Friends, the weekend is finally here – you can unshackle yourself from your desk, take a break from the screen life and soak up all that our city has to offer. From pop-up ice-skating rinks to burger parties and the famous Sunnybank $2 Food Trail, we’ve tracked down the best things happening in Brisbane on the June 20–23 weekend. more
These days when you turn on your radio, odds are you will be greeted to the sounds of two men and a woman screeching at each other for half an hour about basically nothing – hosts who share the collective charisma of a slice of water dipped in bread, perhaps, punctuated by the same five songs on high rotation. Sounds … pretty crappy, to be honest. If the thought of tuning into the wireless leaves you cold, allow us to present you an alternative – the live, loopy and ever-evolving world of Tim Rogers’ analogue radio stage show Liquid Nights In Bohemia Heights coming to Brisbane Powerhouse for two nights of mayhem. more
When it comes to places that boast a killer outdoor lifestyle, Brisbane is hard to beat. Our amazing climate, stunning riverside vistas and cool pockets of culture make it an ideal city to explore by bike – not to mention that ditching your car on occasion can really help the environment. If you’ve been seeking some inspo or motivation to get into cycling around our city, we’ve curated some easy bike trails based on specific areas of interest. Don’t have wheels of your own? No problem – the CityCycle network has got your back. With a whopping 150 stations boasting 2000 bikes between UQ St Lucia and Newstead, jumping on this program is a quick, easy and very affordable way to get around. Simply sign up to CityCycle and keep your journeys under 30 minutes to avoid usage fees. more
As well as being a beautiful thing to look at, art happens to be a major vehicle for activism, awareness and social change – which is a huge factor in Ben Quilty’s work. The Australian artist has become prolific in the cultural realm for his seamless fusion of social commentary and breathtakingly bold style of painting – and now a whole stack of his work is coming our way. Coming to GoMA from June 29, Quilty is the artist’s first major survey celebrating his significant output. more
Have you ever been to a festival so kick-ass that you wish it could happen more than once a year? Proving that you can never have too much of a good thing, the legends from Beer InCider are returning for a second coming in 2019 to deliver tins, tunes and good times galore. Heading to the Brisbane Showgrounds on September 20–21, the froth-fest has just released its hotly anticipated music line-up – and we venture to say it's one of the best yet. more
In early May, foodies flocked to The Bromley Room #2 at West Village to hear some of Brisbane’s finest culinary minds discuss the state of the city’s dining scene and the future of food. Now, the most creative cats in the River City will be gathering on Wednesday June 19 for the second edition of The Locals Panel Series to talk about breaking into the world of design, honing their craft, and building a future on their terms. more
It is an irrefutable fact that Brisbane winters are an absolute delight. We would never ever complain about our amazingly comfortable season, but sometimes we can’t help but wonder what it would be like if our town went all frosty on us – kind of like how Ariel had a sweet life under the sea but craved a taste of that land-based life. Well the good news is we don’t have to go making a shady deal with a sea witch to quell our curiosity and desire – Skating At Festival has returned to bring a heady dose of après ski vibes to King George Square from June 21 to July 15. more
Margaret Olley was one of Australia’s most prolific artists, celebrating a vibrant and full life that spilled over into her immediately recognisable paintings. She continues to be treasured for both her contribution to our country’s cultural landscape as well as being a delight of a human being, serving as a source of inspiration both throughout her life and posthumously. Brisbane is about to be gifted a visual treat in the form of A Generous Life, a stunning exhibition coming to GOMA from Saturday June 15 that showcases Margaret’s incredible output through the years as well as her life through the eyes of other artists. more
The wonderful thing about growing as a person is you’re often heard more if you stop shouting and try listening a bit more. Motto: never let the bastards get you down.~ Dolly Diamond more
Brisbane, the most fabulous time of the year is almost upon us. Dust off your sequins, bust out the rhinestones and take the feather boa out of storage – MELT: Festival of Queer Arts and Culture is back with so much more than a bang, baby! Returning to its spiritual home of the Brisbane Powerhouse from June 28 to July 7, this iconic festival shines a spotlight on what are historically some of the world’s most amazing but marginalised communities, all while celebrating them in every iteration. From filthy-gorgeous cabaret to insightful conversations and high drag, we’ve picked five events at this year’s MELT that you cannot miss. more
The award-winning Sunnybank $2 Food Trail is back and ready to take your tastebuds on an Asian foodie adventure, when more than 45 Sunnybank restaurants and outlets will serve up an array of mouth-watering $2 mini dishes. Take a journey around Asia with Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Taiwanese and Hong Kong cuisines. We’re talking crispy pork noodles, mouth-watering pan-fried dumplings, fresh sushi, chicken katsu, bubble tea, delectable hot cakes and beef pho noodle soup – there truly is something for all taste buds! more
Considering how killer Australia’s daytime caffeine scene is, it seems like a damn shame that our favourite bars don’t have access to a speedy, convenient and top-tier option to play with when it comes to coffee-based cocktails … until now. The legends from Mr Black have distilled our country’s coffee culture into an evening alternative, creating a coffee liqueur that will have you seeing stars. Curious? You’re in luck! Mr Black is taking over The Gresham Bar for one night only to show you just what it can do – with a very special guest in tow. more
Now that the mercury is dropping and we’re pulling out our jumpers, the motivation to extract ourselves from the comfort of the couch in favour of exercise is running low. Instead of hibernation, we have a better suggestion – free and low-cost ways to stay fit and keep warm this winter. With the help of Brisbane City Council, we’re going to help you get off the treadmill and into some more fun fitness practises no matter what your exercise style is. more
Let’s get one thing straight – there’s something truly magical about the science of geometry. Usually something so clinical is hard to be inspired by, but the certain art of tricking the eye with the basic tools of colour and form is actually quite special. A new exhibition coming to the Queensland Art Gallery is built around the very premise of using deceptively simple strategies to blow our minds visually. Geometries brings together a collection of artworks that are bound to make you stare – and maybe even wonder just what the heck you’re looking at (in the best possible way). more
There is no doubt Brisbane has been taking steps towards better practices to reduce the effect of our collective eco-footprint. We’ve seen plastic straws banned along with the growth of reusable coffee cups and shopping bags, which is a great start to what we hope will be an ongoing global effort to make a change. This year Brisbane City Council is celebrating ten years of Green Heart Fair, our city’s biggest sustainability festival. Join the free festival on Sunday June 2 at 7th Brigade Park to celebrate the growth of Brisbane’s growing green thumb and learn more tips and ticks to ensure a bright future for our city. more
The world of racing can seem kind of regimented from the outside – you’ve got horses, suits, fancy frocks and flowing wine, but what else? It’s definitely not the sort of event you usually turn to for a family day out … or is it? Once again, Tattersall’s Racing Club is proving that you don’t have to stick to tradition to have a good time. Its annual Tiara Race Day is galloping into the Eagle Farm Racecourse on Saturday June 22 to bring food, fashion, fierce competition and family-friendly vibes all wrapped up in one huge day. more
Drop everything, it’s here – the highly anticipated program for the 2019 Queensland Music Festival was revealed this morning, and it’s shaping up to be an absolute cracker in its 20th anniversary year. more
When it comes to the world of wine, things can come across as awfully serious. For those of us who enjoy a good drop, it can be hard to imagine just hanging out with the actual people that make wine – you know, the folk off in the vineyards tinkering and perfecting all of the delicious varieties we enjoy on the regular. One beloved event that puts a personal spin on the world of viticulture is Wine Playground, a day for vino-loving folk to sip and sample drops from some of Australia’s top winemakers – all while the winemakers themselves are present. Returning to Happy Boy (and its sibling Snack Man) on Saturday May 25, this is one sipping spectacular you won’t want to miss. more
Australia’s First Nations people are the longest continuing culture on the planet. As our country’s very first storytellers, it is important to pay attention to what Indigenous Australians have to say – and what better way to learn and appreciate culture than through the medium of art? more
The culinary highlight of the Brisbane winter is set to return in 2019, with yet another month of feasting and frolicking planned for our worthy maws from July 1–31. more
“Two households, both alike in dignity …” It’s one of the most famous plays in history, subject to countless rewrites, reinterpretations and creative liberties – so how exactly do you do Romeo and Juliet justice? Shakespeare’s epic story that follows two families at war and two teenagers in love has been given a fresh contemporary edit thanks to the brilliant minds at La Boite Theatre, resulting in a razor-sharp adaptation for the modern age. Running at the Roundhouse Theatre from May 25 to June 16, this bold undertaking is a physical, visceral and accessible take on a true classic. more