Deck the halls with boughs of … wattle? Look, we may not have snow but it’s certainly been chilly enough lately to warrant a bit of Christmas in July action – we can at least pretend, right? However, this weekend is not just about celebrating the festive season six months early – from free prosecco sorbet to chicken and beer festivals, we’ve found the best things happening in Brisbane on the July 18–21 weekend. more
What do eye-watering shiny glazes, the crisp sound of crackling , the heady aroma of smoke filling the air and the feeling of juice dripping down your fingers have in common? You can find them all in the same place – The Brisbane BBQ Festival. Returning to the sporting fields at Victoria Park on the July 27–28 weekend for two days of all-out carnivorous feasting, this annual affair is set to get people drooling. more
Unless you’ve been living under a rock (we hope it’s cosy down there), you’re probably aware that GOMA has been overtaken by a number of absolutely jaw-dropping exhibitions and installations. As well as the dual efforts of national treasures Margaret Olley and Ben Quilty adorning the gallery walls at the moment, the building’s façade is permanently bathed in the evening light of James Turrell’s epic Night Life installation. To celebrate this trio of talent, GOMA has curated a killer Winter Up Late line-up for every Friday night in August – so if you like your music loud and your art after hours, you’ll want to read on … more
Somewhere along the line, coffee went from being a humble (albeit tasty) bean juice and evolved into a full-blown subculture. Brisbane has taken a firm grasp on the coffee-as-a-hobby phenomenon, fostering a caffeine culture that rivals its southern brethren. If you take your java seriously – or even if you just appreciate a good brew – there is a rad festival coming our way to celebrate all things to do with the good bean. The Lanes Coffee Festival is taking over Fortitude Valley’s three famous laneways on Saturday July 27, bringing a swag of experts together to enjoy, educate and discover. more
In May, some of Brisbane’s finest culinary minds dispensed their foodie wisdom. In June, a panel of awe-inspiring artisans delved into the inner-workings of the design world. This month, some of our city’s sharpest sartorial figures will gather to talk about the current state of style – from giving fast fashion the flick to making a sustainable statement. On Wednesday July 24, The Locals Panel Series gets suited and booted for a forum on fashion, featuring conversation between beloved designers, stylists and members of the fashion media. more
There’s a damn good reason that people love James Street – from the amazing sartorial selection to the unbeatable atmosphere, the designer precinct offers a range of luxury unlike anywhere else. As much as we love swanning around enjoying the amazing shopping on offer, the dining scene on James Street holds just as much of a place in our hearts – which is why every year we eagerly await the James Street Food and Wine Trail. Running from July 25–28, the annual event is back bigger and better than ever – so we thought we’d give you a taste with some must-do events throughout the festival. more
Lovers of literature, poetry and all things to do with the written word, listen up – the Brisbane Writers Festival is back for another year, and you’d best believe that its program packs a serious punch. From September 5–8, the State Library of Queensland and our city as a whole will play host to some of the world’s most creative, inspiring and gifted thinkers – and this year, the program will shine a special spotlight on the traditional storytellers of Australian land. more
Folks, the most wonderful time of the year is almost upon us once more! We're not talking about Christmas – it's the Night Noodle Markets, baby! Taking over South Bank as part of Good Food Month presented by Citi, the hawker-style affair will be serving up delicious morsels from some of the country's most creative Asian food vendors. more
In my mind, motherhood is only one facet of the experiences and characteristics that make up a complex human being ...~ Megan K. Stack more
The air is crisp, the produce is fresh and our stomachs are growling in anticipation – yep, it’s time to welcome the return of Regional Flavours Presented by The Courier-Mail! The massive celebration of Queensland’s natural bounty is returning to South Bank from July 20–21, bringing a line-up of eats and entertainment that is as delicious as it is diverse. With so much going on, it can be hard to navigate to the bits of the festival that interest you the most – but we’ve got your back. Whether you’re chasing cheap eats or just want to keep your little ones busy, we’ve broken down the Regional Flavours offering so you can do it your way. more
September in Brisbane is a seriously magical time – we’re in the heart of springtime, spirits are high, and the city becomes home to one of our most beloved annual rituals. That’s right – Brisbane Festival is returning from September 5–28 and bringing with it a whole host of jaw-dropping entertainment. We’ve been keeping you posted on some juicy announcements as they come through, but the full program has finally made its way out into the world – and we’ve gotta tell you, it’s well worth getting excited about. 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 July 12 to August 4, bringing a host of photographs that are guaranteed to engage and inspire. more
Since the moment it opened its doors in June last year, W Brisbane cemented itself as one of our city’s most opulent destinations – after all, it is the first five-star hotel that we’ve seen in 20-odd years or so. From the chic-yet-quirky fit-out through to the food and straight-up baller amenities, everything about the space shares a Bris-centric thread while elevating our city’s status to a giddy new height. If you’ve been hanging out for a taste of that luxe life but weren’t ready to drop the coin, let us convince you – to celebrate its first year in operation, W Brisbane is letting the good times roll with a seriously sweet birthday package. more
Queenslanders have a whole lot to be proud of, but we would be lying if we said our food scene wasn’t the thing that gives us the most to brag about. After all, our unique (and very comfortable) climate yields some seriously amazing produce – not to mention the amazing makers, growers, farmers and chefs that we have working as a team to make Queensland’s culinary credentials top notch. Taking over the lush surrounds of the South Bank Parklands on the July 20–21 weekend, Regional Flavours presented by The Courier-Mail shines a bright light on Queensland’s abundant resources and those who bring them to our plates. more
As much as living in the current age has its perks, sometimes slowing down and looking to the pages of history can teach us a thing or two. From the way we played through to the music we enjoyed, it can be both fun and enlightening to look back on times gone by for entertainment, inspiration and good old-fashioned curiosity. The Young Historians Festival is a free event happening at Newstead House on Sunday July 7 as part of the Lord Mayor’s Children’s Concert Series, bringing a taste of the past to the current generation. more
There’s a reason that pretty much everyone on earth is obsessed with France – its rich cultural history and generally romantic aura definitely have us sold, not to mention that the food is next level. If you’re craving a true Parisian experience but can’t part with the plane fare, be sure to block out the July 5–7 weekend in your calendar because Le Festival is back! Taking over South Bank for three days of bliss, the annual Francophile gathering will combine authentic eats, entertainment and goodies to create a truly Euro-centric experience. more
There are some beloved fictional tales from history that most everyone is familiar with – no matter what generation you were raised in, names like The Three Little Pigs, Jack and the Beanstalk and Goldilocks are bound to ring a bell. These timeless stories all tend to follow a pretty stock-standard formula – think twee woodland creatures, magic spells and the all-important happy ending. One writer who liked to turn these tropes on their respective heads was Roald Dahl, the beloved children’s raconteur with a penchant for the delightful and disgusting. His famous Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts has been given the stage treatment, coming to La Boite Theatre from July 24–28 to make audiences of all ages squirm and squeal. more
Real talk – Brisbane has got it going on year-round when it comes to culinary prowess, but we’re certainly not ones to complain about a whole month dedicated to all things dining in our city. Throughout July, Brisbane is set to become a hotbed of all things eat and drink for the annual epicurean marathon that is Good Food Month, hosting a series of specially curated foodie events designed to make you drool. We already spilled the beans on the first announcement of the program back in May, so we thought we’d treat you to some other tasty titbits to get you excited for the month ahead. 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