Two quintessential Aussie summertime treats are coming together in delicious harmony this week — and if you're quick, you can taste-test the clever fusion for free. The gelato maestros at Messina have teamed up with celebrated wine label Brown Brothers to create a limited-edition prosecco rosé gelato. The icy-cool creation features all the vibrant watermelon and strawberry notes of Brown Brothers' signature prosecco rosé, mixed with bellini-inspired elements like blood peach and lychee cream to form a cooling, creamy gelato blend that's primed for a balmy summer's day. And, since the gelato itself has no alcohol content, it's a treat that everyone can enjoy. But like most Messina creations, this beauty is here for a good time, not a long time. If you're keen to get your mitts on the rosé gelato, you'll find complimentary scoops being handed out at Westfield Chermside shopping centre from 12pm — and only while stocks last — on Saturday, January 29.
Still got a bit of festival action left in this season's tank? Put it to excellent use, with a trip to Tasmania and a few days adventuring at the seventh edition of Party In The Paddock. The laidback music and arts festival makes its yearly return to a property in White Hills, a 20-minute drive southeast of Launceston, from February 7 to 9. And it's bringing with it a good-times lineup well worth crossing Bass Strait for, with UK songstress Lily Allen, four-piece indie rock band The Jungle Giants, electro duo The Presets, Sydney alt-rockers Middle Kids, Melbourne's Slowly Slowly and singer Vera Blue just some of the big-name acts set to grace this year's stage. In addition to three days chock-full of live tunes, the festival is dishing up a hefty arts program, pulled together by the legends at Vibestown. And 2019's version is as big as ever, promising the full gamut of fun, interactive and mind-bending experiences. We're talking existential short film screenings, a funeral ceremony that'll have you farewelling your greatest fears, comedy sessions headlined by Matt Okine and Gen Fricker, morning yoga sessions and a pop-up Willie Smith's bar slinging breakfast cocktails and funky DJ tunes. Browse market stalls filled with top Tassie produce, let collaborative art project Real Talk inspire you to swap social media for some actual conversations, and of course, join the wild, wacky and riotously dressed for the famed Vibestown March. Images: Mitch Lowe and Andy Hardy.
Whether via cakes you can decorate yourself, panna cotta that needs painting or blowing edible bubbles, sitting down to high tea at W Brisbane is never a stuffy affair. The venue's Living Room Bar likes getting its patrons playing while enjoying an indulgent spread. It's also fond of theming its tiered specials — and of taking a few cues from the Gallery of Modern Art across the river. Until Monday, October 7, 2024, GOMA is hosing the dazzling Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses exhibition, featuring pioneering fashion that thoroughly deserves to be seen in an art gallery. Until Sunday, October 27, 2024, Living Room Bar is serving up its Water and Dreams High Tea, too, which uses the designer beloved by Beyoncé, Björk and Cate Blanchett as inspiration. Those edible bubbles are on the menu here from 11am–3pm every Friday–Sunday, with W Brisbane teaming up with Bubblelick for the inventive treat. Also on offer as part of a culinary lineup inspired by the water and dreams section of GOMA's showcase: red and white meringues designed to resemble the flow of H2O, a pearl-topped chocolate opera cake and a splash-like crystallised sugar wave. Among the savoury bites, you'll be snacking on salmon caviar and finger lime citrus pops, plus truffled egg and cress finger sandwiches. That'll set you back $79 per person, with bottomless tea and barista coffee covered by the price. You can also get boozy, however, including with the Couture Cloud signature cocktail — which features almond vodka, rhubarb shrub and coconut soda, plus airfoam to top — for $99. Prefer a glass of Veuve Clicquot champagne instead? That's $109.
It's safe to say that nobody is playing the long game like Marvel Studios. When they put together individual films for Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America and Thor, the endgame they had in mind was The Avengers, in which all the heroes teamed up to take on one gigantic threat. Guardians of the Galaxy is something different: taking place almost exclusively in outer space, it eschews the interconnected universe — save for a small hints for fans with long memories — in favour of a decidedly stand-alone adventure. And what an adventure it is. Kidnapped from Earth as a child, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) — preferred nom de plume 'Starlord' — is a roguish figure in the vein of Han Solo or Mal Reynolds, who recovers exotic treasures to sell to seedy figures. But his latest acquisition brought him some unwanted attention: he is hunted by green-skinned assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), foul-mouthed raccoon Rocket (Bradley Cooper), and sentient tree Groot (Vin Diesel). When all four are thrown into a hellish prison alongside vengeance-minded muscle-creature Drax (Dave Bautista), this group of misfits realise they're the only ones who can stop a powerful madman from destroying the galaxy. Sound pretty uninspiring? Don't be fooled. The film is full of inventive, fun ideas: writer/director James Gunn has crafted a rich and engaging universe that feels infinitely more expansive and detailed than your run-of-the-mill sci-fi film. And that's not even its biggest selling point. Guardians of the Galaxy is funny. Like, laugh-out-loud funny, and for its entire running time. While far too many Hollywood comedies can barely raise more than one or two laughs per hour, Guardians of the Galaxy puts them to shame with an extraordinarily high number of quips and gags that always feel completely natural to the story and characters. What really sells it is the casting. Pratt (Parks and Recreation's Andy Dwyer) is a natural leading man, embracing the goofy in a way that far too many stoic action stars are afraid to. Saldana (Avatar) again proves she's unparalleled at grounding blockbusters even when playing an improbably hued alien warrior. Wrestling star Bautista reveals a substantial gift for comic timing, and it's no backhanded compliment to say that Diesel and Cooper have never been better. A wealth of supporting turns come from Glenn Close, John C Reilly, Peter Serafinowicz, Lee Pace, Djimon Hounsou, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan and a couple of cameos we shan't spoil. Guardians of the Galaxy is a weird, risky prospect for a studio that's all about relatable humans in recognisable settings. Maybe that's why it works: faced with a tougher sell, they've gone the extra mile to make something special. And boy does it work. https://youtube.com/watch?v=3CqymRQ1uUU
A long time go, we all used to be friends with Veronica Mars. But if you haven't thought of the teenage private eye drama lately at all (or had its Dandy Warhols-sung theme tune stuck in your head), prepare for that to change. The show initially lasted three seasons across 2004–2007, then set a crowdfunding record to get a movie off the ground in 2014, and even spawned two novels and a web series spin-off after that. Now, it looks set to make a small-screen comeback. While everything from Daria to Buffy the Vampire Slayer seems to be getting a reboot lately, Veronica Mars follows in the footsteps of Twin Peaks — as Variety reports, it'll be a revival featuring original cast members, rather than a new effort that remakes the same concept with different folks and starts all over again with its narrative. And yes, crucially, Ms Mars herself will return, with Kristen Bell poised to resume the role that brought her to fame. Hulu, the streaming platform that turned The Handmaid's Tale into the phenomenon that it is, is behind the eight-episode new season. The deal hasn't yet been finalised for Neptune's favourite blonde-haired, pint-sized sleuth to start solving mysteries again; however it looks like it's a matter of when rather than if. Veronica Mars creator and writer Rob Thomas (no, not that one) is also set to return, and Deadline notes that conversations have been had with cast members other than Bell. Just what the storyline will be, which of Veronica's ex-boyfriends will re-emerge and what cases will need solving haven't been revealed — but, given that the original show featured appearances from Amanda Seyfried, Arrested Development's Alia Shawkat and Michael Cera, Buffy's Alyson Hannigan and Charisma Carpenter, New Girl's Max Greenfield, Thor: Ragnarok's Tessa Thompson and more, you can probably expect a few familiar faces to pop up. One thing that the new series will definitely have to do is work around Bell's schedule on sitcom The Good Place, although that just means she'll be on your TV screen twice as often. Via Variety.
?? They coveted the enunciated British-twang sound that now floods our airwaves and still hold the title of fastest selling UK debut album of all time for Whatever People Say I am, That's What I'm Not. Lead singer Alex Turner is the songwriter to end all songwriters, penning the ultimate indie club track, 'I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor', which has had more than it's fair share of spins. Whether you love them or you 'ate them, there's no denying the infectious music and lyrics of the Arctic Monkeys. They are one of those rare bands whose music stands out like a sore thumb. Who could forget 'Fluorescent Adolescent', 'Mardy Bum' or 'Old Yellow Bricks'? Maybe it's just me, but I'm an old Monkeys fan from way back. It hasn't been long since the 4-piece band from Sheffield were on our shores last: they did the Big Day Out 2009 tour – I picked myself off the floor of a portaloo just to see their set (I had a stomach bug, okay!?) – and a national tour in 2010. Now they are back in every major city after completing their Southbound/Falls headline spot. Actually, on-stage at Falls on New Years Eve, they enraged many when they walked off stage at 11.58pm, missing the countdown. Thankfully, their Brisbane show won't allow for any time related mishaps (we hope), so you know you won't be let down. Hey, it's the Arctic Monkeys, could you ever really be let down? The lucky Rachel Fuller from our Sydney site got to interview the ever-sexy Alex Turner, you can check out the interview here!
Bartenders are the new rockstars — if their touring habits are anything to go by, anyway. In the past few years, more and more cocktail bars and their helmsmen have joined musicians for fly-in, fly-out visits to Australia — but instead of touring records, they're touring killer drinks lists. Last year saw Asia's best bar 28 Hongkong Street and hidden New York City jaunt Attaboy both do a quick stops in Melbourne and Sydney, while Mace popped up at Sydney's PS40 just the other week and PDT was in town a little while back too. And now another NYC bar is making its way to our shores for a cheeky cocktail pop-up. The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog will come to Australia for three nights only, spreading its shaking skills across the east coast with one night at Melbourne's Black Pearl, one night at Sydney's Baxter Inn and one night at The Gresham in Brisbane. Dead Rabbit will be sending their finest drink makers to work in collaboration with the host bars to create a one-night-only menu that will showcase their skills and signature drinks and food items (like their Scotch egg). Their cocktail menu is pretty extensive, but we're hoping they bring their Hong Kong Phooey with them — it blends rum with Aquavit, grapefruit, pistachio and avocado. Although we've had a few bars pass through our major cities by now, this one's pretty special as Dead Rabbit, which is permanently located in lower Manhattan, took out the top spot on last year's World's 50 Best Bars list. So if you can't get to the Lower East Side anytime soon, this is your next best option. Tickets are a little pricey at $40 (plus booking fee) — that includes a cocktail on arrival and one of Dead Rabbit's signature Scotch eggs. You'll then be able to purchase extra drinks on top of that.
Olympus Has Fallen is what the studio is calling 'an action movie' and what the Secret Service will likely call 'a comedy'. It's one of two films coming out this year (the other being Roland Emmerich's White House Down) that revolve around 1600 Pennsylvania being overrun by terrorists, and both feel very much like land-based versions of Air Force One feat. 'the hero character' from In The Line Of Fire. Olympus Has Fallen was directed by Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) whose last film, End of Watch, was a gritty cop drama featuring tense action and crackling dialogue. In Olympus Has Fallen, that action's been dialled up to 11, whilst the dialogue's been dialled back to 'dumb'. The film's first act serves up a truly terrifying and confronting assault on the US capital, albeit one with a fairly tasteless allusion to the collapse of the World Trade Center via a crumbling Washington Monument. The body count fast becomes countless as bombs, rockets and bullets tear shreds through man, metal and even a courageous mutt. Fuqua has certainly proven himself a director prepared to pull no punches in the pursuit of realistic violence, but here he seemed more intent to simply destroy everything the budget permitted. All the same, the first half hour pumps along with enough adrenaline (and even a hint of plausibility to the assault) to sufficiently draw you in. The problem is, there are still loads of problems. For one, it's unbearably patriotic throughout, including multiple shots of US flags tragically dropped or heroically raised. Then there the barely drawn out characters who are given nothing to work with and are often introduced alongside subtitles bearing their official government role, imputing a bizarre pseudo-documentary feel to the film every time it happens. Beyond that, the military's pig-headed incompetence is terrifically frustrating, the Secret Service's constant breaches of protocol are baffling and the multiple news reports referring to the White House as — I kid you not — 'The Whitehouse', defy belief. Despite then what he's got to work with in terms of the script, Gerard Butler actually makes for quite an impressive action hero, the elements of which we first saw in 300. He's mercifully spared the traditional 'post-kill' one-liners and even manages to throw a few new tough guy lines into the mix. The same, though, can't be said for Aaron Eckhart as the entirely 'meh' President, Morgan Freeman as the bland Speaker of the House or Rick Yune as the expressionless terrorist leader. All deliver such nothing dialogue, you wonder whether this film might've worked better as an action version of The Artist. Then, however, audiences would have missed out on perhaps the single worst piece of writing for the year, in which a double agent explains his enormous act of treason via the phenomenal catch-all: "Globalisation and f*cking Wall Street!" To be fair, though, that shocker comes in response to the President's equally bad question: "So...what's the going rate for a soul these days?" Bottom line, Olympus Has Fallen is a fair-to-decent action movie let down by everything that happens in between. If you're looking for some mindless fun and a whole lot of skull-stabbing, then this is the perfect film for you. Just be prepared for a whole lot of head shaking, too.
Next time you break out your best downward-facing dog, you could just have a posing pooch for company. As part of its latest animal-oriented exercise bonanza, Stretch Yoga will get you stretching while sharing the love with cute canine. Marking the studio's fifth birthday and raising money for the deserving cause that the RSPCA, Puppy Yoga gives every dog-loving yoga aficionado their day. Yes, the class really will pair adorable pooches with beginner yoga poses. You'd be barking mad not to head along. The classes take place at 5.30pm and 6.30pm on Friday, March 8 at Stretch Yoga's CBD studio, then again at 12.15pm and 1.15pm on Saturday, March 9 at its Holland Park digs. Register early — the $40 sessions sure to get snapped up faster than a dog munching on a treat. Image: Stretch Yoga.
On January 13, your Sunday session doesn't just involve sinking a few drinks with your mates while DJs spin tunes. It also involves getting competitive at table tennis at the OS Open. With tennis season in full swing, The Osbourne Hotel is getting into the sporting spirit with a day-long ping pong tournament. Running from 10am–7pm, you'll try to emerge victorious between beverages — and you'll need a few pals. Registrations are now open for teams of four, with matches decided by the best three of five games. If you're eager for a few more rules, you'll need to reach 11 points per game to win; however you'll also need to emerge victorious by at least two points. And, there'll also be prizes for best team uniform. Now, for the other fun stuff — aka $10 pizzas, plus a booze lineup that includes Aperol spritzes and Stone & Wood jugs. All that's left is for you to secure your spot in advance, show up and bust out your best ping pong moves. Image: Dustin Gaffke.
When Australia's annual Spanish Film Festival returns this year, it'll offer cinephiles a two-for-one affair. Fancy seeing the latest and greatest movies from the European country? Keen to watch fresh flicks from Spanish-speaking Latin America too? They're both on the lineup. While Latin American cinema has received its own dedicated Aussie fest over the past three years, in 2019 the Cine Latino Film Festival will form part of the Spanish Film Festival. In short: this year's April–May fest presents the best of both worlds across a 32-title program that'll tour the country. It all gets started with the Aussie premiere of applauded and acclaimed Spanish comedy Champions, which picked up this year's Goya award for best film, as well as the best new actor prize for star Jesús Vidal. The feel-good flick follows an amateur Spanish basketball team comprised of players with mental disabilities and an arrogant coach who's sentenced to community service to help them bounce their way to glory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo_PDXou77c At the other end of the event is a bona fide classic: Pedro Almodóvar's Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. While the festival sadly hasn't snagged the Spanish director's latest, the Antonio Banderas and Penélope Cruz-starring Pain and Glory, it will close out the 2019 lineup with this 1988 black comedy — one of the movies that first helped bring Banderas to fame. Other program highlights include action-packed bank robbery drama 70 Big Ones, moody thriller The Uncovering, doppelgänger effort Ana by Day, character-driven melodrama Petra, and comedy Super Crazy, which focuses on a woman who suddenly can't stop speaking her mind. If you've ever wanted to know all there is to know about olive oil, there's also a documentary on the topic: Virgin & Extra: Jaén, The Land of the Olive Oil. And from the Cine Latino contingent, Argentinian title Royo delves into corruption before the country's mid-70s coup, while Tremors explores a Guatemalan family's secrets. The Projectionist also road trips through the Dominican Republic and comedy Looking for a Boyfriend... For My Wife reunites the cast of Chile's version of Married with Children. Across its full slate, the Spanish Film Festival also showcases 11 titles by female filmmakers, ranging from established talents to up-and-comers. Watch out for romance Carmen & Lola, which has proven a hit on the queer circuit; star-studded comedy-thriller Crime Wave, which stars Maribel Verdú, Javier Cámara and Luis Tosar; and the 1982-set The Good Girls, which follows the wives of wealthy Mexican men. The Spanish Film Festival tours Australia from April 16, screening at Sydney's Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona and Palace Central from April 16 to May 8; Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Balwyn, Kino Cinemas and The Astor Theatre from April 18 to May 8; Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace James Street from April 24 to May 15; and Perth's Palace Cinema Paradiso from April 24 to May 15. For more information, visit the festival website
Bakehouse Buns is the sister restaurant to Ipswich's legendary Bakehouse Steakhouse, serving up home-style classics such as cheeseburgers with caramelised onions, and crumbed pork cutlets with apple cabbage slaw. The dessert menu is similarly impressive, with the kind of sweet treats that you would find at your favourite country bakery, such as lemon meringue tart, baked cheesecake and banoffee pie. All of this, and you don't even need to fill up the fuel tank (or fight over the Spotify playlist).
For five nights in October, Palace Barracks will become home to all manner of unnerving tales. There'll be head-spinning stories of possession, demonic children, haunted dreams and more than one person running around with a chainsaw — all on the big screen, of course. If you're wondering why, the answer is obvious. With Halloween approaching, and the month before it generally earmarked for all things spooky anyway, the Petrie Terrace cinema is getting into the unsettling spirit of the occasion with Palace Encore: The Horror Season. It's a retro movie bonanza, with screenings happening at 8.30pm on Friday nights between October 4–25, then swapping to 7pm on Thursday, October 31. It all begins with one of the biggest horror movies there is, aka The Exorcist, which has scared people out of their seats for decades for good reason. Next up comes Mia Farrow's pregnancy from hell in Rosemary's Baby, before a road trip goes oh-so-wrong in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. After that, you won't want to fall a sleep in the original A Nightmare on Elm Street, with Freddy Kruger always lurking. Finally, you'll want to grab your boomstick, because Bruce Campbell is fending off zombies in The Evil Dead.
Star Wars fans, prepare to punch it on down to Sydney's Powerhouse Museum in November — and prepare to come face to face with 200 original objects from the popular sci-fi franchise at Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition. You might have to wait more than 12 months until Star Wars: Episode IX reaches cinemas late next year, but you can spend your days from November 16, 2018 until June 10, 2019 perusing the items that helped make space opera movie magic happen. Coming to Australia for the first time, that includes costumes, props, models and artworks from the Lucasfilm archives, complete with a galaxy's worth of favourites — think BB-8, R2-D2 and the Millennium Falcon just for starters. Get a glimpse of Yoda, you will, circa Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back. You'll also feel the power-hungry menace radiate from Darth Vader's suit from Star Wars: Episode VII — Return of the Jedi. Star Wars Identities is also an interactive exhibition, with creating your own unique character also part of the experience. If you've ever felt as though you should be hanging out in a cantina somewhere on a remote planet, here's your chance to answer a heap of questions, work through a series of stations and find your inner Star Wars hero. You won't need to use the force — rather, you'll receive a smart technology bracelet and a headset to use while you're in the exhibition. But if you want to say that you are using the force — or even want to give midi-chlorians some credit — no one will stop you. The Powerhouse Museum is no stranger to Star Wars shenanigans, having hosted a weekend's worth of May the Fourth fun earlier this year. For those already planning their costumes for this 90-minute experience, you're welcome to attend as Han Solo, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker or whichever other character you'd like — but helmets and masks will need to be left in the cloak room, and you'll also need to leave your lightsabers at home. Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition displays at the Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris St, Ultimo from November 16, 2018 until June 10, 2019. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the exhibition website.
Music and wine festival Grapevine Gathering is gearing up to return to Brisbane's vineyards in 2022. The festival pairs the very best drops with a vibrant music lineup full of local talent. British indie-rockers The Kooks who are currently touring their beloved 2006 debut album Inside In / Inside Out lead the lineup alongside party-starters Peking Duk and 'Untouched' icons The Veronicas. They'll be joined on the winery stage by Ball Park Music, Jack River, Confidence Man, Cub Sport, Alice Skye, Nyxen and Becca Hatch. It's going to be a big day of tunes, folks. Aussie sketch comedians and Instagram celebrities The Inspired Unemployed are taking on hosting tunes to keep you entertained between acts. In addition to the tunes, punters will have access to an array of first-rate food options and a heap of wines, of course. To help make commuting to-and-from the vineyard a little easier, the festival has organised return buses from Mount Cotton central, Toowoomba, Maroochydore, Capalaba, Brisbane, Victoria Point and the Gold Coast. You'll just need to add a (slightly pricey) bus pass to your ticket.
When the working week is done, folks just wanna have fun. We're paraphrasing Cyndi Lauper because she knows what she's singing about. If your idea of taking her advice involves listening to ace musos belt out a few tunes, then QPAC's Green Jam is the Friday afternoon session you're looking for. All about live music, tasty food and kicking back in a grassy spot a stone's throw from the inner-city, QPAC's Green Jam Sessions offer an ace start to your weekend every week. Held between 5.30–7.30pm, the outdoor songfest takes over the Melbourne Street Green (aka that vibrant patch of turf just past the Cultural Centre walkway) for yet another year — and, in 2019, it'll once again feature a Korean-inspired menu. So, who's on the bill? The lineup kicks off on March 1 with a BrisAsia-themed lineup of LÂLKA, Salmon & The Peaches and Japan's KiKi-Tsugaru, and will be fleshed out as the year goes on. Expect local musicians and rising stars, plus talent from Queensland Conservatorium – Griffith University, Jazz Music Institute, JMC Academy and more. And as for your stomach, it can feast on bulgogi bao, kimchi pancakes, cabbage and mushroom dumplings with dipping sauce, and barbecue chicken skewers with gochujang mayo. You'll have to pay for the eating part of the evening (and any bevs you place in your hand), but it'll be worth it.
Brisbanites already have plenty of excuses to hang out in, on, near and around the water. This is the River City, after all. But come May, you'll have another reason to hit the brown snake when GoBoat splashes into town. The Denmark-born company has been busy launching its eco-friendly picnic boats in cities all over Europe over the past few years, as well as in Canberra, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. Now, after announcing it was setting up shop in Brissie in recent months, bookings are now open for its local debut — so start getting excited about cruising along the river in a different way. Aimed at making the whole boating caper more accessible for everyday folk, the Scandinavian-designed vessels are slow-moving, a breeze to operate and don't require a boating licence, making for some fun, fuss-free sailing sessions. In a win for the planet, they also run on silent, pollution-free, electric engines, and are crafted from a mix of reclaimed timber and recycled PET bottles. Each of the contemporary GoBoats clocks in at 18-feet long, boasting a central picnic table with room for eight people (and all the necessary snacks and booze). And despite what you might be thinking, they're even affordable enough to fit your budget — simply BYO food and drinks, find enough eager sailors to jump aboard and a GoBoat session will start at around $14 per person, per hour. That's $109 hourly for the first hour, but the longer you book, the cheaper it gets. The Brisbane fleet will set sail from Breakfast Creek, with bookings available from Monday, May 24. And, the company's vessels are pet-friendly — surely you've got a very good boy who deserves a river jaunt. GoBoat will start operating from Breakfast Creek in Brisbane from Monday, May 24. For further details and to book, head to the company's website. Top image: Lean Timms
Earlier this week, the organisers of Bluesfest announced that the award-winning festival was likely to leave Byron Bay — and NSW altogether — after its 30th anniversary this April in a scathing open letter to the State Government. The letter was a response to the government's stringent new music festival policies, which require them to follow a new licensing regime and, in many cases, spend thousands of dollars on increased police presence. Speaking to the media yesterday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian responded to the letter, saying that Bluesfest is a "fantastic festival" that has "nothing to worry about". Premier Berejiklian continued, saying that Bluesfest was a "low risk" event, despite Festival Director Peter Noble's announcement that, according to the government's new criteria, it was deemed a "high risk event", which meant they were required to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to comply with the new policies. This has led to more confusion about what exactly a low- or high-risk event is — and has exacerbated criticism that the government's new policies lack transparency — with guidelines released by the government saying that the level of risk is based on a number of factors including how many attendees, festival duration and whether on-site camping is taking place. Following this criteria, Bluesfest would be ranked as either a "high" or "extreme" risk event. According to Premier Berejiklian, however, high-risk festivals are events where "we've seen death or serious injury" in the past. Two other NSW music festivals, which were forced to cancel in the past week — Mountains Sounds and Psyfari — were both deemed "high risk". [caption id="attachment_566069" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Bluesfest, Andy Fraser.[/caption] Speaking to the SMH yesterday, Bluesfest's Festival Director Mr Noble said they were still considering a move to either Queensland or Victoria. "Both the States of Queensland and Victoria do not have these guidelines... In fact, they invest in music and the live arts," Mr Noble told the SMH. "NSW needs to come an awful way along to start doing the same thing to the levels of the states surrounding them are doing. They're falling behind, and yet they're patting themselves on the back at the same time." While many festivalgoers have lamented the festival's possible relocation, saying "Byron is the Bluesfest, Bluesfest is Bryon", some have embraced it, with suggestions the festival move to Victoria. One Concrete Playground reader wrote, "Victoria The Bellarine Blues Festival 2020". Bluesfest 2019 is scheduled to run from April 18 to April 22 at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay. More details and ticket info here. Image: Andy Fraser.
Beyond the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, the attacks of September 11 set in motion a third, different kind of battle. One fought on the home front; a quiet, uncomfortable and unspoken war of words and sidelong glances directed towards anyone who suddenly came to look 'different', 'foreign', 'un-American'. The inadequacies of American security were undeniable; however, the indignity of the racial profiling that became rampant in their wake remains — to this day — an irredeemable blight on the United States' history. It's within this framework that author Mohsin Hamid set his bestselling 2007 novel, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, now a film by director Mira Nair. It tells the story of Changez (Riz Ahmed), a prodigious Pakistani-born Princeton graduate who's headhunted by Jim (Kiefer Sutherland) to work in New York's top consultancy firm. With the company placing him on the fast-track to partnership and the chairman's daughter (Kate Hudson) quickly besotted, Changez's pursuit of the American dream seems assured. But then the Twin Towers come crashing down, and so too his perceived security. Colleagues view him differently, arrests and random searches become commonplace and despicable bigotry bubbles to the surface. At first Changez ignores, then endures, the prejudice, but eventually the feeling of victimisation and the loss of his identity become untenable and he returns to Pakistan. The film flicks back and forth between Changez's time in America and his present-day life as a 'radical academic' suspected of kidnapping an American colleague, and it's those latter scenes that engage most directly. Played out as an interview with US journalist Bobby (Liev Schreiber), they've a distinctly Cold War-era feel to them in the vein of the recent Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Schreiber puts in a great performance as the journo with his own secrets, and Sutherland shines as a Gordon Gecko-esque corporate cutthroat; however, it's Ahmed who steals the show. At times the rhetoric is handled a touch clumsily and the 'fundamentals of business'/'fundamentals of Islam' motif is, like the book, not especially subtle, but The Reluctant Fundamentalist remains a compelling and confronting examination of one of the war on terror's less publicised dimensions.
There's something rather cool about being ahead of the curve when it comes to cinema, watching the latest and greatest flicks unfold on the silver screen before the rest of the world gets to see them. Well, at Flickerfest Short Film Festival you can do just that. Yep, break out the popcorn, the internationally acclaimed festival is touring in Brisbane on Thursday, February 20 — and there's a swag of homegrown talent on the bill. This year, the folks at Flickerfest received a record 3500 entries from more than 100 countries around the world, making the 2020 program a real doozy. More than 200 handpicked creative and inspiring shorts screened at the festival's ten-day stint in Sydney earlier this summer. Now, at Palace James Street cinema, you'll catch the cream of the crop, with a focus on the best Australian shorts. Highlights include Chicken, directed by Papua New Guinean-Australian director Alana Hicks; animated short Rebooted about a movie star who also happens to be a skeleton; A Day In Your Life which is a thoughtful insight into homelessness; and moving Indigenous drama My Name Is Mudju by Brisbane director Chantelle Murray. [caption id="attachment_759070" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Rebooted'[/caption] After seeing a bunch of Aussie-made shorts, you can head to the after party. There you'll find plenty of snacks, beer, wine and non-alcoholic bevvies. Tickets for the evening cost $25 and include access to the afterparty. To see the full program and grab tickets, head here. Top image: Chicken by Alana Hicks and Sleena Wilson
Science is everywhere, and Brisbane has an annual festival dedicated to that fact — an event that features everything from the physics of skateboarding through to the Antarctic landscape in 2025. For movie lovers, World Science Festival Brisbane also delivers an annual treat in the form of a dedicated cinema lineup, taking over the Gallery of Modern Art's Australian Cinematheque for a few days each March. From Friday, March 21–Sunday, March 24, this year's film program is all about seafaring cinema. Sharks and other sea creatures, Studio Ghibli and Disney, lingering under the ocean's surface: covering all of the above, Into the Deep has a flick on the bill for everyone. It all kicks off with The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, so with one of Wes Anderson's greats — and if you want to make it a double feature, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is also playing on the Friday night. Come Saturday, it's animation time — and viewing for all ages, too — via Ponyo and Moana 2. Then, you just might be afraid to get into the water after Sunday's sessions, with documentary Playing with Sharks: The Valerie Taylor Story and classic blockbuster Jaws hitting the screen. Session times vary each day, but this is one of the cheapest cinema dates on offer right now, with tickets costing $10 — or $7 for GOMA members. Playing with Sharks image: Digital Scanning by Oscans in 2019 on authority of Carl Reinecke of WildBear Entertainment.
These days it seems like just about anywhere can be a cinema. Rooftop viewing is all the rage, drive-ins are popping up all over the place, and even local bars is getting in on the action. But that's only the beginning. Come April in Brisbane, film buffs will be getting locked up for their movie fix. No, going to the movies isn't being outlawed. Instead, cult film guru Kristian Fletcher has put together yet another must-attend event. This time, he's hosting a brand new movie night at Boggo Road Gaol. With a "when in Rome" attitude, Fletcher's regular program will serve up prison films in a prison setting – because flicks about roaming free in wide open spaces really wouldn't work, would they? First cab off the rank is The Great Escape on April 29, followed by 80's classic Brubaker and the Coen brothers' Miller's Crossing. And if you're wondering why we haven't mentioned The Shawshank Redemption yet, don't worry. Of course it will also grace Boggo Road's big screen. Each movie will start at 7:30pm, although anyone after more than just a film is encouraged to arrive an hour earlier. That way you can take an ex-prisoner tour, browse the markets, and peruse the jail art show. Our tip: BYO Rita Hayworth poster if you think you might want to tunnel out of there during the evening. Prison Movie Nights at Boggo Road Gaol kick off on April 29. Tickets will be $15 per film, or $35 for a film and tour combo. For more information keep your eyes on the Boggo Road Gaol website.
Stan & Ollie begins with a glorious shot — an image that's strikingly composed, and that couldn't better encapsulate the film to come. Comedians Stan Laurel (Steve Coogan) and Oliver Hardy (John C. Reilly) sit in their shared Hollywood dressing room in 1937, bantering away in their playful, genial manner. Their backs are to the camera but, as they're both perched before individual mirrors, their faces are reflected in lights at either side of the frame. Stan's thinner visage smirks wryly from the mirror in front of the more jovial, sizeable Ollie, and vice versa. Director Jon S. Baird enjoys the affectionate interplay between the two comic stars, and gazes at them just as fondly. Most importantly, the filmmaker visually signifies the enormous presence that his two subjects had in each other's life. Worlds away from his last movie, the drug-addled Irvine Welsh adaptation Filth, Baird returns to comparable moments throughout Stan & Ollie. Just as the eponymous pair were at their professional best when they were together, the film shines brightest when it looks upon the two in tender exchanges. When Stan sits side-by-side with an ailing Ollie in a hotel bed, and when the duo recline on the deck of a ship against a sunset backdrop, Stan & Ollie offers an ode not only to their enduring partnership, but to the pull they felt towards each other. That's the entire picture from start to finish — however there's a particular heart-swelling sensitivity evident in these loving scenes. After spending its opening minutes on-set during the making of comedy-western Way Out West, Stan & Ollie jumps forward to 1953, when the pair's fame has faded and their double-act has nearly fractured. Reuniting after a rocky parting over contract matters, they embark on a tour of the United Kingdom largely to boost the chances of making their first film in years. But half-empty crowds in second-tier venues await, as does the scheming of an uncaring promoter, bickering between their wives (Shirley Henderson and Nina Arianda), and more than a decade of unspoken feelings about the way things have panned out. It hardly helps that, as the two ruminate upon what they had and what could've been since, they're continually met with astonishment from ordinary punters who didn't realise they were still alive. Given cinema's penchant for biopics — half of this year's Oscar acting contenders are nominated for playing real-life figures — it's surprising that Laurel and Hardy's story hasn't graced the silver screen before. Better late than never, obviously, with screenwriter Jeff Pope (also a writer on the Coogan-starring Philomena) penning the filmic equivalent of a warm hug for two of the industry's bona fide icons. There's no escaping Stan & Ollie's kindly, laudatory tone, but it's thoroughly deserved. While the zany vaudeville energy that the duo are known for only comes through in recreations of select routines, Coogan and Reilly put in pitch-perfect performances that capture exactly why their characters had such an impact on comedy as we know it. Indeed, Stan & Ollie's casting proves a cinematic stroke of genius, of the kind that every film aims for but only a select few manage. It's especially fitting that both Coogan and Reilly have become well-known for their own two-handers in recent times — the former with Rob Brydon, as largely seen in The Trip and its sequels; the latter with Will Ferrell, though last year's Holmes & Watson is best burned from everyone's memories. Experienced hands at bouncing off an on-screen partner, they're so adept at it here that their charming double-act feels like the real thing. Crucially, they sell both the sweetness and melancholy of a life spent tied to another, although the movie's most deeply moving element comes via postscript. When Hardy died, Laurel never performed again, but kept writing new material for them to share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE5xbDTkzQQ
Since it was first staged on Broadway back in 1947, Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire has always been stellar. And, every time it has been staged — and turned into a Marlon Brando-starring movie in 1951, too — someone has always yelled "Stellaaaaaaaaa!". If that's all you know about the classic play, then La Boite's new version offers the ideal opportunity to rectify that (but don't worry, seasoned fans will find plenty to enjoy, too). You'll hear the story of small town belle Blanche DuBois, who has always depended on the kindness of strangers, as well as her younger sister with the infamous, oft-exclaimed name and Stella's husband, Stanley. Bridie Carter leads the cast, while La Boite's artistic director sits at the helm. Together, they're part of a production that also features a distinctive New Orleans cultural blend of live music onstage. No word yet if the La Boite bar is selling Stella Artois beverages.
More than two years after setting up shop as a daytime eatery, one of Fortitude Valley's favourite cafes has started serving up dinner once a week. Come Friday evenings, King Arthur Cafe is staying open to extend its farm-to-table ethos to later-in-the-day dining, and offering an all-Australian beer and wine menu to go with it. Open all day, with drinks and snacks available from 2.30pm and dinner between 5pm to 10pm, King Arthur's end-of-week selection includes six types of meat, five vegetable dishes and two larger meals made for sharing. Hungry patrons can take their pick from buttermilk chermoula spiced chicken ribs, kangaroo tartare, grilled octopus, duck tataki, swordfish ceviche and a stacked charcuterie board, as well as sides of pan-sautéed okra, dukkah-spiced corn, grilled broccoli with miso custard and more, or opt for whole fish and banana sambal or carne roja with pickled jalapeños. The new food menu continues King Arthur's commitment to supporting local farmers and producers, and tracing ingredients back to their source. As for beverage choices, they'll rotate seasonally, featuring natural and minimalist intervention wines, beers from Green Beacon Brewery, Slipstream Brewing and the Sunshine Coast's Brouhaha, plus a simple cocktail offering as well. "I think dinner was always an eventual progression for King Arthur," says owner Mairi MacKinnon. "We saw a need to extend service so that we could showcase more and more of the great produce that we have available to us in our region, and to pair this produce with some really great Australian beers and wines." Find King Arthur Cafe at 164c Arthur Street, Fortitude Valley. Head to their website and Facebook page for further details.
When the Mountain Goat Valley Crawl kicked off in 2016, it did so in simple but great style. Recognising that the key to many a good night out is a multi-venue itinerary, it made hopping between Fortitude Valley's finest hangouts a streamlined, well-organised yet still laidback experience — with brews aplenty and an ace live music soundtrack. That was then. Now, the same idea and aim remain; however everyone's favourite multi-venue mini music and beer festival is even bigger and better in its third year. After expanding from four venues in its initial outing to five the second time around, 2018's event will see attendees jump between seven spots to see 35 interstate and local artists. The simultaneous sonic fun takes place on February 17, at returning spaces The Zoo, The Brightside, The Foundry and Black Bear Lodge, plus new additions Barbara, The Flying Cock and Crowbar. As always, the agenda includes running between each to sip frosty beverages and catch crackin' sets, with the entertainment once again sponsored by a brewery. Details of the who plays at which venue variety are yet to be announced; however the whole shindig will kick off at 5pm. Given that we know the what, where and when of it all in a general sense, the only thing left for you to do is clear your calendar for an ace day of tunes, brews and hopping around the Valley. Oh, and to get excited about the below lineup: Philadelphia Grand Jury Gooch Palms Hatchie Hollow Coves Carmouflage Rose Midas.Gold Ninajirachi Jess Locke Bugs BOAT SHOW Nice Biscuit Emerson Snowe Holiday Party Ayla King IV Austen Jesswar Fritz Jouk Mistrow The Gametes Orlando Furious FeelsClub Port Royal First Beige Eat Your Heart Out Chakra Efendi Stranger Land JEFFE Hey Baby Pink Matter Keelan Mak Earthlings Twinfolds Hope D Zapéd The Mountain Goat Valley Crawl takes place at The Zoo, The Brightside, The Foundry, Black Bear Lodge, Barbara, The Flying Cock and Crowbar on February 17. For more information, check out the event's Facebook page.
If you like beer and you live in Brisbane, then you've probably noticed a trend in recent years. In fact, you've probably been making the most of it. That's to be expected when a certain patch of turf starts welcoming new drinking spots with frequency. Thanks to Ballistic Beer Co in Salisbury, as well as Helios Brewing Company and Slipstream Brewing Company in Yeerongpilly, there's no shortage of breweries to have a beer at on the southside — and while you've likely been hopping between them all anyway, Beermuda Triangle gives the area's boozy crawl an official spin. Head to any of the trio between 1–7pm on Saturday, October 30, get sipping, then catch a courtesy bus to the other two — and drink more frothy ales at each, obviously. Entry is free, more than 50 brews will be on offer, and there'll also be food trucks and live music at each brewery. Plus, you'll be able to just generally soak in the boozy Salisbury and Yeerongpilly vibes. Also, because this edition of Beermuda Triangle is being held just a day before Halloween, each brewery will also be whipping up a special spooky-themed beer for the day. And, wearing costumes is highly recommended. Basically, think of this brewery crawl as a beer-drinking version of trick-or-treating.
It has been two years since The Foundry first came into Brisbanites' lives, and doesn't time fly when you're having plenty of live music fun. Consider that the warmup to the Valley venue's epic second birthday bash — or consider the shindig an ideal example of marking the occasion the way they intend to go on. On August 10, a top lineup of GL, Hatchie, Party Dozen and Holiday Party will be hitting the stage to celebrate, which means one thing: there will be dancing. Kicking off at 8pm, there'll also be a whole lotta love for a place that combines gigs, festivals, creative events, industry offices, a rehearsal space, artist touring accommodation and more under one roof. Pre-booked tickets cost $10 + booking fee, or grab one for $15 at the door.
From 12.01pm today, Queensland is once again letting in tourists (with a border pass) from across Australia (except Victoria) to visit its white beaches and coral reefs. To celebrate, Virgin Australia is selling half-a-million cheap flights to the Sunshine State. Virgin? Yes. The same airline that, just months ago, entered voluntary administration. It has since been sold to US private investment firm Bain Capital and launched a comeback sale in early July. Now, it has just kicked off its Good to Go sale, which is running from Friday, July 10 until midnight on Tuesday, July 14 (or until sold out) and includes fares as low as $85. It's not quite as much of a bargain as Jetstar's earlier $19 flight sale, but the tickets do include a 23-kilogram baggage allowance for economy class bookings. [caption id="attachment_770853" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tourism Australia[/caption] Sydneysiders can pack that bag and jump on a flight to the Gold Coast for $85, to Brisbane for $89 and to Cairns for $139, while Brisbanites can take their baggage to the Whitsunday Coast for $89, to Sydney for $99 and to Hamilton Island for $115. If you're hoping to head into Queensland in the next seven days, prepare for plenty of company: the government yesterday reported that 200,000 people had applied for the required border pass and that "congestion and delays" were expected. Virgin Australia's Good to Go sale runs until midnight on Tuesday, July 14.
You might have thought King George Square looked pretty fine during the day, and maybe a tad finer at night, but it's at twilight City Hall really shows off its colours. And what better backdrop to shop the evening away with, especially when the King George is filled with some of Brisbane's best designers and makers. The monthly Brisbane Twilight Market shows off some 80 stalls, staffed by some pretty nifty and talented local artists. There will be an eclectic selection of handmade clothing, accessories, leathergoods, papergoods, homewares and more on show. This market is all about sound, smell and sales — live jazz bands will provide a smooth soundtrack to the evening, and expect to be hit with that spring flowerbed smell that always lingers when there's a soap stall around. The markets run from 4pm – 9pm. Take along some cash and stock up on all things crafty.
When the Mardi Gras Film Festival returns each, it's wonderful news for Sydney's cinephiles. For folks located outside of the Harbour City, it's been fantastic news, too, for the past few years. Catering to movie lovers Australia-wide is fast, and welcomely, becoming a pandemic-era film fest staple — and MGFF has been jumping on the trend heartily. That includes in 2023, thanks to a 21-title online lineup. Not in Sydney but still want to watch along between Wednesday, February 15–Thursday, March 2? If you're in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or elsewhere across the country, you still have a feast of queer cinema coming your way. More flicks are available at the fest's in-person event compared to its digital lineup, but a nice selection will be screening online for those playing along at home and interstate. LGBTQIA+ movie lovers watching on from the couch can check out 21 features. Highlights span Black as U R, a doco about the lack of attention paid to the black queer community; Icelandic spoof Cop Secret; Blitzed!, about the eponymous London nightclub, with Boy George, Princess Julia and Spandau Ballet sharing their memories; and Youtopia, which explores the inadvertent formation of a hipster cult. And, there's also In Her Words, an ode to 20th-century lesbian fiction; A Place of Our Own, an Indian drama about two trans friends; and All Man: The International Male Story, exploring how a menswear catalogue became a homoerotic handbook — as well as the COVID-era set sci-fi road-trip flick Unidentified Objects, a winner at Outfest LA.
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. But thanks to southeast Queensland's latest lockdown, things will be a bit different in 2021. Just like last year, the Ekka isn't going ahead due to the pandemic. Fingers crossed that those beloved strawberry desserts will still pop up somewhere, like they also did last year. If you'd like to combine that berry flavour with a brew or several, however, Stone and Wood has something extra special on offer. The brewery is bringing back its Ekka-inspired 'Strawberry Sundae Kisses' beer. Yes, it's a boozy version of iconic dessert, and it tastes like strawberries and cream. Stone and Wood whip it up in the traditional Berliner Weisse style, with the brew also featuring lactose and vanilla — and it'll be available in one-litre sharers at the brewery's lockdown drive-thru. If Brisbane can welcome a fancy mac 'n' cheese drive-thru and a lasagne drive-thru during its latest stay-at-home period, then it can also play host to a strawberry sundae beer-slinging brewery drive-thru — so that's exactly what Stone and Wood is setting up. Its Brissie brewery is offering the service from 12–5pm between Friday, August 6–Sunday, August 8. Yes, other types of brews will be available, as will merch, and you'll get it all brought to your car without having to hop out. Pick up some of the Strawberry Sundae Kisses beer and you'll also be helping a great cause, with Stone and Wood donating all the proceeds from the brew to The Common Good's usual fundraising efforts for The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation. Stone and Wood's lockdown drive-thru will operate at its Brisbane brewery at 99 Bridge St, Fortitude Valley, from 12–5pm between Friday, August 6–Sunday, August 8.
It's the German culinary classic that's become a true blue Aussie pub favourite — and now the humble schnitzel is getting its very own ten-week celebration courtesy of The Bavarian. Folks, get set for Schnitty Fest. Running from Wednesday, March 31–Wednesday, June 9, the event sees the German beer hall chain's many outposts (Brisbane's include Eagle Street Pier, Chermside and The Barracks) paying homage to this beloved dish with an exclusive menu of ten different schnitzel creations. On offer right through the festival, it's a truly diverse lineup, featuring everything from a Mexican-inspired schnitty topped with corn chips, salsa and spicy beef ($26), to a crumbed mushroom parma served with cabbage slaw and fries ($24). The Nashville variation takes a trip through southern USA by way of some southern fried chook, potato gems and a chipotle aioli ($26), while the aptly named Oktoberfest ($26) comes teamed with sautéed potatoes, mustard and wurstsalat (sausage salad). And the pork-based Schweineschnitzel ($26) will send all the traditionalists to bread-crumbed heaven. What's more, as a special hump day treat, diners will find the full range of schnitzels dropped to just $10 all day long every Wednesday. And as always, The Bavarian is pouring a slew of both Aussie and German beers to wash down your schnitty feast in style. [caption id="attachment_805249" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The Oktoberfest schnitty[/caption]
Vegans tired of being excluded from affordable mainstream menus or, at best, treated as an after-thought, here's some cheerful news — for both you and the rest of the animal kingdom. Domino's Pizza has today — Monday, January 8 — added vegan cheese to its list of ingredients. Yep, your pizza eating habits no longer need be restricted to vego-only (or exxy sit down) joints — they can now extend to cheap on-the-way-home snacks and in-bed feasts. To celebrate, three vegan pizzas will be hitting the menu for a limited time. These are the vegan avocado veg, the vegan spicy trio and the vegan margherita. Most importantly, though, you'll be able to turn any pizza on the menu into an animal-free one by asking for vegan mozzarella and parting with an extra $2.95 (which is quite reasonable, really). Plus, all Domino's bases and sauces are plant-based. The decision to introduce vegan cheese came about as a result of a survey that Domino's conducted via its Facebook page in late 2017. "We were blown away by the response," said Nick Knight, CEO of Domino's Australia and New Zealand. "The popularity of, and demand for, vegan products has increased considerably over the years, so it's great we are now able to offer this high-quality, non-GMO, plant-based and preservative-free vegan cheese." Domino's created the cheese — which is also free of gluten, soy and cholesterol — in its LuvLab, aiming to mimic the taste, texture and melting power of dairy-based cheese. But we'll believe it when we try it. Obviously our fair city has plenty of pizza options that we'd recommend over Domino's, but, nonetheless, this can only be a sign that more readily-available vegan options will hit mainstream food outlets in the near future. To begin, the cheese will be available for a limited time, and, if it proves popular with customers, it'll be instated permanently.
It just got real grey in Brisbane. And in Brisbane during the warmer months, that only means one thing: a storm is coming. So if you're currently reading this from somewhere dry and cosy, we suggest that you keep it that way for the rest of your Sunday afternoon. And not just any old wet weather, either. The Bureau of Meteorology has reported that giant (its words) hail is expected with the very dangerous storm heading to the Caloundra area, while damaging winds and large hail are likely with storms near Redcliffe, Beachmere and Brisbane Airport. Hail nearing cricket ball-size has also been reported near the Glass House Mountains. And, even if you're not on the Sunshine Coast or Brisbane's northside, the storm warning is current for the Redland City, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane City and Moreton Bay council areas. In total, three serious thunderstorms are currently in the region and, taking a peek at the BOM's nifty colour-coded map, below, it looks like Brisbane's CBD could be hit. https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1195909184920969216 While Queensland Fire and Emergency Services has been battling the state's catastrophic bushfires this week, it has advised that those in the path of the storms should follow BOM's advice. The usual common sense tactics obviously apply: secure loose outdoor items and stay inside. Their number is 132 500 if you need SES assistance. Weather-wise, the wild conditions are set to subside after today — tomorrow is set to be a partly cloudy, rain-free 27. Stay dry out there. And remember to check Live Traffic, Translink and BOM for warnings and updates.
If you like cheese, then it's impossible to have too much of it. Whether it's served on a platter, combined with macaroni, slipped onto burgers, grated over pasta, melted into gooey fondue or part of a 150-cheese pizza — to name just a few cheesy examples — the more there is, the merrier your tastebuds are. That applies to cheese toasties, too, because even the simple combination of warmed bread and cheese can be improved by adding more of the later, then more still, then just a bit more. How much cheese should a toastie boast? As much as you can manage, really. If 40 different types of cheese sounds like enough (or close to it), then you'll want to celebrate National Cheese Day on Friday, June 4. Yes, it's another of those food-focused days that are really just excuses to spruik more of the dish in question. It's actually one of three that are set to tempt tastebuds this coming weekend, alongside National Doughnut Day and World Fish 'n' Chip Day. But it's also a reason to tuck into a 40-cheese toastie — or several. The cheese behemoths will be on offer for two weeks, and only via Deliveroo — with eateries in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland whipping up different versions. Wherever you opt to order from, you'll need to use the delivery platform. Each toastie will cost you $12, and $5 from each order will go to Eat Up, a charity that works to counteract child hunger. In NSW, Butter's Parramatta and Chatswood stores are serving up their take on the 40-cheese creation. So are South Dowling Sandwiches in Alexandria and De'assis in Collaroy, while Custom Cafe in Brookvale and Paper Plane Cafe are doing ham and 40-cheese toasties. Victorians can check out Royal Stacks' version, or opt for a 40-cheese and herb variety from Collingwood's Punjabi Curry Cafe, a 40-cheese breakfast toastie from Blackburn Pizza Kebab and Cafe, and either salami or ham versions from Yarraville's Antipasti Deli Cafe. And in Queensland, Fortitude Valley's Hashtag Burgers and Waffles and West End's Suburban Cafe are both doing their extra cheesy thing, as is Toowong's Kingfisher Seafood Cafe — which is making a beef and cheese variety. At Tutto Cafe in Ashgrove, a ham and cheese type will be on offer as well. Wondering what types of cheeses will be included? Obviously, it's a long list. Here's the full rundown, which will have you dreaming of oozing sandos for days to come. Sori Buffalo mozzarella Lemnos feta Floridia haloumi Scamorza bianca mozzarella Mainland shredded egmont Scamorza smoked mozzarella Fred Walker shredded tasty Provolone mild brazzal Black jack cheddar Pecorino romano zanet Ashgrove Tassie trio Colby Vega wine-infused cheese Gouda cumin wedge Zanetti pecorino romano Parmigiano reggiano Smoked cheddar Saganaki Havarti Blue Stilton Asiago dop Camembert Natural Swiss cheese Sartori balsamic Sartori espresso Pecorino romano Truffelino Red Leicester Rubicon Lancashire Double Gloucester Gourmet mozzarella Jarlsberg Fiordimaso Pickled onion cheddar Gouda nutty and robust Comté Emmental Manchego Roncal Burrata Forty-cheese toasties will be available to order from eateries in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane via Deliveroo for two weeks from Friday, June 4–Thursday, June 17.
2020 gave us Normal People, the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney's beloved second novel. 2021 saw the Irish author's third book, Beautiful World, Where Are You, hit shelves. So now that a new year is here, Rooney fans need something new to obsess over — and the Conversations with Friends streaming series, which has just unveiled its first teaser trailer, definitely fits the mould. Based on Rooney's 2017 debut novel, the show itself won't reach eyeballs until May, which is when it'll premiere in the US on Hulu and in the UK on BBC Three — and hopefully Down Under via Amazon Prime Video at around the same time. But the initial sneak peek, while brief, teases plenty to look forward to, including a stacked cast that features newcomer Alison Oliver as Frances, The Favourite and Mary Queen of Scots' Joe Alwyn as Nick, American Honey's Sasha Lane as Bobbi, and Girls and Sex Education's Jemima Kirke as Melissa. If you've read the book, you'll know that Conversations with Friends follows Dublin college students Frances and Bobbi, as well as married couple Nick and Melissa. Frances and Bobbi used to date, but are now best friends; however, everything shifts when they meet their new pals — with Frances and Nick having an affair, Melissa and Bobbi drawn to each other, and Frances and Bobbi's friendship put under threat. The 12-part Conversations with Friends miniseries' first trailer is brief, but firmly sets the mood — and quickly conjures up memories of Normal People. There's a reason for that beyond the shared Rooney-penned source material, with Normal People co-director Lenny Abrahamson and co-screenwriter Alice Birch leading the charge behind the scenes here. When Conversations with Friends was first published five years back, it launched Rooney's career and sent award nominations her way, with Hulu and BBC Three announcing their plans to bring it to the screen after the Normal People adaptation proved such a hit. And yes, if you can't wait for Conversations with Friends to land in your streaming queue, you can obviously try to fill your time rebinging Normal People. Check out the teaser trailer for Conversations with Friends below: Conversations with Friends will start streaming in the US in May, and is set to stream Down Under via Amazon Prime Video — we'll update you with a specific date when one is announced. Images: Alison Oliver (Frances), Sasha Lane (Bobbi), Joe Alwyn (Nick) and Jemima Kirke (Melissa) in Conversations with Friends, Element Pictures. Photographer: Enda Bowe.
Ain't no party like a Triffid party, and this Saturday they're prepped and ready to get it on for the return of Vibes on a Summer's Day. Think international acts, favourite local bands, beer, food and grooves that will kick off just after midday and last until the deep hours of the night. Before you skip down to the exciting stuff, be a champ and read up Vibes on a Summer's Day's history. The day used to be a permanent fixture in the Australian music calendar from the mid-'90s to 2003, catering to cutting-edge fans of the soul and funk fringes of house and breakbeat. It introduced the likes of Groove Armada, Norman Jay, Gilles Peterson and Jamiroquai, among others. Now, after a 13-year hiatus, Vibes is returning to both Brisbane and Sydney. Leading the day's line up will be the DJ of all DJs Jazzie B, funk brothers Faze Action, Phil Smart, Kid Kenobi, Frenzie and Joe90. They'll be delivering dishes of funk and groove across two huge stages. On the local front, Katch, DJ Rouse, Phil Pherry, Kieron C, Mr Walker, Bluesabelle Butterz, Gavin Boyd, Mr. Sparkle, Cool Hand Luke and Dj Chantal, and Anthorme Boogie Sephard with Boogie Nights will be proving some added beats. Tickets for Vibes for a Summer's Day cost $45 and can be purchased online.
Not that long ago, inner-city Brisbane was a hive of movie-going activity, with no fewer that five cinemas operating within the CBD. However, in recent times film lovers have become accustomed to seeing theatres close rather than open — but a proposed new use for the Tara House building on Elizabeth Street could reverse that trend. That's right Brisbanites, the iconic CBD building is might soon be the Elizabeth Picture Theatre — if it proceeds, that is. At the moment, it's the subject of development application lodged by the folks behind the revitalised New Farm Cinemas. After working wonders revamping the old Village Twin on Brunswick Street after more than a decade of inactivity, and running the Yatala Drive-In as well, the Sourris family have set their sights on turning the space previously known as the Queensland Irish Club into a seven-screen cinema. According to a development application lodged through Brisbane City Council and posted on a SkyscraperCity forum, the heritage-listed venue would retain many of its existing features, including transforming the current first-floor ballroom into a grand yet intimate 121-seat theatre, alongside another 57-seat screen on the same level. Five other darkened rooms would grace the ground and basement storeys, and accommodate between 22 and 34 patrons each. Street-level retail tenancies — aka shops and eateries — would also feature. If it goes ahead, the new cinema will mark 179 Elizabeth Street's first significant change since 1919, when the Irish Club first moved in. Prior to that, it housed produce merchants and warehousing firms, with the building initially springing up in 1878. Of course, Elizabeth Picture Theatre's location won't escape the attention of the city's cinephiles; it's directly across the road from what's currently a giant hole in the ground, but previously housed the much-loved Regent Cinema until 2009. As well as its close proximity to the now-demolished movie theatre, it's just up the road from two other former cinema sites: the Forum on the corner on Albert and Elizabeth Streets (which then became a Borders and is now a Topshop store) and the Albert around the corner, which Dymocks, Vapiano and more now call home. Over in George Street, fellow CBD venue Tribal Cinema is still standing, but hasn't been in operation since 2013, though it was listed for lease last year. Via Skyscrapercity.com.
Like much in 2020, Brisbane's next big music festival is going to look more than a little different than usual. Indeed, when Remix Hotel hits town between Friday, October 9–Sunday, October 11, it'll combine two of the year's big trends: making the most of this city of ours and live-streaming top-notch entertainment. Across the whole weekend, the tunes will be pumping at Ovolo The Valley. And if you're thinking that's a unique choice for a music fest, well, this is a unique event. Featuring a lineup that includes Groove Armada, Marshall Jefferson, Jason Bye, Rachel May, Groove Terminator and Mark James, this fest will be broadcasting its live sets from the likes of London, Manchester and Ibiza — all into the hotel's rooms and entertainment areas, and all for music lovers who are staying onsite for a couple of days of ace sounds and staycation shenanigans. Yes, that means you'll need to book a room, which starts at $598 for two people for two nights. But, once you're onsite, you'll be able to tap your toes to a stellar soundtrack in said room, as well as in the hotel's gorilla lounge, its interactive lounge, by the pool and at Za Za Ta Bar and Kitchen. Dancing isn't permitted in line with Queensland's current COVID-19 restrictions; however if you're hanging out in one of the communal spaces, there'll be a heap of seating. Your package includes your stay, free minibar, breakfast and rooftop sunset sessions daily, and a brunch bloody mary on the Saturday, too. More artists will be added to the lineup — and, if you're keen, the whole event is open to hotel guests only. Remix Hotel takes place at Ovolo The Valley from Friday, October 9–Sunday, October 11, with tickets starting from $598 for two people for two nights.
Summer is almost here for another year, and that means that festival season is almost here as well. We all know that the latter always comes in two parts, however. Before we spend our sunny days and balmy nights dancing in crowds, there's the anticipation phase — that time when it seems like every fest in the country is announcing plans and lineups to get us all excited. After Wollongong's Yours and Owls, new touring fest Summer Camp, Sydney's NYE in the Park and Melbourne's Beyond the City all dropped their latest details in recent weeks, it's now For the Love's turn. The waterfront music festival will hit up the Gold Coast, Wollongong, Melbourne and Perth in February and March 2022, with Dom Dolla, Crooked Colours and Mallrat leading the lineup. Running Touch, Allday, Boo Seeka, George Maple, Telenova and Ebony Boadu are also on the bill, and the folks at Untitled Group — the same minds behind Beyond the Valley, Pitch Music & Arts and Ability Fest — are still running the show. The Gold Coast's Doug Jennings Park, Wollongong's Stuart Park, Catani Gardens in Melbourne and Perth's McCallum Park are set to be transformed into blissful dance destinations — and punters will also have the opportunity to kick back in style in one of For The Love's VIP lounges, presented by Aussie streetwear label Nana Judy. If it all sounds a bit familiar, that's because a number of acts on the bill were due to play For the Love this year, only for 2021's events to get pushed back to 2022. But that chaos has meant that a Wollongong festival has now joined the tour, which is obviously great news for New South Wales residents. If an evening spent cutting shapes by the water sounds like a much-needed addition to your calendar, you can now register for presale tickets until 4pm AEDT on Tuesday, November 23. Presale tickets go on sale from 6pm AEDT hat same day, with general public tickets up for grabs from 1pm AEDT on Wednesday, November 24. FOR THE LOVE 2022 AUSTRALIAN DATES: Saturday, February 19 — Doug Jennings Park, Gold Coast Saturday, February 26 — Stuart Park, Wollongong Saturday, March 5 — Catani Gardens, Melbourne Sunday, March 6 — McCallum Park, Perth FOR THE LOVE 2022 LINEUP: Dom Dolla Crooked Colours Mallrat Allday Running Touch Boo Seeka George Maple Telenova Ebony Boadu For The Love 2021 tours the country in February and March 2022. Head to the festival's website to register for presale.
No doubt you have a couple of Donna Hay cookbooks in your cupboard. After all, she is an Aussie food icon. From baked treats and cakes to salads, soups and home-style feasts, she's known not only for her recipes but also her impeccable plating. Now, the much-loved cook is hosting a series of virtual cooking classes, so you can become a culinary whiz in your own kitchen. Yep, it's not often you get to cook with Donna Hay and, soon enough, you'll be plating up like a Masterchef contestant. Best of all, it's free. To make it happen, Hay has partnered up with renowned New Zealand winemakers Cloudy Bay, because it wouldn't be a dinner party without vino. Known for its well-crafted wine, particularly its sauvignon blanc, Cloudy Bay is synonymous with the Marlborough wine region. Happening on Thursday, August 20 and Thursday, August 27, the two 1.5-hour cook-along sessions will see you whipping up two courses — a grazing platter and a main — and pairing both with a Cloudy Bay vino. In the first masterclass, the focus will be on pairing a fresh, vibrant sauvignon blanc with each dish. In the second, it'll be all about cool-climate pinot noir. Overall, with the help of Donna Hay and Cloudy Bay, you'll pick up some serious shortcuts to at-home entertaining. You can register for free here. Once you've signed up, you'll get an email with a link to join via Zoom, plus access to online recipe cards access and where to purchase the two Cloudy Bay wines — and have them delivered to your door. The Shortcuts to Entertaining with Donna Hay sessions kick off at 6.30pm on Thursday, August 20 and Thursday, August 27. To sign up, head here, then order yourself bottles of Cloudy Bay from this website.
When was the last time that you picked up a pen, sat down in front of a piece of paper and wrote someone a letter? When was the last time you picked up a pen and wrote something other than a reminder note, shopping list or a scribbled signature, for that matter? Handwriting is no longer a daily part of many people's lives, and nor is corresponding with others via mail — but both are in the spotlight at Dead Letter Club. Founded in Melbourne and now making its way around the country, Dead Letter Club is reviving the art of simply writing letters, although it's doing so with a twist. It's also a creative writing night, where people grab some stationery, choose a pen name and start scrawling missives. The letters are then sent via secret post — that is, swapped with other attendees, with everyone paired up with a mystery pen pal — creating a back-and-forth of handwritten correspondence throughout the evening. On the club's website, creator Melanie Knight describes it as "a chance to turn the tides on consumerism. Rather than consume more, we can make something". Dead Letter Club also presents itself an antidote to today's texting, twittering, emoji-sending, like-clicking forms of communication, instead requiring someone to spend time and energy to carefully compose a long-form piece of correspondence to someone else. Celebrating its first birthday at Melbourne's Noisy Ritual Urban Winery on Wednesday, October 10, Dead Letter Club often takes place in boozy establishments — so if you need some inspiration, the liquid type is available to purchase. Hundreds of writing prompt cards are also on hand, should you simply need an idea to get you started. The club comes to Sydney on Wednesday, October 17 thanks to a session at Daisy's Milk Bar, with fellow nights following in Wollongong and Canberra as part of an east coast tour. A session also occurred in Brisbane in September — and the club welcomes enquiries from folks eager to start up regular events in their city or town. Image: Dead Letters Club.
For the past few years, the unnerving Séance installation has been popping up around southeast Queensland and spooking the region out. In 2022, it's back again — because when better than the lead up to Halloween? This time around, however, it's setting up its big, white container at Movie World on the Gold Coast as part of the theme park's October Fright Nights on Friday and Saturday evenings. That means that you do need to buy a ticket to the whole shindig, then nab a Séance ticket on top; however, you will get to enjoy this particular experience, plus everything else that's on the Fright Nights agenda. On that list: spooky entertainment, creepy precincts, themed mazes (some of which also cost extra) and, of course, Movie World's rides. Unlike most shipping containers around the place, this one isn't being used to transport furniture. And, given that the word 'séance' is written on the side in black, it's definitely more than a little ominous. Participants will be able to take a seat inside, and then put on a headset. You'll next be told to put both hands on the table. The lights go out, leaving the place in absolute darkness — and, for 20 uneasy minutes, you'll be taken on an immersive journey led only by touch and sounds. Expect to feel confused, repulsed and struck with temporary claustrophobia. According to organisers, numerous participants have bailed halfway through sittings in the past. You're probably thinking that there's something dark or supernatural about the whole thing — and going by the name, we don't blame you. But the installation's organiser says that 'séance' is simply a French word meaning 'session' or 'sitting'. And so Séance is a sensory experience that looks at the psychology of both sensory deprivation and the dynamics of a group sitting together. It's a scary indicator of how easy it is for confusion, disorientation and information overload to affect our judgement. (We're serious when we say Séance is not recommended for the claustrophobic, the easily frightened or those afraid of the dark.) Artists David Rosenberg and Glen Neath of Darkfield (who have collaborated in other sensory deprivation projects before) are the creative masterminds behind the project, which has been described as 'disorienting' and 'deeply unsettling'. And if need more of an idea of what you're in for, you might've listened to Darkfield's at-home experiences in the past few years, too — such as Double, Visitors, Eternal and Knot — and experienced a few bumps and jumps. [caption id="attachment_804877" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Séance in Sydney in 2017[/caption]
Forests, riverbeds, floating mirrored spheres, a hefty collection of motorbikes: across recent summers, these have all filled Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art. Every three years, so does a returning showcase dedicated not to a theme but to the area of the world that the River City is a part of. For more than three decades now, pre-dating GOMA's existence, the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art has contemplated this corner of the globe, the experiences over its vast expanse and the region's talents. The 2024–25 iteration marks the exhibition's 11th run — and if the fact that there's more than 500 works doesn't already make it seem like a maze, a labyrinth-esque installation at Queensland Art Gallery will. Thailand's Mit Jai Inn is displaying a maze-like piece to the QAG Watermall, a space that's also seen its fair share of past works — including from Yayoi Kusama and at prior APTs — and featured on-screen in Apples Never Fall. This time, art lovers can spy tunnels, curtains and scrolls, all in an installation that you can step inside. There's your first must-see part of APT11. Taking place from Saturday, November 30, 2024–Sunday, April 27, 2025 at both GOMA and QAG, the exhibition's full list of 500-plus works hails from over 70 artists and collectives, with more than 200 individuals making a contribution. Among the new commissions, Jasmine Togo-Brisby, Kawita Vatanajyankur, Trương Công Tùng, Paemanu Contemporary Art Collective, 'Aunofo Havea Funaki and the Lepamahanga Women's Group, Mele Kahalepuna Chun and Mai Nguyễn-Long will all provide pieces; however, the list of artists involved goes on from there. [caption id="attachment_969544" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kawita Vatanyankur / Thailand b.1987 / Pat Pataranutaporn /United States b.1995 / The Machine Ghost in the Human Shell (from the 'Cyber Labour' series) 2024 / Performative hologram projections with AI / Installed dimensions variable / Commissioned for the 11th Asia Pacific Triennial / Courtesy: The artist and Nova Contemporary / © Kawita Vatanyankur[/caption] Courtesy of 28-artist collective Haus Yuriyal in Papua New Guinea, attendees can check out paintings on fighting shields, sculptures carved from tree ferns and a harvest garden in Queensland Art Gallery's sculpture courtyard. At GOMA, the Long Gallery features Tai Moana Tai Tangata, a combination of sculptures and video from Aotearoa's Brett Graham. Plus, Dana Awartani from Saudi Arabia and Palestine is presenting the floor-based Standing by the Ruins, which uses Islamic geometry and crafting, as well as Arabic ruin poetry, to ponder the impact of war. Dawn Ng's multi-channel video featuring frozen pigment melting; Yeung Tong Lung's portraits of daily Hong Kong life; Kikik Kollektive musing on a serpent deity; film programs exploring the careers of Tsai Ming-liang (Days), Ryusuke Hamaguchi (the Oscar-winning Drive My Car) and Kamila Andini (Yuni): they're all also on the lineup. Fingers crossed that the Tsai Ming-liang survey includes his stunning first virtual-reality effort The Deserted. The full roster of APT10 participants spans artists from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Iran, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, Timor‑Leste, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Malaysia, Vietnam, Hawaii, South Korea, Mongolia, Indonesia, Tonga, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Solomon Islands, The Philippines, Samoa, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vanuatu, Cambodia, the US and more. [caption id="attachment_969545" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dawn Ng / Singapore b.1982 / WATERFALL VIII (still) 2023 / 4K video: 16:9 (landscape) and 9:16 (portrait), 27:06 minutes / Courtesy: The artist and Sullivan+Strumpf / © Dawn Ng[/caption] Top images: Installation of Haus Yuriyal's artwork including (front to back) Bopa, 2024, Kalabus, 2024, Kamkau Ike (Haus Toktok) 2024 with Yuriyal Bridgeman's Yuri Alai Eagles (ceiling shield paintings) 2024 and Kuman (shield) paintings 2024. 'The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Queensland Art Gallery / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA. Dana Awartani / Saudi Arabia / Palestine b.1987 / Standing by the ruins (installation view, 'Art Here: Icon. Iconic', Louvre, Abu Dhabi) 2022/ Courtesy: The artist / © Dana Awartani. Kikik Kollektive artist Marrz Capanang paints a collaborative mural in IIoilo City, Central Philippines, 2022 / © Kikik Kollektive / Photograph: Kristine Buenavista. Brett Graham / Ngāti Korokī Kahukura, Tainui / Aotearoa New Zealand b.1967 / Maungārongo ki te Whenua, Maungārongo ki te Tangata 2020 / Wood, synthetic polymer paint and graphite / 320 x 800 x 320cm / Courtesy: The artist and Neil Pardington / © Brett Graham and Neil Pardington / Photograph: Neil Pardington.
Like eating? Like South Bank? Then you're going to love the combination of the two. Yes, it's Regional Flavours time again. If you haven't made it along to the inner-city precinct's signature food and wine festival over the past ten — yes ten — years, don't make that same mistake again in year ten. And, as always, entry is free. For two days across Saturday, July 20 and Sunday, July 21, the length and breadth of the parklands will become a culinary wonderland, complete with different spaces serving up different taste sensations. At the Queensland Taste Marketplace, you'll find market stalls, demonstrations and live music. At The Hunting Club, which will kick things off a little earlier on Friday, July 19 from 5–10pm, you'll find woodfired and smoked meat matched with beers. Plus, there will be areas dedicated to street food and picnics. In addition, there'll be classes, demonstrations, presentations and signings from a huge range of chefs — such as Poh Ling Yeow, George Calombaris, Matt Preston, Justine Schofield, Reynold Poernomo, Dan Churchill, Ellie Bullen and more. The bulk of Regional Flavours runs from 10am–5pm on Saturday and Sunday, however River Quay will operate until 7pm and The Hunting Club will stay open until 10pm.
Whoever said an encyclopaedic knowledge of a cartoon about a dysfunctional yellow family would never come in handy was a real narc. So, for its latest edition on Sunday, July 26, Isolation Trivia is pulling the Comic Book Guy out of every Simpsons fanatic. If you don't know squat about Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart and Maggie — and their escapades over the long-running animated series' first nine seasons in particular — then consider yourself warned. This virtual trivia event is definitely for fans. You should at least know the name of Lionel Hutz's law practice, and the monikers of Lisa and Bart's hockey teams coached by Apu and Chief Wiggum. It'll also help if you know who the two other Sideshows were besides Bob and Mel, and the identity of Lisa's first hook-up. These are elementary questions, and their answers should be written into your brain like it's a chalkboard. Play along from home from 6.25pm — and, if you've ever been to a Simpsons trivia night in-person, you'll understand these can get pretty intense, with some competitors near crazed with cartoon intelligence. So be prepared for the moment you stare at the leaderboard, hypnotised by self-doubt, and repeatedly, self-pityingly mutter to yourself, "I'm not so S-M-R-T". Isolation Trivia's The Simpsons trivia night takes place from 6.25pm at Sunday, July 26.
Here comes the songs, Beatles fans, but not quite as you know them. In fact, Lady Beatle isn't just for die hard aficionados of the fab four — it's for everyone that likes their pop culture a bit out of the ordinary. As they did with Miley Cyrus in Wrecking Ball, collaborators Adam Brunes and Naomi Price turn one of the most famous catalogues of tracks in history into something completely different and new. If you saw that show, then you'll be eager to see how this turns out. Come together, because all you need is love and a modern memory play (aka a stage show where a character tells the tale from their recollections, with this one inspired by true accounts). Given the title, expect to see her standing there. Price, that is. Also expect the likes of 'Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds', 'Eleanor Rigby', 'Lady Madonna' and 'Penny Lane' come to life in a kaleidoscopic cabaret.
For decades, Park Road has been Milton's go-to bar and restaurant hub; however the popular strip now has some stiff competition. A few blocks closer to the city, Cribb Street Social has taken up residence on the roadway that inspired its name, serving up everything from craft beverages to leafy hangout spaces along with it. Cribb Street Social is the latest venture from the folks behind Mr Edward's Alehouse, which should give an indication of the type of vibe on offer. If their CBD space is the kind of city spot you could while away an afternoon in, then their venture further afield not only aims to replicate the same atmosphere in the city's inner-west, but to do so with a huge al fresco garden, a drinks menu that spans cold brews, cocktails and coffees, and charcuterie leading the food charge. Beverage-wise, the bar and restaurant features 14 taps pumping out craft brews, cider, boozy ginger beer, cocktails and more, plus a hefty list of wines, a focus on whisky and gin, and more spirit-filled concoctions. If caffeine is more your thing — and with the eatery trading across weekday breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus weekend brunch and dinner, it's bound to be at some point — they'll also be brewing Locale Coffee Roasters beans. When it comes to pairing your tipple with something tasty, it's a pick-your-own-board affair, allowing patrons to build their ultimate combination of meats, cheeses, antipasti and more from ten different options — for one, and for groups. Meals such as mushroom tortillas, loaded cobb loaves, brisket and bacon burgers, wild boar saddle, gorgonzola and sage pasta, and a profiterole and eclair tasting plate are also available amidst decor teeming with natural wood, copper and leather, and for eating on a picnic rug in the grassy outdoor area. Find Cribb Street Social at 19–23 Cribb Street, Milton. Head to their website and Facebook page for more information.
