Our southern neighbours may have just come off the back of a long weekend, but we’ll get ours when October rolls around. To celebrate the fact that we are strong, superior and made it through a five-day working week (not bitter at all over here), we suggest getting out and about to enjoy all that our city has to offer. From burger invitationals to curious incidents and winter warmers, here is what’s good in Brisbane on the June 14–17 weekend. more
In the age of the internet and limited attention spans, it speaks volumes when something is able to stop us in our tracks and make us think, wonder or simply admire. Even in this brave new world, the World Press Photo Exhibition has remained an event capable of making millions of people from all corners of the globe pause for a moment to observe and consider slices of history presented in powerful images. The worldwide exhibition is setting up at Brisbane Powerhouse from June 30 to July 22, bringing a host of photographs that will engage and inspire. more
Brisbane’s fashion scene is absolutely killer, but our town often suffers from a lack of events that let our talented designers shine. It’s rare for our city’s sartorial set to be gathered in one place, so when an opportunity pops up we get all kinds of giddy over it. If you consider yourself a fashion-forward individual, a lover of beautiful clothing or simply love an excuse to dress up for an evening, we have some news that is bound to excite you. On Thursday July 12, Treasury Brisbane is celebrating our city’s best and brightest designers with the launch of its ICON fashion series. more
When it comes to a great day out, there are a few key ingredients that we like to include. Delicious food is a given, fantastic drinks kick it up a notch, a spot of shopping certainly doesn’t go astray, and something to keep the kids occupied is just the cherry on top. If this sounds like your idea of a nice time, we have something that ticks all of the boxes. On Sunday June 24, Portside Wharf will come alive in a flurry of food, fashion and family-friendly fun for its inaugural Flavours of Portside event, celebrating all aspects of the precinct in signature riverside style. more
Australia’s longest-running independent art and design market is back, baby – and when we say it’s bigger (and better) than ever it’s no exaggeration. Extended trading hours, a bevy of brand-new stalls and an elevated food and drink offering has further cemented the firm spot that Finders Keepers has in our hearts. Mark June 22–24 in your diary and make a beeline for the Brisbane Showgrounds, because this is one market you won’t want to miss. more
When it comes to iconic voices, few people can hold a candle to Etta James. Known as the Matriarch of R&B, Etta spent decades singing songs across the spectrum of human emotion, all while battling some of the most paralysing demons that one can face in a lifetime. She didn’t just sing the blues – she lived them. Coming to the Brisbane Powerhouse for an exclusive run of shows from June 27–30, At Last: The Etta James Story shines a light on one of the most legendary voices of all time … as well as the rich life behind it. more
As much as we adore Brisbane winter, the temperature drop comes with some serious temptation to tuck in to all of the naughtiest foods we can imagine. We’re willing to bet that if you haven’t spent a chilly night holed up on the couch devouring potato bake straight from the dish, at the very least you’ve fantasised heavily about it. While a little indulgence is fine in moderation, if we spend the next three months living off creamy pasta our guts may never recover. Enter the next instalment of Laneway WV’s green living month, a series of free clean eating workshops from the mind of Jacqui Toumbas. more
When it comes to the races, you might have some preconceived ideas about what to expect – you’ve got your horses, your high heels and your hors d'oeuvres, but what’s new there? It’s definitely not the sort of event you usually turn to for a family day out … or is it? Tattersall’s is turning the traditional race day formula on its head for its Tiara Race Day, galloping into the Doomben Racecourse on Saturday June 23 to bring food, fashion, fierce competition and family-friendly vibes all wrapped up in one huge day. more
You see a lot of minorities and groups of underrepresented people working to carve out space for themselves and their community – working to have agency and ownership of our shit is important ...~ Miss Blanks more
We’re less than a day away from the official opening of Brisbane’s newest five-star hotel W Brisbane and to celebrate, the hotel is kicking off one massive party. Want to know the best thing about this party? It’s mobile! This glamorous shindig will be brightening up Queen Street Mall at midday today before hitting the road and shimmying its way south. more
Folks, the wait is over – West Village’s Laneway WV initiative has revealed its next activation! The West End lifestyle precinct has been treating us to regular doses of arts, culture and gourmand goodness since the launch of its rad new program, so we were thrilled when we found out that June would be dedicated to all things green. The fun kicks off with a series of relaxed weekend workshops that will teach you everything you need to know about kokedama, the cool mossy ornaments that make any space instantly lusher. more
Let’s not sugar-coat it – starting your own business from scratch in any industry is damn hard work, but hospitality can be particularly intimidating. Even if you have a killer idea and loads of ambition, that won’t exactly impress the bank when it’s time to front up the cash to get started. If you’ve got big foodie dreams but are lacking in the financials to make it a reality, listen up – visionary hospitality funders Silver Chef and beloved incubator Wandering Cooks have teamed up to bring budding restaurateurs a very sweet opportunity indeed. more
Real talk – one of the best things about Brisbane is that it’s a cultural melting pot. From the delicious food to the lively events, there is always something happening that celebrates the unique mix of people that call this place home. Whether you want to taste something exciting, take part in a new ritual, catch tunes from another culture or see art from across the globe, it’s all happening in Brisbane this winter. We’ve taken a look through Brisbane City Council’s Live guide and picked five must-do events that prove you don’t need a passport to see the world. more
Ever question how long the longest minute really is? The last minute before the microwave is done? Or the minute before that important interview? We've all been there. Queensland Theatre is collaborating with JUTE Theatre Company to bring The Longest Minute to QPAC from May 26 to June 23, exploring an iconic night in NRL history that rewrote the history books. more
Real talk – white Australia’s treatment and representation of its Aboriginal population is inexcusably bad. There’s no skirting around the fact that things need to change, but the nature of these issues is harrowing, heavy and can be hard to navigate. Someone adding a touch of humour to this poignant topic is Tony Albert, the award-winning Indigenous Australian artist who has carved his own unique path in our country’s cultural landscape. His latest exhibition Visible is coming to Queensland Art Gallery from June 2 to bring a different perspective to the conversation surrounding race and representation. more
Engage your curiosity as Mark Hadden's best selling novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has been transformed into a global theatrical phenomenon and is set to take Australia by storm. The timeless story is coming to Brisbane for the first time from June 12–24, bringing Mark's charming characters and all of their quirks to the QPAC stage. more
This time of the year is a particularly dangerous one – as soon as Brisbane’s temperature drops a little and we’ve exhausted our bank of long weekends, all we can think about is jetting off to another country for a sweet escape and loads of feasting. If you’re lusting after a cheese-fuelled European getaway but can’t spare the airfare, we have the next best thing – take a trip to the Fromage Laneway, popping up at West Village on Sunday May 27. more
Look, maths definitely isn’t universally loved, but you can’t deny its force. Even if you’re not the biggest fan of numbers, it’s pretty incredible when you bring everything back to the basic notion that humans invented their own way to make sense of things that were previously impossible to comprehend. Much like maths, theatre is another avenue that people use to explain the inexplicable – and it’s a marriage of these two things that has created something close to magic. Making its world premiere at La Boite Theatre from June 2–23, The Mathematics of Longing draws from two different worlds to help us understand ourselves better. more
There’s no nice way to put it – colonisation is brutal. Most of us are aware at least on a base level of our country’s history, but there’s a lot more to the story than a bunch of criminals getting shipped off to a country that was actually already occupied. From its prisoners to our First Nations people, the Moreton Bay penal colony changed the lives of many – not to mention the course of history. Museum of Brisbane is taking us back in time with Life in Irons, an exhibit that shows what life was like on both sides of the fence. more
Is baking a piece of cake? Or do your cakes not rise to the occasion? Either way, the International Cake Show Australia is the place to be. Whether you want to attend a masterclass, watch industry experts or just simply get your sugar fix, this event has something for everyone. The ultimate cake decorating competition is taking over Brisbane Showgrounds from May 18–20. more
Brisbane, the time is almost here – the haloumi is sizzling, the honey puffs are getting dusted with sugar and the zorba lines are approaching at a rapid pace. That’s right, Paniyiri Greek Festival is back! Returning to Musgrave Park and the newly renovated Greek Club from May 19–20, Brisbane’s biggest celebration of Greek culture will fill your belly and warm your heart. more