Art is a highly visual medium, but feasting your eyes on a painting, sculpture, ceramic piece, etching, watercolour or photo only uses one of your senses. And, for audience members who are blind or have low vision, the focus on aesthetics means that they can't enjoy these carefully crafted pieces of creativity. That's not the case at Vis-ability, QUT Art Museum's new sensory showcase. Specifically designed with the vision-impaired in mind, it re-imagines the exhibition experience. To ensure that everyone can enjoy the items on display, the pieces have been given a new tactile and audio dimension. Visitors can feel tactile models and listen to descriptions — which is perfect if you've ever wanted to reach out and touch a painting, or felt as though an artwork was speaking to you. Free descriptive tours will also be available throughout the exhibition program, while sighted attendees can don augmented reality goggles that'll display the museum-going experience just as someone with limited vision would experience it. Vis-ability runs until Sunday, August 4, open from 10am–5pm Tuesday–Friday and 12–4pm on weekends. Artwork image: Elisa Jane Carmichael. Can we see the burst of colours of wildflowers amongst the landscape? 2018. Synthetic polymer on canvas, 200 x 148cm. QUT Art Collection. Purchased 2018. Photo courtesy of Onespace Gallery, Brisbane. Installation images: Thomas Oliver.
Winter isn't for everyone, but it does have its perks. You can't sit by the river and enjoy a hot boozy beverage in the middle of a sweltering Brisbane summer, for example. (Sure, you wouldn't want to when it's 35 degrees outside, but you get the picture.) Now that the frosty weather has arrived, Riverland is taking the colder climes to heart by slinging warm tipples all season long — serving dry spiced hot-buttered rum, hot mocha espresso martinis, mulled apricot red wine sangria and hot toddies, to be exact. It's all part of the Eagle Street venue's Tiki-themed pop-up butter bar, which runs from 5pm Thursday through to Sunday throughout winter. The main attraction is those toasty, buttery rums, which also come flavoured with cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla and star anise — plus cloudy apple juice for an apple pie taste. But the martini is no slouch either, featuring a mocha hot pot filled with chocolate, espresso, sugar and vanilla vodka. Hot food will also be on the menu thanks to Phil from Phil's Kitchen, who'll be doling out a hearty Malaysian-style laksa. Pair your warm drink with a steaming soup made from spicy coconut cream, noodles, wilted Asian greens and your choice of duck, chicken, vegetables or seafood, and you'll forget all about the temperature.
Saturday mornings are tailor-made for brunch. The weekend has just begun, you have two whole days off ahead of you and absolutely no one is in any kind of hurry. Throw in mimosas and bloody marys, and it's a particularly stellar way to start the day. Add arcade games and vegan food, too, and you really do have a reason to jump out of bed early. Netherworld usually serves up button-mashing aplenty — as well as booze and meals — however the Fortitude Valley venue is going animal product-free between 9–11.30am on Saturday, May 25. Cocktails will hit come 10am, and you also grab a cup of Bunker and Bessa Coffee's batch filter brews for a caffeinated buzz. While the Vegan Brunch menu will be revealed closer to the date, expect a full comfort food experience. There's no reservations, so turning up early is a smart plan. To cater for a crowd, Netherworld will even be bringing in extra seating.
It's time for another food-focused celebratory day, with fried chicken in the spotlight. At its Myer Centre store in the Brisbane CBD, NeNe Chicken is naturally celebrating its main culinary attraction. Not only is it giving away freebies, however — it's also giving away gold-dusted poultry pieces. Head on down from midday on Saturday, July 6, and a free serving of Korean-style original-flavoured wingettes and drumettes will be waiting if you're one of the first 100 people through the door. If you like fried chook and free lunches, you'll want to be one of them. And honestly, who doesn't love both? By nabbing a serving, you'll also go in the draw to receive a free dish of pieces coasted in edible 23-karat gold. Yes, really. That said, you will need to hang around until 12.30pm to see if you're one of the five winners — and if your National Fried Chicken Day will be extra shiny.
Little Valley, Fortitude Valley's late-night, Chinese-influenced eatery, already boasts ex-Rick Shores head chef Jake Pregnell in its kitchen. As part of its ongoing culinary series, it's also bringing in some additional cooking firepower. Collab is just what it sounds like — a chance to welcome guest chefs into the fold for a one-night, multi-course feast — and it's teaming up with Ben Williamson for its second outing. Yes, the ex-Gerard's Bistro chef is making his way up to Little Valley on Wednesday, July 24, teaming up with Pregnell for eight delicious dishes, including canapes. Over each course, both chefs will present their own creation, which will be designed to share. Two sittings are available, at 5.30pm and 8.30pm, and multiple packages are on the cards as well. You can tuck into the feast for $95 a head, or pair it all with matched wines, with $49 and $69 drinks options on the cards. Bookings are essential by contacting the venue.
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 two seasons, 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 Fritzenberger's latest evening dedicated to the show. Head along from 6.30pm on Wednesday, July 10 to slay the demogorgons — i.e. your fellow competitors — with your knowledge of Hawkins' geography, the recipe for Eggos and #justiceforbarb. Here's hoping that you'll be able to communicate your answers via Christmas lights. And yes, this quiz night is timed perfectly, given that the show's third season drops on Thursday, July 4.
Whether you're a seasoned traveller or an occasional hotel guest, one part of the process never gets old: tucking into a buffet breakfast. At the Hilton Brisbane in the CBD, Vintaged Bar + Grill serves up an all-you-can-eat buffet feast not only for guests staying onsite, but for the public — and on weekends, you can now pair your omelettes, granola and croissants with unlimited mimosas. The mid-morning special runs every weekend — and, for $39 per person, you won't leave hungry or thirsty. Or quickly, because free car parking is included until 2pm if you book for two people. While you can hang out in the city until well past lunch, the one caveat at this boozy breakfast is time. Specifically, the unlimited meal runs from 10–11am, so you'll want to eat and drink all you can within that period. Honestly, once you've done a couple of passes at the buffet and paired it with more than a couple of combos of juice and sparkling, you'll probably be more than satisfied anyway. Updated October 15.
When Prince told us he'd be partying like it was 1999, he probably figured he'd get a few good years out of the song. And yet, 37 years after his single was first released back in 1982 — and nearing two decades since the year in question passed — we're all still following in his footsteps. At The Elephant's third annual All 90s All Nighter on Saturday, July 6, the venue will be doing the purple one proud; however, that's not all it's doing. Thrusting 1999 and the nine years prior into the spotlight, it's serving up the next best thing to time-travelling back to the era that gave us everything from grunge to girl power to tamagotchis. Wear something made out of flannelette. Stick some butterfly clips in your hair. Sure, it's winter, but a slip dress would definitely fit in here. There'll be prizes for best 90s wardrobe, and you'll be wanting to give the DJs prizes for cranking out some retro hits. The drinks will also be 90s-themed, and entry is free.
The most envy-inducing time of year is here, dividing music lovers into two camps. Either you're literally going camping in Byron Bay or you're moping around Brisbane wishing that you were. Don't worry, non-Splendour-bound folks — The Flying Cock's Splendour in the Cock has you covered once again. On Saturday, July 20, the Valley pub is pretending it's at the centre of the music universe with a playlist of Splendour in the Grass greats not only from this year, but also spanning previous ace lineups. Close your eyes, and you might just think you're at the real thing while DJs spin the likes of Childish Gambino, Tame Impala, Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar, Lorde, Flume, Kanye, Bloc Party, Florence and the Machine, The Strokes and more. Wearing something glitzy and flashy is recommended — when you're acting like you're at Splendour, you have to dress the part. Entry is free, so as well as helping cure your desire to be dancing in a muddy field, the shindig will also be kind to your wallet.
Usually, Sonic Masala rolls around in the second half of the year, filling Club Greenslopes with local bands for a huge — and hugely affordable — day-long music festival. But little about 2020 has proceeded as usual so far, especially with bushfires ravaging the country. So, come March, the event's powers-that-be are putting on an early gig to raise money for disaster relief. Sonic Masala Fest: Bushfires, Rack Off! takes place from 11am on Saturday, March 7, once again combining everything that a 4ZZZ-presented music festival at a bowls club should: bowls (obviously), Brissie bands (of course) and brews (naturally). And, it's bringing a packed lineup, all for the entry price of $25, with The Double Happiness, Majestic Horses, Flangipanis, Melaleuca, Minor Premiers, Relay Tapes, The Cutaways, McKisko, Spirit Bunny, A Country Practice, Marville and Tape/Off among the acts on on the bill. Once 53 tickets have been sold and the event has recouped its running costs, every single cent will be donated to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Young Henrys is supplying brews, with all proceeds going to the same worthy cause. And, every band has pledged its performance fees and their riders to the fundraiser as well. In other great news, you can also bring your dog along.
Most folks will tell you that there's no bad time for a margarita, and they'd be right. But there is a particularly great time to grab a glass and enjoy a sip or several: February 22, also known as National Margarita Day. To celebrate the occasion in 2020, the Osbourne Hotel is throwing a Saturday fiesta. It's a two-stage affair — head by from 6pm when the party really gets going, or drop by during the day to get the drinks and Mexican snacks started early. Five different types of margs will be on offer, including a classic, a strawberry variety, a spicy concoction with jalapenos, a frozen passionfruit version and one that goes heavy on melon. There'll also be four kinds of tacos, Mexican-style pizza, and both chicken and vegetarian nachos. Those making a night of it will also find themselves dancing to a mariachi band — combine their music with a few salty tipples, and you'll be making shapes in no time. Images: The Osbourne Hotel.
It's Brisbane's only inner-city winery, making its own vino and serving it to tipple-loving drinkers right on Wandoo Street — and, on Wednesday, January 29, the Fortitude Valley spot is sharing the love. For one night only, City Winery is letting Tomich Wines run the show. Head by from 4pm and you'll be sampling and sipping the Adelaide Hills outfit's finest concoctions. Yep, it's a good ol' fashioned cellar door takeover — for a good cause, too. With more than half of Tomich's 230-acre vineyard affected by this summer's bushfires, City Winery is helping out by showcasing its wares to Brisbane vino aficionados. Expect to try Tomich's chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and pinot noir — with tastings free, and bottle and glass sales also available in the winery and restaurant. City Winery's takeovers are a monthly occurrence, with highlighting fire-affected wineries on its agenda for the next 12–18 months.
Beer, that refreshingly boozy amber liquid, is a versatile drink. There's a brew for every occasion, including a sit-down, multi-course, winter-themed dinner. Sure, when you think about going out for a meal and pairing it with a tipple, you're usually thinking about wine. But don't discount a cold one with your culinary spread — the right beer matched with the right dish is quite the winning combination. Trust a brewery to lead the way, with Felons Brewing Co hosting its next feast from 7pm on Tuesday, July 23. All three courses will come with just the right beer, all of which has been brewed on the premises. And if you need more convincing about the merits of pairing these beverages with your meal, head brewer Tom Champion and Howard Smith Wharves executive chef Patrick Friesen will be on hand, chatting about the topic. Tickets cost $80 — and as for what you'll be eating, get ready for the likes of artichokes with parmesan and chives, a chicken liver parfait and country terrine, smoked black Angus prime rib drizzled with jus, and smores you'll cook yourself at your table. Drinks-wise, Felons' dark ale, Double Dry Hopped Pale Ale, Imperial Stout and raspberry sour are all on the menu as well.
What's better than one weekly food market in the heart of Brisbane? Two, of course — and, to spread the love, this one is over the other side of the inner city. It's great news for anyone who works at the Spring Hill and Fortitude Valley end of the CBD, and really for everyone who wants double the chances to grab a tasty lunch, some top fresh produce and all kinds of other edible bites to take home. A weekly Thursday affair, Brisbane City Cathedral Square Markets will kick off on July 25, running from 8am–2.30pm. Because it's organised by the same folks behind the Wednesday markets at Reddacliff Place, then you know what you're in for — just on a different day. As well as farm-fresh fruit and vegetables, artisanal breads and baked goods, and local seafood and meats, you'll find a range of vendors selling meals you can eat while you're there. That's handy, because we all know that it's best not to shop for food on an empty stomach.
Whether your shelves are filled with records or you're just embracing the joys of vinyl, everyone's music collection has a few gaps. That's where record markets come in — but Brisbane's latest isn't about trawling through dusty vintage discs to find old school gems. It's about supporting and celebrating local sounds. Taking place on Saturday, August 25, the Brisbane Indie Music Market will be packed with original music by local musicians and artists. With local labels also a focus, you're also likely to find supporting merch too. Love a Brissie band? Nab the record and the t-shirt. Entry is free, with the market making taking over The Triffid from 12–6pm. This afternoon-long event isn't just about shopping, though, with live bands playing so you can hear them at their best, then buy their record.
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, with the northside market offering up an array of plants, pots, furniture, cushions, art 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 9am–1pm on Sunday, July 28, 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.
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 another wander around Brisbane, it's the bar-hopping excuse every vino lover needs — if you need an excuse, that is. From midday until 4pm on Saturday, August 31, you'll saunter around the city — and between the likes of John Mills Himself, Grape Therapy, Cloakroom Bar, Super WhatNot, Greenglass, the Embassy and more — sampling wines and having a mighty fine time. As for the tipples, they'll be taken care of by a heap of top wineries, so prepare to get supping. Tickets cost $75, and are on sale now, with places limited. This moving cellar door will not only serve up more than 30 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.
What's better than one party? Two. The answer is always two. You know it, we know it, and the folks at both Green Beacon Brewing Co and the Teneriffe Festival know it. Just like in previous years, the former joining isn't just joining in the fun of the latter — from midday on Saturday, July 6, it's shutting off Helen Street and throwing its shindig as well. Yep, it's a good ol'-fashioned Green Beacon block party (and yep, something can still be classed as old-fashioned even if it's only the third time it has ever happened). Expect everything a brewery get-together should have, aka multiple beers and bars, a feast of food trucks and plenty of live music. King Of The Wings, Pizzantica and Brisket and Co will be on culinary duties, so expect chicken, slices and meat galore. And because it's often sunny in Brisbane, even in the middle of winter, there'll be shady seating so you can get comfy. Image: Green Beacon Brewing Co.
Does scouring the city for secondhand threads get you out of bed in the morning? If so, come Friday, July 26 and Friday, September 6, you'd best stay up and shopping until well into the evening. That's when Studio Thrifty 4 is hosting its next Late Night Thrifting sessions — and while hitting the racks between 6.30pm and 10pm isn't all that late in most circles, it is when it comes to the vintage and pre-loved game. In fact, the store is only normally open during the daytime on weekends, so these Friday night shindigs are special for them. If that doesn't all sound great enough, in keeping with the venue's usual set-up, everything on offer costs $5. No more, no less. Trawl through clothing and accessories, nab a bargain, and start your weekend in style. Even better: all proceeds will go to Pay A Sack Forward, meaning that more than your wardrobe will thank you.
This time last year, Felons Brewing Co. gave Brisbane a gift we didn't know we needed: the city's first riverside brewery. And since its doors have been open for 12 months now, the boozy Howard Smith Wharves spot is throwing a big party to celebrate. Come Friday, November 22, it's time for a whole day of beer-filled shenanigans. Running from 11am, the event will take beer-loving patrons on a tour of its limited-edition tipples from across the past year. That includes a strawberry watermelon beer, a raspberry sour and a red ale, as well as something new to mark the moment: a charcoal pineapple sour beer that's been made from more than 250 kilograms of Queensland pineapples. Attendees can also expect pineapple-flavoured birthday cupcakes, plus live entertainment — complete with a live art installation.
When it comes to exercise, we all need motivation. Making sure you're healthy works, but sometimes even the best among us need a bit more of a nudge — like a great view, for example. Leafy greenery does the trick. Water, too. If you're an early bird who starts their weekend the absolute first second they can, so does soaking in the morning sunshine. Grass, the river, the sun — yep, they're all on the agenda at Newstead's Waterfront Sunrise Yoga. Taking place from 6.30am on Saturday mornings until November 30, it's a reason to roll out of bed with the sparrows. And, to pump up your energy, make the most of spring's glorious weather and feel fighting fit for summer. Sessions are free, with Newstead Harlow Hot Pilates & Yoga leading attendees through an hour-long workout. You will need to bring your own mat, and you'll want to bring a water bottle as well — all those sun salutations are bound to make you thirsty.
Forget worms — the early bird gets gourmet bites to eat, farm-fresh produce to line the cupboards, and an enjoyable morning of browsing and shopping at Milton Markets. Every Sunday morning from 7am, more than 80 stalls descend upon the corner of Cribb and Little Cribb streets in the inner western suburb to sell tasty wares. From whenever you feel like waking up until 1pm, you can wander through massive fig trees to join them. Once a season, the Milton Markets also celebrates the change of weather — and all of the food that goes with it. On Sunday, September 15, it's doing so with Milton Markets: Spring Seasonal Flavours, which'll showcase the tastes that make everyone think of this blossoming time of year. If fresh seasonal fruit gets your stomach grumbling, you can stock up here. If a vegan eats and lemon curd cupcakes do as well, you're in luck again. Flowers will be blooming everywhere, naturally. Expect themed gourmet food stalls, decorations to suit the occasion, and live entertainment and music are on the agenda too.
This year marks a massive milestone for Australia's Lavazza Italian Film Festival: 20 years. So, cinephiles can expect a whole lot more of the fest's beloved highlights when it takes over Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace James St from September 25 to October 16. There'll be plenty of parties — both on- and off-screen — as well. When you're not stepping into the glossy but murky world of professional footballers with opening night's The Champion, you'll be watching the world premiere of romantic drama Promised, which features a stacked Italian Australian cast. Or, come closing night, you'll be enjoying the sights and sounds of Ron Howard's Pavarotti, an intimate documentary about one of the country's biggest stars. Loved Paolo Sorrentino's acclaimed Silvio Berlusconi biopic Loro last year? This year, the new director's cut is on the bill. The festival also pays particular attention to new Italian cinema, specifically new Italian comedies, so viewers can immerse themselves in poignant tales of tragedy, slick courtroom dramas and cross-cultural rom-coms. Keep an eye out for ensemble piece If Only, which stars Alba Rohrwacher and Riccardo Scamarcio, and arrives in Australia fresh from premiering at the Locarno Film Festival; The Armadillo's Prophecy, based on a best-selling graphic novel, and exploring a young man's friendship with an imaginary armadillo; and the equally humorous and thoughtful Ordinary Happiness, which finds inspiration in the short stories of Francesco Piccolo. With 32 movies screening over the festival's month-long run, audiences can also dive into Italian art history courtesy of a couple of movies about Michelangelo Buonarroti and Leonardo da Vinci. The blasts from the past keep coming, thanks to a two-film Bernardo Bertolucci retrospective — including a restored version of his political thriller The Conformist, and the five-hour, Robert De Niro-starring drama 1900. The Lavazza Italian Film Festival 2019 will screen at Brisbane's Palace Cinemas from September 25–October 16. For more information and to book tickets, visit the website.
Word nerds, it's your time of year. Brisbane Writers Festival is just around the corner; however that's not the only city-wide celebration of literature and language of late, with Queensland Poetry Festival also returning for another stint. As always, this tribute to waxing lyrical has compiled a diverse program that showcases the art form in a number of ways. Focused around the theme of deep listening, attendees can expect sessions on everything from signing rhymes, poetry in first languages, being playful with poems and exploring life outside of a city — plus slam competitions, parties, poetry readings, a cabaret and the returning QPF Poetry Zine Fair as well. The 2019 Queensland Poetry Festival takes place from Thursday, August 22 to Sunday, August 25 at a number of Brisbane venues, including the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts and Bloodhound Bar. Image: Queensland Poetry Festival.
Want to be surrounded by cute critters, and potentially give one a good home? Want to support the rescue groups and welfare organisations that help look after creatures with nowhere else to go? The RSPCA's annual Big Adopt-Out offers all this, plus that great feeling you get when you're helping a good cause. Basically, it's the nicest way an animal lover could spend a Saturday — Saturday, September 14 from 9am–2pm, to be specific. More than 300 mousers and pooches of all ages will promise to make your heart melt, with dedicated pavilions for both cats and dogs. That said, kittens and puppies aren't the only drawcard. Expect food trucks and live entertainment, aka perfect ways to help pass the time while you're deciding which new pet to take with you. Expect vet advice and products to purchase too, ideally for the fresh addition to your family. Entry is via a gold coin donation on the day, with adoption prices varying depending on the rescue group. Don't forget to pre-register if you're serious about heading home with a four-legged cutie — and if you're bringing your own woofer along to meet their new friend, you're more than welcome to, although they'll need to spend their time in the onsite doggy daycare while you're perusing the adoption area.
Stop by Eagle Street's Riverbar and Kitchen for a drink this October, and you'll be seeing and sipping one colour: pink. With spring well and truly in the air, the riverside spot is dedicating the whole month to pink tipples — and pink food, too — as part of its Yes Way Rosé festival. The name gives away just what you'll be drinking from Tuesday, October 1 to Thursday, October 31, although there'll be multiple rosé options. Yes, you can just have a glass, sit back and stare at the water. Or, you can try a combination of vodka, sparkling rosé and raspberry sorbet, or perhaps opt for a rosé spritz. Because the weather is getting toastier, you can also cool down with a frosé. As for the snack menu, options include sugar-cured salmon and beetroot crostini with horseradish and amaranth, as well as potato and Italian sausage pizza with rose onions and purple basil. And, for dessert, there's also lemon and strawberry meringue tarts, too.
If you haven't stopped by Fortitude Valley's own winery since it opened back in March, it's probably time to mosey on down. Vino is a great motivator, after all; however if that's not enough, a free meal should certainly help. On Monday, September 23, City Winery Brisbane will be taking care of your midday hunger pains. With the Wandoo Street venue launching its new lunch range, it's offering everyone who pops by between 12–2pm a complimentary bite. On the menu: freshly smoked meats, pickles and fermented cabbage, which you can tuck into on a fresh bun or in salad bowl — the choice is yours. Free Rolls and Bowls will serve up a vegetarian option, too — and although the wine isn't free, you'll be in the right spot to purchase some. If you can't make it along on the day, you can still try out the lunch menu on Mondays and Tuesdays afterwards, although it'll cost $13. Image: City Winery Brisbane.
PARK(ing) Day is back and, as always, it has a fantastic aim: to turn regular old car parks into vibrant pop-up parks for a few hours. It's an international affair, with Brisbane getting involved between 10am–2.30pm on Friday, September 20 on Little Stanley Street. Mosey on over to South Bank, and you'll find greenery, 40s-era antics, an art-making space and a chill-out zone. You can also pot some plants, step into the world of sustainable fashion, browse a design library and just get comfy on a grassy spot, too. Relaxing, like you would in a normal ol' park, is the aim of the game as much as livening up usually boring patches of road. If you love music, getting arty and contributing to a collaborative installation, look out for Hands on Art's fun for the day. You can either write your favourite lyrics on the side of a huge box, decorate album covers or make your own — and channel your inner rock or pop star. Image: Brisbane City Council.
At Boho Luxe Market (their words, not ours), Byron Bay comes to Brisbane. Well, the beachy New South Wales spot's general vibe does at least. Forgoing the trappings of the city for bohemian fashion, jewellery, homewares and the like is on the market's agenda, and has been in Melbourne for the past few years. Earlier in 2019, it brought a three-day version up north to see if Brisbanites respond well to dreamcatchers and flower crowns — and clearly we did, because it's coming back again. If that sounds like your kind of thing, then block out Friday, December 6 to Sunday, December 8 in your diary. The Boho Luxe Market will head to The Old Museum for a weekend of browsing and buying, food trucks, live music and more. There'll also be a dedicated vegan section, plus a kombi display and glamping providers tempting you into booking your next holiday. Entry costs $5, with kids under 12 allowed in for free. Drop by and pretend you're somewhere quiet and coastal on Friday from 5pm–9pm, Saturday from 9am–8pm, and Sunday from 9am–3pm.
The working day is done, and you're ready to relax with a cold one. On Tuesday, September 10 and Wednesday, September 11, if you head to Eagle Street Pier, you can also sip a couple of brews for free. From 4–8pm each day, the inner-city spot will play host to a beer keg-filled kombi, which'll be pouring free samples. You'll be sipping Helios Brewing Company's finest beverages, and each person can grab two freebies. The giveaway is part of an Australian road trip by hotel chain Four Points by Sheraton, with the kombi hitting the road, travelling around the nation and sharing the brews. You'll also be able to meet local brewers, enter a competition to win a trip to New Zealand, and score a special beer and wings deal at Four Points by Sheraton Brisbane if you're still feeling thirsty — or hungry — afterwards.
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 another wander around Brisbane, it's the bar-hopping excuse every vino lover needs — if you need an excuse, that is. From midday until 4pm on Saturday, November 23, you'll saunter around West End and South Brisbane — and between the likes of Wandering Cooks, The Fox Hotel, Archive Beer Boutique, Chu the Phat, Cobbler, Billykart and more — sampling wines and having a mighty fine time. As for the tipples, they'll be taken care of by a heap of top wineries such as Small Island Wines, La Petite Mort and Dirt Candy Wine, so prepare to get supping. Tickets cost $75, and are on sale now, with places limited. This moving cellar door will not only serve up more than 35 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.
How many cats can you pat in 20 minutes? Don't know? Would you like to find out? Of course you would. From 5.30pm on Friday, August 30, Lutwyche's Cat Cuddle Cafe is hosting speed-patting sessions. You bring your feline-stroking hands, they'll provide the kitties — and it'll cost you just $5. Getting up close and cosy to the cutest of cats is just one part of the evening's festivities. The other is a twilight market in the cafe's car park, to help sort out its shelves after making the move from Red Hill a few months back. With the venue run by a rescue organisation, all your money will go to a good cause, too. Plus, there'll be stalls from other rescue groups so you can share the support around. If you fancy something to eat or a hot beverage, the cafe will also be serving up food and drinks — because all that browsing is hungry and thirsty work. And if it all sounds familiar, that's because the Cat Cuddle Cafe has held the same shindig a few times now. Unsurprisingly, the market keeps proving a hit, so the Lutwyche Road spot keeps bringing it back for more.
It's called comfort food for a reason. Sometimes, when you've had a tough day or week, you just want to tuck into a plate of something hearty and nourishing. And, while no one utters the term 'comfort booze', perhaps they should. If a serving of gnocchi and a glass of wine (or several) brightens your mood — putting a smile on your face and keeping your stomach satisfied all at once — then make a date with Botero House's Gnocchi and Wine Night. From 5.30pm on Friday, August 30, the CBD restaurant is devoting the evening to quite the pairing. There'll be multiple dishes to choose from, including a fried gnocchi number with pumpkin, butternut, sage and brown butter that both tastes great and looks rather vivid. Head chef Dan Brown will be heroing local produce, and there'll be local and international tipples on offer to match the food — plus a mulled wine, because it is still technically winter. Gnocchi and Wine Night is an a la carte affair, but bookings are recommended by contacting the venue.
We can't all celebrate spring in Italy, sorry, but Brisbanites can do the next best thing. And even if you managed to hop over to Europe when their flowers were blossoming earlier in the year, you can pretend you're still there while the season is in full bloom in the southern hemisphere. There'll be colourful Italian cocktails and plenty of Italian cuisine when the one-day Laneway Spritz Party comes to Welcome to Bowen Hills on Saturday, November 9. Clearly you know what you'll be drinking, with different varieties available at multiple pop-up bars. Food-wise, expect a hefty lineup — and expect to feast your way through pizza, burgs, gelato and more. Capping things off, the joyful refrain of classic Italian music will echo throughout the precinct, providing the soundtrack to the cries of "saluti!".
Brisbane's latest beer and food festival arrives on Sunday, November 10, bringing brews and bites to the city's south. Finish your weekend with a cold one from a range of craft breweries, and use it to wash down the array of cuisine — all between 3–8pm at Yeronga Services Club. Brews-wise, Helios, Yenda, Ballistic and Brick Lane are all on beer duty — and they all know a thing or two about craft tipples. Plus, Ballistic and Helios are also locals in the very sense of the word, given that they're based in Salisbury and Yeerongpilly, respectively. On Yeronga Craft Beer and Food Festival's food lineup, expect Sate House's steamed buns, dumplings, dim sims and satay sticks; Food Mood's Thai, Korean and Japanese-style fried chicken; and Mediterranean eats from Shanks-a-Lot. Entry is free, and there'll also be live music — plus a jumping castle for those bringing littluns.
Once a year, when the weather warms up, Brisbane indulges its love of rosé in a big way. Yes, even bigger than this pink wine-loving city usually does. Plus, while everyone's sipping drinks in a heritage-listed building, they'll be doing so for a good cause. Rosé Revolution is back for a fifth year in Brissie, with 2019's tipple-fuelled event taking place at The Old Museum between 2–6pm on Saturday, November 16. On the menu is rosé and canapes, with two packages available: an $85 ticket, which gets you a glass on arrival, ten tastings and a special VIP area; and a $45 option, which doesn't start until 3pm, and doesn't include the samples either. Either way, attendees can keep purchasing pink-hued beverages from the bar — and bottles to take home, too. And, proceeds from each ticket will be donated The Hunger Project, so your Saturday afternoon drinking session will be helping others.
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, with the northside market 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 9am–1pm on Sunday, October 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.
Say cheers to beers by the river this spring, all thanks to Brisbane's Howard Smith Wharves precinct. You can stop by the site's resident brewery, Felons, any time you like, of course — but this two-day event will bring a whole heap of booze-makers together, pour plenty of beer and cider, and combine sitting on the grass, soaking in the sunshine and taking in the watery view. Running from 1–8pm on both Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20, Beers on the Lawn aims to become an annual attraction — because, if there's one thing that Brissie can't get enough of, it's excuses to sink cold ones. For the inaugural event, the frothies will be flowing from Felons, Range, Helios, Slipstream and Aether, as well as Semi-Pro, Brouhaha, Ballistic and Soapbox. In addition to beers and then more beers, attendees will be able to tuck into burgers — of both the classic and falafel variety — plus charcoal-grilled chicken skewers, roti canai and good ol' sausages in bread. Wines and spritzes will also be on the drinks menu, and, in terms of entertainment, you'll be able play lawn games and listen to live tunes.
One day. Three movies. Plenty of bumps, jumps, frights, spooks and scares. That's what's on the agenda at Kristian Fletcher's 2019 Halloween Movie Marathon, with the cult movie buff once again honouring the most unsettling time of the year. A trio of flat-out horror classics will hit the big screen at Metro Arts on Saturday, October 26, with Fletcher's picks dating from the 60s through to the 80s. Tickets start at $13.50 for a single movie — or you can stay for all three for $21.50. If you're a fan of Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House, then check out the first film based on the same horror novel, aka 1963's The Haunting. Once you've been creeped out in a spooky manor, it's time to lose yourself to a witchy ballet school all thanks to the original 1977 version of Suspiria. Then, prepare for a visit to the 80s — and a glimpse a slasher genre icon, too. Go back to camp, keep an eye out for a very young Kevin Bacon and see what Jason gets up to in the OG Friday the 13th.
First, there was the Weekend of Darkness. Then came the Weekend of Tartness — aka the sister festival The Scratch just had to have. Where the former has celebrated ales, porters, stouts and other tipples at the dark end of the spectrum since 2013, the latter cartwheels to the opposite end of the extreme spectrum of beer styles. If it is tart and tangy, it is likely to be on the menu. Over the two days of Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8, more than 20 of the funkiest, sourest, most refreshing beers being produced in Australia and around the world will take over the taps of the Milton hangout. It might sound like a gimmick, but these biting brews have been around longer than you might think. In fact, historically, all beers used to be sour. Drinking is only part of the fun, with tasty food and a pumping soundtrack adding to the atmosphere. And as for what you'll be drinking, keep an eye on the event's Facebook page.
Gin, an underground bar and the start of the weekend — it's a winning combination. Fresh from letting Four Pillars take over the joint a few months back, The Boom Boom Room is giving Brookie's Gin the run of the place for a whole a night, with the latest juniper-flavoured party going down on Friday, November 1. Enjoy your after-work, end-of-week tipple at Elizabeth Street spot, and you'll be treated to a one-off range of inventive gin cocktails. The beverages come courtesy of Cape Byron Distillery's Glenn Morgan — because more than one gin outfit will be getting some love. Teaming up with the venue's own Joseph Chisholm, he'll be whipping up concoctions you won't get to taste on any other date. Head along, spend an evening sipping drinks below street level and say cheers to all of the above. Entry is free, but places are limited, so reserving a table for this boozy night is recommended — you can do so by registering online.
Dance isn't a one-size-fits-all medium, even when it comes to something like ballet. Sure, the term immediately makes you think of tutus, leggings, pointe shoes and pirouettes; however, versatility and making something unique sits at the heart of the artistic style of movement and performance. Let Bespoke make that plain, in case you need more convincing. Until Saturday, November 16, the Queensland Ballet steps away from its big productions of classic works at QPAC and heads to the Brisbane Powerhouse for something more diverse, contemporary, experimental and intimate. Here, in a series of three new pieces, art forms and ideas collide before your very eyes — and technology, too. QB provides the folks leaping and spinning on stage, while Loughlan Prior, Lucy Guerin and Amy Hollingsworth are the choreographers responsible for the show's eye-popping moves.
Since it first opened back in 2014, much has happened within The Flying Cock's walls. Parties, boozy yoga, music, vegan ramen, a whole heap of chicken (naturally) — and, to the delight of Brisbane's parmigiana lovers, plenty of chicky chicky parm parm. Once 2019 comes to a close, so will the Fortitude Valley venue. Yes, all good things come to an end and all that. It's not saying goodbye without a parmy feast, though. On Thursday, November 28, the Brunswick Street spot is serving up 300 huge chicken parmigianas from 4–10pm at an event it's aptly calling Parmageddon: The Last Supper. This is a while-stocks-last kind of deal, so you'll want to arrive early to get your crumbed chook fix. If you need more motivation, The Flying Cock's parmys cost $20, come with fries and slaw, and that price includes a schooner of beer or cider. No bookings will be taken, so gather the gang, knock off work early and get clucking one last time.
When the Brisbane Comedy Festival hits town every year, it promises plenty of laughs in plenty of places. Delivering on that aim in 2020, the fest is serving up a dose of giggles and guffaws on weekday afternoons in a variety of cafes around the Brisbane CBD. From Monday–Friday between Friday, February 21–Thursday, March 5, comedians will be descending on different coffee-swilling joints and breaking out their best jokes between 2–3pm. Think of it as a mid-arvo happy hour, just with live stand-up and whichever caffeinated beverage takes your fancy. Even better — not only is Coffee & Comedy offering up free laughs, but the first 100 folks through the door for each session will receive a free cuppa as well. As for who'll be tickling your funny bone, the lineup ranges from Taboo host Harley Breen to Black Comedy writer Craig Quartermaine and 2019 Sydney Comedy Festival best newcomer winner Chris Ryan. COFFEE & COMEDY LINEUP Friday, February 21 — Harley Breen at Aquila Coffee, 82 Eagle Street Monday, February 24 — Big Fork Theatre at Bean, 181 George Street Tuesday, February 25 — Chris Ryan at Botero House, 258 Adelaide Street Wednesday, February 26 — Zack Dyer at Brew Lower, Burnett Lane, Queen St Mall Thursday, February 27 — The Stevenson Experience at Felix for Goodness, 50 Burnett Lane, Queen St Mall Friday, February 28 — Dusty Rich at Frankie & George, 366 George Street Monday, March 2 — Craig Quartermaine at John Mills Himself, 40 Charlotte Street Tuesday, March 3 — Big Fork Theatre at Morning News Cafe, 333 Adelaide Street Wednesday, March 4 — Craig Quartermaine at Strauss, 189 Elizabeth Street Thursday, March 5 — Mark Lombard/Brisburned at The Single Guys, 3/201 Charlotte Street Top image: Botero.
The festive season is upon us, again, which means that Christmas shopping is about to become everyone's favourite pastime. Thankfully, trawling the mall isn't your only option when it comes to finding a gift, either for your loved ones or yourself — or grabbing ingredients for a delicious meal. Returning for another year from 6.30–10pm on Friday, November 27, the Carseldine Markets is hosting a twilight event brimming with the spirit of the season. Get your list ready, because all the art, craft and fresh produce stalls you know and love will be on site, just waiting to help you out of a festive fix — there's usually more than 180 of them, in fact. Prepare to tuck into festive treats, too (because you'll need to eat while you browse), as well as ample entertainment. Yes, it's a Christmas wonderland, with the decorations and carols to prove it. Warning: if you're more of a Grinch than one of Santa's elves, you'd best prepare yourself for an overdose of holiday cheer. Entry costs $2, and there's free parking onsite.
Sadly, a trip to Japan isn't on the cards for Brisbanites at present. So to help smooth over that news, Friday's is transforming into a cherry blossom-filled, Tokyo-themed garden from Monday, November 2. Its courtyard will feature not just pastel blooms, but also lanterns, too, and you'll be able to eat and drink like you've just spent ten hours on a plane flying north. Every Wednesday from November 4–February 24, you'll also be able to feast your way through an endless stack of karaage chicken. Available from 5pm each week, the special will set you back $30 — and then your tastebuds can enjoy oh-so-many pieces of fried poultry, plus Japanese slaw and kewpie mayo. Spend an extra $25, and you can wash down your bottomless dinner with unlimited wine and tap beer as well. And yes, it's the kind of occasion you'll want to gather your pals for — but, in advice applicable to every event and eatery these days, just don't forget to book in advance.
As a teen rom-com about two high schoolers working through their attraction for each other as they're also trying to work out what to do with their lives and how to simply be themselves, there's a strong sense of familiarity about Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt). It's the kind of movie that viewers will initially feel they've watched before. Audiences will spot the tropes and conventions, the scenarios and exchanges they've seen in other tales about adolescent troubles and related affairs of the heart, and the kinds of characters that typically populate classrooms and families in seemingly similar films. Here, however, this isn't a sign of laziness. Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt) wants you to register how much it resembles other entries in its genre — because it wants you to notice what it's doing differently. Of course, unfurling a queer romance within such well-worn confines shouldn't be such a remarkable act (and an Australian teen queer romance at that), but it still currently is. There's a purposeful sense of clumsiness about Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt), too. Again, that's by design. Studious school captain Ellie (Sophie Hawkshaw, Love Child) has a simmering crush on the far cooler, calmer and more collected Abbie (Zoe Terakes, Janet King), but is struggling to stump up the courage to ask her to the school formal. In fact, she even goes as far as willingly and uncharacteristically getting detention so that she spend more time with Abbie, all to try to muster up the motivation to pop the quintessential high-school question. And when the pair do slowly start becoming closer, Ellie doesn't know exactly what to do, or what's expected, or how to be the person she wants to be in her first relationship. Complicating matters is the distance she feels from her mother, Erica (Marta Dusseldorp, Stateless), as she navigates such new emotional terrain — oh, and the fact that, as the title gives away, Ellie's dead aunt Tara (Julia Billington) suddenly starts hovering around and dispensing advice about following her feelings. So far, so sweet. Whether you think of Tara as a queer fairy godmother or a lesbian guardian angel, her wisdom-imparting presence is tender and thoughtful — and funny and often awkward, as you'd expect when the ghost of a dead relative pops up every now and then to try to help someone through situations they don't inherently know how to deal with. First-time feature writer/director Monica Zanetti plays the scenario affectionately and humorously, and also to reflect how having a guiding light is usually a purely fantastical concept for uncertain teens. And, if the filmmaker had left Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt) there, that would've been understandable. The film would've been entertaining and understanding, cute and creative with its teen romance, and proudly celebratory of LGBTQIA+ perspectives. It's still all those things, but Zanetti's decision to open the door to a deeper contemplation of Australia's historical treatment of the queer community gives considerable depth and weight to a movie that mightn't have earned those terms otherwise. If Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt) was being shot a few months from now, when Sydney is slated to become home to an 90-metre-long rainbow footpath through Surry Hills to commemorate Australia's marriage equality legislation — and to mark where more than 30,000 Sydneysiders gathered together to hear the results of the country's postal vote survey on the matter — the brightly coloured stretch of pavement would've surely featured in the film. Zanetti's brightly shot movie has a strong sense of place, but without including all of the usual landmark shots that make many features feel like tourism campaigns. More importantly, it has a clear understanding of what LGBTQIA+ Sydneysiders have weathered in past decades. That activism is layered throughout the film in an overt subplot and, while it's hardly treated with nuance, it's a powerful inclusion. Simply by reaching local cinema screens, Zanetti's feature makes a statement, but it also pays tribute to all the statements made in big and bold ways — and with tragic and painful outcomes, too — to get to this point in Australian queer history. Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt)'s intentions, approach and even the importance of its very existence can't completely patch over its weaker elements, however. That lack of subtlety is pervasive, and occasionally the deliberate use of cliches and clumsiness can feel just as forceful. Some lines and ideas — Tara tells Ellie to ask Abbie if she likes AFL to get a read on her sexual orientation, for instance — are cringe-inducing rather than satirical or amusing. And despite spirited efforts by the three actors playing its titular characters, those eponymous figures are never as fleshed out as they could be, with their personalities deeply tied to and dictated by the needs of the plot. But Ellie and Abbie (and Ellie's Dead Aunt) is still a charmer, and still gives Aussie cinema something that it has long been missing. That'd be a proud, contemplative and engaging teen queer rom-com with heart, humour and a heavy awareness of the need for the kind of tale that it's telling. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq1F1opr_FE&t=2s
This summer, you'll have another excuse to enjoy a G&T as a heap of gin and tonic gardens pop up across the country. Settling into the outside areas at pubs and bars in Brisbane, the gardens will feature plenty of gin and tonic (obviously), as well as DIY garnish stations. The idea is that you can learn more about different botanicals, then mix, match and experiment to find your ideal G&T combination. That sounds like a task that we'd all gladly accept; however there'll be tonic pairing menus on hand should you need some pointers. At the time of writing, Brisbanites can scratch their G&T itch at Covent Garden in West End, Blind Tiger in The Gap and Sandstone Point Hotel on Bribie Island. More locations will pop up across the country over the summer, with a handy interactive map tracking new venues. The gardens are the work of Fever-Tree, so the company's tonics will be splashing in your glass. They'll be setting up shop not only in Brisbane, but Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Cairns, and the Gold and Sunshine coasts, too — so whether you're eager for a drink close to home or you'll be holidaying in a sunny spot, cocktails laden with juniper spirits await.
Whether it's celebrating spring or serving up bloody shiraz gin, the Osbourne Hotel's brunch game has always been strong. For its new bottomless mid-morning series, the Fortitude Valley venue is taking Brisbanites around the world — and after Positano and New York-themed events, it's getting into the Mykonos spirit. On the non-stop drinks menu: watermelon and cucumber punch, grapefruit and rosemary tipples, and sparkling wine, which'll flow for two-and-a-half hours. On the food lineup: your choice of Greek dish, including slow-cooked lamb shoulder with crispy potatoes and feta, avocado toast with poached eggs and haloumi, and spanakopita. Because it's all happening on a Sunday morning — from 11am on Sunday, December 15 — you'll also watch afternoon hit surrounded by the pub's leafy greenery and listening to ABBA tunes. Yes, Brunch Voyage: Mykonos is taking its theme seriously, and encourages all attendees to dress up in white. That, and the $65 ticket, is cheaper than a flight to Greece. Top image: The Osbourne Hotel.
First, the bad news: The Boom Boom Room, Elizabeth Street's luxe underground bar, is shutting up shop temporarily. Now, the much, much better news: for the three months that its usual digs will be out of action (due to basement rectification works to its heritage-listed building), it'll be moving the party across to the other side of the CBD. Every Friday night from January–March, you'll be able to get your Boom Boom Room fix at sibling venue Blackbird Bar & Grill over at Eagle Street. That means you'll be swapping subterranean luxury for sweeping river views, which isn't a bad trade by any means. Boom Boom Room's cocktails will also make the temporary jump, as will its roster of musicians, who'll be performing live weekly. [caption id="attachment_651541" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Blackbird Bar & Grill[/caption] Head to Blackbird from 5pm each week from Friday, January 3 while Boom Boom's OG site gets a spruce up — and when the bar reopens back on Elizabeth Street, it will have had a renovation and increased the size of its kitchen, which will also mean a bigger food menu.
