration from overseas, then decided to bring it home — and give Fortitude Music Hall its first-ever beer festival in the process. So, you'll pay your entry fee — with tickets on sale from 9am on Thursday, January 19 — then get your glass and start enjoying all the brews on offer — without needing to worry about paying for drinks as you go. Each beer is served up in the event's exclusive tasting glasses, and every single one on offer in 2023 will be different to the lineup in 2022. Breweries getting some love at Juicy's second fest include Sydney's Wildflower, Melbournian's Hop Nation and Brisbane's Sea Legs, as well as everywhere from Grifter and Molly Rose to Garage Project and Working Title. Yes, Range features as well, naturally. DJ Ebony Boadu, DJ Sampology and select DJs from Fortitude Valley's QUIVR DJ School will provide the tunes — and to help line the stomach, Shucks Oyster Bar will be slinging seafood, Southside will serve up its Asian cuisine and Baja is bringing the Mexican bites. Also on offer, and a perfect beer accompaniment: steak and frites.
Any day of the week can be improved with pizza. Fridays don't really need any help if you hit the office for a standard work week, but a few slices can make a great day even better. Throw in the fact that Treasury Hotel is serving up this champion of dishes in its openair courtyard from 4.30pm each week until Friday, March 31 and, yes, you have yourself a winning way to welcome the weekend. This is exactly what your Friday arvos need: $18 woodfired pizzas, with supreme, margherita and pepperoni versions available. If you're still hungry, you fancy something to go with your slices or you're in the mood for something snackier, there's also warm marinated olives, warmed whiskey nuts and a garlic pizza with dips for $12 a pop. Also on offer: a bar slinging sips from AIX Rosé and live entertainment, all in the Treasury Hotel's heritage surroundings. You'll need to pay for your drinks on top, of course, but consider this a tasty way to line your stomach for those after-work tipples. Keep an eye on the weather, however, because Woodfired Fridays will only happen if it isn't rained out.
How do you hear what you see and feel? That's a question that most of us haven't thought much about — but Australian audiovisual artist Robin Fox has. A favourite at Aussie art events, including busting out beams of light at RISING and Mona Foma, he blends light and sound in laser works that are all about turning what our eyes perceive, ears hear and skin senses into a three-dimensional show. His latest: Brisbane Constellation at Brisbane Powerhouse's new Night Feast. One of two of Fox's projects in Brisbane in March — the other: being part of Powerhouse's also-debuting "festival of other music" ΩHM — his site-specific Brisbane Constellation is all tones and rays, unsurprisingly. Here, he's using a matrix of crystal refractors to put on a spectacle, complete with colour explosions that look out of this world. [caption id="attachment_893492" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Bryony Jackson[/caption] It's one of the arts events as part of the Night Feast lineup, alongside plenty of food and drinks by the river across the neon-lit market's March debut. Head along from 4.30–9.30pm Wednesday–Sunday between Wednesday, March 1–Sunday, March 26 — for its first two weeks, then starting at 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays from Saturday, March 18 — for an audiovisual journey, in what marks Fox's latest piece in his latest city. All up, his work has graced 60 spots worldwide and counting. [caption id="attachment_893490" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Lachlan Douglas[/caption] Top image: Lachlan Douglas.
Start the Lunar New Year as you intend to continue it: with a bottomless feast of dumplings and unlimited cocktails. Throw in non-stop Tsingtao beers as well and you'll definitely be welcoming the Year of the Rabbit in style. That's something we all want every time any calendar resets, and it's on the agenda at Emporium's Piano Bar. Throwing a big Lunar New Year party, the South Bank venue is putting on non-stop drinks and bites for two hours. Even better: it's hosting two sittings, from 2–4pm and 5.30–7.30pm on Sunday, January 22, because this annual event always proves popular. While you're eating and drinking at this all-you-can-consume feast at the ground-floor venue, you'll be in Piano Bar's mighty decadent surroundings, beneath its eye-catching chandelier and being entertained by a dragon dance performance. On the full menu, which costs $80 per person: two hours of dim sum, including dumplings, pork buns, vegetable gyzoa, spring rolls and siu mei; drinks including Tsingtao lager, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages; and fortune cookies.
If your working week runs from Monday–Friday, then we know exactly what you look forward to while the nine-to-five grind ticks by. Everyone loves Friday afternoons — that glorious time when you can stroll out of the office, stop thinking about everything that's filled up your brain for the week, and kick back and relax. Two days off awaits, after all. For many, even now that 2023 is well and truly underway, adjusting to life back in the office is still an ongoing process. So if that's left you extra eager to celebrate the weekend, that's understandable. Thankfully, Cloudland will help you do just that at its new Rosé and Champagne Garden Pop-Up, which runs from 5–7pm on select Fridays — on February 24, March 24 and April 28. Your $30 ticket gets you a flight of four splashes of sparkling of both the pink-hued and clear varieties (in 50-millilitre servings a pop). You'll also be able to eat your way through woodfired bread with dips. While you're enjoying both the bubbles and the food, all you need to do is sit down with your mates and celebrate the weekend. Yes, that's something worth saying cheers to. [caption id="attachment_825703" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kgbo via Wikimedia Commons[/caption]
Everyone has one: a Disney film that's so intertwined with their childhood, even thinking about it makes you feel like you're six years old again. Perhaps you've always said "no worries" to The Lion King. Maybe you've never had a friend like Aladdin. Or, you could've learned that it's better down where it's wetter thanks to The Little Mermaid. Whether one of the aforementioned flicks is your favourite Mouse House movie — or even if you prefer Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty or Peter Pan — you'll find plenty to get nostalgic over at Dendy Coorparoo's next festival. Yes, with a name like Disney Classics Festival, it's pretty self-explanatory. Also on the bill: The Jungle Book, Lady and the Tramp, The Emperor's New Groove, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. While some of these movies have been remade in live-action or using photorealistic CGI in recent years, this fest — which runs from Saturday, June 26–Sunday, July 11 — is all about the original animated flicks. And, like all of Dendy Coorparoo's festivals, different movies screen on different dates — and multiple times — so checking out the session listing is the best way to schedule your viewing.
Retro's Fortitude Valley likes kicking it old school, which is hardly surprising given its name. But sometimes you don't just want to dance to any old tunes. If you've got a specific period in mind — the period when So Fresh compilations were the biggest thing on everyone's stereos, to be exact — then you'll want to hit up the bar's So Fresh Thursdays. From 9pm every week, you'll dance to tracks of a purely 90s and 00s vintage — which means you'll enjoy making shapes to everything from Britney Spears to Hilary Duff. If you'd like to dress the part with a bit of double denim, well, that's completely up to you. Shakira, Beyonce, Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls — we'd keep listing artists of the era, but we know you already know who'll be on the playlist. They all provided your soundtrack at the time, after all, and likely have since. Entry is free, and doors open at 9pm.
Treating yo'self hasn't been the easiest thing to do over the past year or so — but for one week, Salt Meats Cheese is serving up a rather tasty menu that'll do the trick. That'd be its Truffle Week lineup, with truffles popping up in all kinds of dishes. Yes, that includes truffle cocktails. From Monday, June 21–Sunday, June 27, SMC will be adding truffles to pizza, polenta, gnocchi and pappardelle — so that's four of Italian staples covered. It'll also be whipping up baked truffle brie and deep-fried bocconcini with truffles, if you feel like getting extra cheesy with your truffles. And, still on that topic, you can add a jug of truffle cream cheese to any dish you like as well. You'll need something to wash it all down with, so truffle margaritas are also on offer. They'll be garnished with freshly shaved truffle, and also feature a truffle salted rim. Or, you could opt for a truffle sour, which even includes truffle oil. Truffle Week is taking place at all SMC venues during its seven-day period. And if you're wondering why the Italian chain has suddenly gone truffle crazy, it's to celebrate the Australian truffle season — which is as good a reason as any.
Roll up, roll up, the big top is here — again. But when you step into Infamous' spiegeltent, you're not stepping into an ordinary circus. A blend of acrobatics, clowning, dancing, comedy, cabaret and burlesque, this is strictly an adults-only affair. Think performers getting a little risqué, acrobats with ripped abs and displays of raunchy dancing, as well as death-defying acts with a devilish dash and plenty of cheeky laughs. Yes, this is a show that comes with a word of warning, so prepare for a two-hour stint of naughtiness that ramps up the indulgence and the hedonism — and the sauciness as well. After packing out previous seasons throughout southeast Queensland — including in Rocklea over the past few months — Infamous hits Southport between Friday, June 18–Sunday, August 8. You'll find its big top at the Broadwater Parklands, with performances running from Thursday to Sunday during its almost two-month stay — and with tickets ranging from $52.30 all the way up to $247.35 for the best seats in the house.
In the humble espresso martini, caffeine and booze combine in glorious style. But why just drink regular ol' coffee-flavoured cocktails in elongated glasses when you can try inventive types? There's a time and a place for traditional concoctions, of course. There's also a time and a place to sip creative one-off versions as well. In previous years, when Riverland has hosted its regular Espresso Martini Fest, everything from salted caramel espresso martinis, Nutella espresso martinis and jaffa espresso martinis to coconut tipples, honeycomb varieties and fruit-and-nut combos have been on the menu. Those flavours, and the event that pours them, have unsurprisingly proven popular — so, although the exact drinks lineup is yet to be revealed, the event is returning again in 2021. Drop by from 5pm on Saturday, April 24 to get sipping — and eating, with the site's range of street kitchens cooking up food to match. And while it should go without saying, if you don't like your beverages with a considerable buzz, then this isn't the event for you.
If you're of an age when you can remember burning your friend's So Fresh CD so you could stay up to date with the coolest songs of the season, congrats. You're old now. But also, congrats, because you will seriously enjoy this So Fresh shindig. Returning for yet another year, the old-school get-together to end all old-school get-togethers is coming to Eaton's Hill Hotel on Saturday, June 19, and it'll be playing bangers strictly of the 2000s vintage. You can expect a disturbing percentage of Channel 10 alums (Australian Idol winners/losers and ex-Neighbours actors) as well as way too much Nickelback for polite company. Also, just throwing this out there: we're desperately hoping for a timely comeback of the Duff sisters duet 'Our Lips Are Sealed'. This time around, the retro tunes will come with plenty of party fun, with a ball pit, jumping castle, balloon drop, silent disco and face-painting, plus free fairy floss, lollipops, Zooper Doopers and rainbow Paddlepops. Oh, and it's a pyjama party, so you know what you need to wear. Tickets are on sale now, and of course it's obviously 18 and over — because if you're under 18 you definitely don't know what So Fresh is. Or CDs, probably. And if you need some motivation, let the Duff sisters take care of that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRfvBPkIQ9M
