Can we get a hefty Amen for short weeks? Although a Wednesday public holiday definitely isn't ideal, it's nice to come back to work knowing there are only about 16 working hours left between you and freedom. From trailer trash pageants to beery good marriage equality parties, we've rounded up what's good to do on the August 17–20 weekend in Brisbane. more
Here at The Weekend Edition office, one of the quickest and easiest ways to capture our attention is with food. We love everything to do with it and how totally engaging it is – from the feeling of juice running down your chin after biting into a ripe strawberry to the sound bacon makes on a hotplate, the food experience is so much more than just what you taste. It turns out we aren’t the only ones who love to nerd out over what we’re eating – the Museum of Brisbane has got a whole darn exhibition dedicated to the good stuff. Running from August 18 to November 12, Tastes like Sunshine is an all-in sensory exploration of Brisbane’s rich and ever-evolving food story that is sure to get you salivating. more
Let’s be real, our lives would be terrible without animals – the joy a pet can bring cannot be quantified. The only thing that could possibly compare to the feeling of patting a happy puppy is eating some scrumptious cupcakes, which is why the RSPCA’s Cupcake Day is such an important event. It’s time to get your bake on, invite some friends around and raise funds to help rescue and rehabilitate the thousands of animals that the RSPCA shelters yearly. more
Despite the geographical separation, well-regarded establishments Harvest in Newrybar and Gauge in South Brisbane have a lot in common. Both kitchens are renowned for creativity and innovation, uniquely balanced by a knowledgeable connection with locally sourced sustainable produce. In one of the most exciting (and delicious) collaborations we’ve seen, the two venues will be joining forces for one night only on Wednesday August 23, as part of the next instalment of Harvest’s popular Wild Harvest chefs series. more
Op-shopping sure has come a long way – once purely the domain of quirky arts degree types (and your nan, bless her), the thrill of thrifting has well and truly hit the mainstream. It’s a good thing too, because our world is in an increasingly intense state of peril when it comes to fast fashion – bargains may be tempting but the cost to the earth really isn’t worth the $20 saving you make on a pair of sweatshop jeans. Brisbane City Council is helping to combat this with Revive, its second annual pop-up celebrating sustainable style solutions. Taking over South Bank’s Cultural Forecourt on Friday August 18, the fashion fest is a great place to not only nab some killer finds but to learn awesome tips to take your current wardrobe way, way further. more
As much as we love them, the humble music festival can be a bit of a daunting experience. From standing in the same spot in the blistering sun for hours on end to navigating heartbreaking set clashes and dank food, it’s all just part of the ‘experience’, right? Wrong, amigo. It doesn’t have to be this way! There’s a new player in the festival game and though it be young, it is pretty damn impressive. Mixing its line-up of big names with a more boutique approach, the Maroochy Music & Visual Arts Festival is returning to the Sunshine Coast’s New Maroochy CBD on Saturday August 26 to bring us the perfect balance of thrills and chills. more
Your voice is one of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal. We’re not just talking about the literal sense of when some cords in your throat rub together and sound comes out – it’s about the larger scope of your identity and what makes you unique. We all have different ways of expressing our true voice but undoubtedly one of the most raw and powerful forms of this is poetry in its many and varied forms. Coming into its 21st year, the Queensland Poetry Festival will sweep the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts as well as a host of other exciting satellite venues with its most ambitious offering to date, celebrating the chorus of inspiring voices in our global community. more
Some things are just so quintessentially Queensland that it almost physically hurts. If someone is to mention the Big Pineapple, The Veronicas, XXXX Gold or Stefan’s Skyneedle, we undoubtedly feel a twang of pride deep within – that’s a seriously impressive legacy in anyone’s eyes for sure. Jokes aside, there is one thing that stands above all as being the cornerstone of our state’s rich culture – the Royal Queensland Show, or The Ekka as it's more affectionately known. This year sees the show celebrating its 140th edition, returning to its home at the Brisbane Showgrounds from August 11–20 to celebrate the best that our fair state has to offer across food, fashion and all things fun. more
I'm interested in risk takers, wheelers and dealers, movers and shakers – people who go out there in life and go for broke ...~ Lincoln Townley more
Comedy is a funny old thing, not just in the ‘ha-ha’ sense but also in the sense that what makes you cackle with sheer delight might make another person feel like they’ve just been forced to watch their parents make out. Sure, there’s no accounting for taste but the more you put on your plate, the greater the odds are that you’ll find something you’re into. Unless you’re like the mayor from Footloose and thus have some kind of aversion to joy in general, we have news that will no doubt put a smile on your dial – the Bris Funny Fest is back, fam! Taking over a huge host of venues from August 2–20, the fringe festival has returned bigger than ever before to spread good times with a twist. more
While genres can come in handy for classification, they can also be kind of limiting. We all know that one person who only listens to this or that, throwing some things aside and embracing others all because of a label (we see you, people who profess to hate country more than anything). Life is way more fun when you take the time to dig a little deeper and uncover what’s not so obvious – Restrung is taking over the Brisbane Powerhouse from August 17–19 to bring us a smorgasbord of strings-driven music, dance, theatre and art that pushes the boundaries of music and art. Let’s take a closer look at the spaces in between … more
The best things often take on a bit of an edge after dark – the lights dim, the music gets louder and the atmosphere changes completely. Things are just a little bit more exciting, you know? This is the premise of GOMA’s absolutely killer Up Late sessions, where night owls can gain exclusive access to world-class exhibitions with a side of live music and quality chat. The latest instalment sees the awesome Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe exhibition host six unique sessions across Friday nights starting from July 28, treating punters to some of the best live acts in the business. more
Here in Brisbane, you would be forgiven for taking the abundant natural beauty for granted. One of the crowning jewels in our lush landscape is the Roma Street Parkland – home to many a beautiful flower, the shadiest trees, the softest grass and an all-around wholesome place to spend time. Whether you’re tossing a football around, nibbling on a picnic or just kicking back, it’s easy to forget that the Parkland isn’t just some effortlessly occurring paradise – turns out a heck of a lot of hard work goes into keeping the place looking ace. Parks Alive is returning to Roma Street Parkland on August 5 and 6 to shine a light on all of the behind-the-scenes action, as well as showing us how to make the best of our enviable environment. more
Unless you’ve been living under a particularly large rock, you may have noticed that Westfield Chermside has been doing some pretty cool stuff lately. Between bringing us some of the most hotly anticipated food openings and fashion retailers in Brisbane, you’d think that they might be ready to give it a rest for a second – no way, pal. The foodie and lifestyle hub has managed to keep the hype train well and truly running – taking place from Thursday August 3 to Saturday August 5, the Festival of Lights is set to illuminate Westfield Chermside with some seriously stunning visuals and entertainment. more
The only thing more exciting than an adventure is an adventure involving food. What’s not to love about grabbing a map, assembling a crew and setting off to distant lands in search of treasure? When you sub out gold and loot for delicious eats, and distant lands for one of Brisbane’s favourite foodie precincts, you get the James Street Food & Wine Trail. This beloved culinary escapade returns from July 27–30 for its sixth incarnation, providing a four-day tasting plate of the best brews and chews from the iconic strip. more
In the words of one Ferris Bueller, life moves pretty fast. We’re living in a time in history where we have so much access to information and the world around us, yet we are becoming increasingly disconnected. There seems to be precious little that can drag us away from our screens and into the moment – heck, how many times have you been ploughed into by someone who was text-walking? It really pays to take a moment to stop, look around and think – you might be surprised by what you see. This is the premise of a brand-new project from groundbreaking contemporary collective The Good Room, which sees Jacob’s Ladder and the Metro Arts laneway come alive with world-class art pop-ups that provide much more than just something awesome to look at. more
Some people have the certain skill of being able to command a room with their talent – this in itself is no easy feat. Of these special people, there are a rare sub-breed possessing an air and energy that simply swallows everything around them, taking those in the vicinity on a journey to another world. One of these people is the incomparable Dmitry Sinkovsky, a baroque music star shining bright on the classical landscape. Audiences will be treated to a performance like no other on Tuesday August 8 when Dmitry whips the QPAC Concert Hall into a frenzy for The Singing Violin, his one-night-only stop on a national tour with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. more
Even the most powerful movements in the world often start with a single voice. Sometimes all it takes is the courage of an individual to stand up to injustice and eventually the tide can turn as a chorus of others join in and speak up. The louder the call gets, the harder it is to ignore – this is the principle for You’re the Voice. Running as part of the Queensland Music Festival, this unique project will culminate at the South Bank Piazza on Saturday July 29 to shine a light on domestic and family violence. more
As much as we are willing to advocate wine at any time of the year, we must admit that it really comes into its own as the temperature drops. Whether it’s white, red or sparkling, everyone’s favourite fermented grape beverage becomes that much easier to appreciate with the added comfort of a crackling fire and a cosy jacket. No offence to summer, but sippin’ on a glass of shiraz when it’s 30 degrees outside just doesn’t have the same effect. This is where Winter Wine comes in – taking over Sanctuary Cove on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 July, the festival celebrates all things to do with the wide world of wine. more
How do you know when a movie has hit truly iconic status? Sometimes it’s when it cops more spoofs and parodies than you can ever keep track of. Other times, thirsty producers will milk it for all its worth and pump out several useless sequels with a dubious B-list cast that would make Paris Hilton cringe. However, the true hallmark of a film’s legendary status is when it gets turned into a bona-fide worldwide smash hit musical. Hard to argue, right? A case in point is The Bodyguard, coming to QPAC from July 19 to August 13 for a strictly limited season to deliver the story you know with the songs you love. more
Few things in this cold and often senseless world are as unifying as music. From our highest moments to our biggest struggles, music is there to intensify the experience for better or for worse. Being able to stand in a room full of strangers and relate to them on a deeply personal level is a pretty powerful experience, which is exactly what live music does every single day, all around the world. From July 7–30, the entire state will come alive with the sound of sweet unity for the Queensland Music Festival – keep your eyes peeled and your ears primed for surprises and inspiration around every corner. more