Rain on a weekend is pretty much only good for when you’re too hungover to leave the house, otherwise it has no place in our precious stretch of work-free time. Lucky for us, the forecast is looking mighty fine – no excuse to stay couch-bound, folks! From beery birthday bashes and shank-tastic takeovers to mighty gladiators and comedy superstars, we’ve squished the best things to do in Brisbane on the June 22–25 weekend into one handy list. more
QPAC is no stranger to prestigious global guests – the venue has a reputation for bringing some amazing names right here to Brisbane, and this year’s International Series is no exception. One visitor we have been hanging out for is almost here – from June 29 to July, The Royal Ballet is bringing two equally stunning works to our shores for the series. Each work is an Australian premiere, making these some of the hottest (and fanciest) tickets in town. more
July is a great month for a lot of reasons – winter days full of crisp air and sunny skies, officially marking the halfway point of the year and of course, the Teneriffe Festival sets up shop. This social calendar highlight celebrates everything we know and love about one of Brisbane’s (technically) newest suburbs, bringing together delicious food, awesome entertainment and a wholesome sense of community. Mark your diary for Saturday July 1 because it’s going to be one delight of a day. more
There’s a reason that the phrase ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ is so universally recognised – the power of photography is undeniable. Returning for another year, the World Press Photo Exhibition is one of the biggest and best examples of this philosophy – the travelling showcase reveals to audiences some of the most iconic, controversial and intimate moments from the past year. The globetrotting event is coming to the Brisbane Powerhouse from June 30 to July 23, ready to stun and delight. more
You can bleat on all you like about sexism not being an issue in the music industry, but the facts don’t lie – women are critically underrepresented. Things have certainly come a long way, thanks in large part to badass ladies who have paved the way to equality between the sexes in music, but there is no denying that we still have progress to make. Bursting onto The Tivoli stage on Sunday July 16, Songs That Made Me will shine a light on Australian female talent with a line-up featuring Deborah Conway, Clare Bowditch and Hannah Macklin. more
We are no strangers to the fact that Westfield Chermside has been killing it lately. The retail powerhouse recently gifted Brisbane with a fashion precinct that would make even the most discerning fashionista totally dizzy and is following this up with a food offering that is equally mind-blowing. Not one to shy away from an opportunity to celebrate, the centre is throwing a party to welcome its new foodie residents to the neighbourhood. The fun all starts on Thursday June 22, but you ain’t seen nothin’ yet … more
What happens between here and eternity? One thing is for sure – the arts make life worth living, and are capable of transporting us to an otherworldly place. From June 21–23, the Judith Wright Centre will play host to Heaven & Earth, three nights of unique performances showcasing the specialist disciplines of the Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts. With one evening each dedicated to singing, dancing and acting, this is a triple-threat program that promises to be on another level. more
Nostalgia is a powerful thing – sometimes we all yearn to take things back to a simpler, more wholesome and carefree time. As much as living in the present day has its advantages (hello, wifi), the lure of generations past provides a certain comfort and joy that we can’t quite put our finger on. So why wouldn’t we jump at the chance to rewind time for a day? Sanctuary Cove’s famous Sunday Sounds has returned for winter with a distinctly retro twist – the precinct is kicking things off on June 25 with an afternoon filled with classic tunes, live entertainment and vintage-themed fun for the whole family. more
Often I find when I give an issue a little bit of space, I find myself seeing it differently and maybe making a better decision ...~ Ayla more
It’s always a bit spooky when works of fiction predict the future – heck, nobody could have guessed that The Simpsons picked the Cubs finally winning the World Series years before it happened. One of history’s most definitive works of literature has turned out to bear some serious foreshadowing in modern society – George Orwell’s 1984 isn’t just a book you were probably forced to read in high school, but more a manifesto of the shape of things to come. Coming to QPAC from June 14–18, this worldwide classic is taking to the stage to bring us a hefty dose of the heebie-jeebies. more
One of the coolest things about theatre is that it is pretty much wide open – the only thing that can actually limit a work of art is one’s own imagination, after all. Any sort of creative process is always a journey, with the audience usually only privy to the finished product. La Boite HWY has arrived to give us an open invitation and a front-row seat to the creative processes behind the curtain. From June 12–24, the La Boite Theatre will come alive with a series of creative collabs and experiences that give audiences an inside look into the workings of not only the industry, but also the immersive world of live theatre. more
For most of us, Thursdays are a bit of a bummer. They are that pesky little stopper between you and the weekend – something of a roadblock preventing you from living your best life. The fine folk at the Port Office Hotel thought that it was time for this day of the week to get totally revamped and to shirk off its reputation as totally lame – thus, The Thursday Club was born. Commencing from Thursday June 15, this brand-new event is set to extend those weekend feelings and get the good times rolling (a day earlier than usual). more
Everyone loves a good superhero, and nowhere else knows how to craft one quite like Marvel. The iconic company has been gifting us with some of the most bold, brave and badass characters for more than 70 years now, growing a fictional universe that has captivated people the world over. Delving into the connections of all of these famous friends and foes is Marvel: Creating the Cinematic Universe, a massive exhibition that has landed exclusively at the Gallery of Modern Art. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or your knowledge of comic books spans about as far as Aqua’s smash hit ‘Cartoon Heroes’, this exhibition will blow you away. 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 has a sweet life under the sea but craves 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 – the beloved Winter Festival has undergone a makeover and re-emerged as the Skating At Festival, bringing a heady dose of après ski vibes to King George Square from June 16 to July 9. more
Time is zooming past us this year at a rate akin to one of those scenes in a movie where everything is on hyper-fast forward and things get blurry. The distinct chill in the air points to the indisputable fact that it is winter, which is a pretty excellent time to be hanging out in Brisbane. Our amazing climate means that we can get around outdoors but there are still plenty of chances to rug up and snuggle once the evening rolls around. Make the most of the new season by taking advantage of Brisbane City Council’s LIVE Guide – we’ve taken the liberty of picking our top five events for the winter. more
Adventures are awesome – this is a fact. It is also an undisputable truth that adventures are made even better when they involve food and wine. When you add some stunning scenery into the mix, it pretty much becomes the recipe for a perfect afternoon. Are you following? There is an event that has been specifically designed to take you and your tastebuds on a round-trip to Flavour Town, stopping at all stations along the way. Bite Sip Stroll returns for its second outing on Saturday June 3, giving you the chance to experience the gastronomic delights of four of Queensland’s most exclusive restaurants in a single afternoon. more
Transport your mind for a moment, if you will, to a sunny Parisian courtyard filled with treasures. Picture yourself lazily strolling through the leafy, lush precinct with a coffee in one hand and a croissant in the other, stopping to pick up a few things along the way – a bouquet of wild botanicals here, some handcrafted cheese there, perhaps a handmade blouse … You don’t have to snap out of this European fantasy just yet – the Vieille Branche winter design market is happening on Saturday June 3 to make all of your new-season dreams come true. more
A change of seasons can often cause some kind of internal panic – winter is just around the corner and your mind is probably way back in March when you promised yourself you were going to take that cooking class or learn to sew. Don’t beat yourself up about it, pal – we’ve all been in the throes of wanting to self-improve but not knowing where (or how) to start. hundred acre bar is here to save the day with its brand-new event series, a collection of classes and workshops themed to the changing seasons that will have you learning new skills like a boss. more
If you’ve ever found yourself sitting on the couch watching The Chase and thought the questions weren’t that hard, you might want to consider joining a trivia team. The high-stakes world of pub trivia is one of the most entertaining ways to spend a weeknight, with just about every night of the week boasting a trivia night somewhere. Not only is trivia sociable, entertaining and good for the brain it is also a relatively inexpensive way to spend an evening. Simply pick a spot from our comprehensive list and then all you'll need to do is come up with a cool team name! Might we suggest Quizteama Aguilera, Risky Quizness or Trivia Newton John? more
Some things are just so Brisbane it hurts – if you know what we mean when we refer to Milton mangoes and the Brown Snake, you’re on that serious sunshine state level (just FYI, we’re talking about XXXX and the Brisbane River in case you didn’t know). Another thing that gets Queenslanders seriously fired up is a little sports match called the State of Origin, so if you’re a fan then you should probably be sitting down to read this – for the first time ever, we are getting an all-in celebration dedicated to everything Queensland and rugby league! The Maroon Festival will be hitting the South Bank Parklands from May 28–31, bringing with it a wave of fun, food and (of course) footy. more
Cabaret is one of those things that you can’t really pin down into any specific description. Most of us are familiar with the vague, abstract concept – smoky rooms, dimly lit tables, clicking fingers and simmering sensuality. Turns out there is so much more to the genre than we give it credit for – and there is a dedicated event set to show us what it’s all about. The Queensland Cabaret Festival is returning from June 1–15, sashaying into three key venues to bring us a load of sauce, sizzle and spark with a serious side of heart. more