Once the clock ticks over to midnight on Saturday, we have officially seen the first half of the year fly past like a bat out of hell. What a time to be alive, hey! Crush your existential dread by getting out and about to experience the best that our fine city has to offer – from suburb-wide block parties to lavish boat bashes, we’ve pounded the pavement to find out what’s on in Brisbane on the June 29 to July 2 weekend. more
Many of us Queenslanders have a certain pride about our fair state and for good reason – the weather is unbeatable, we are responsible for some serious hit makers (hello, Savage Garden) and our food scene is booming like never before. We’re incredibly lucky to live in a place that not only utilises the land’s abundant fresh produce but also celebrates it, with boundless eateries and businesses being stoked to support local industry. Taking over the picturesque South Bank Parklands on the July 15–16 weekend, Regional Flavours Presented by the Courier-Mail is your personal free pass to the very best in Queensland food and wine, providing a chance to sample wares from the state’s finest producers. more
Since moving to a huge new location, extending trading hours and changing its name, Eat Street Northshore has continued full steam ahead when it comes to bringing the people of Brisbane some of the coolest foodie and cultural events on the calendar. The latest innovation to come from the dining precinct is the Chef’s LaneWay LongTable Dinner series, a monthly event that will take diners outside of their culinary comfort zones and into a whole new world of deliciousness. Not ones to do things by halves, Eat Street is launching into this new venture with a Christmas in July themed soiree that will firmly plant them on top of everyone’s ‘nice’ list. 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
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
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
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
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
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
Regardless of where you come from in the world, there is one event on Brisbane’s cultural roster that gets everyone super excited year after year. After all, how is it possible to resist the combination of drinking, dancing and more food than should possibly be consumed in one sitting? When it comes to celebrating culture, the Greeks have got it going on – strap yourself in for the 2017 edition of the Paniyiri Greek Festival, returning to Musgrave Park and The Greek Club on the May 20–21 weekend to bring a hefty dose of joy to town. more
Long gone are the days when South Brisbane’s Fish Lane was written off as a dark and drab industrial lot. Time, innovation and a heck of a lot of hard work have seen the precinct go through a full swan-like transformation on us, becoming one of Brisbane’s favourite foodie hotspots and cultural hubs. Celebrating this renaissance for the second year running is Fish Lane Festival, bringing together the best food, music and art on Saturday May 13 for a party you won’t soon forget. more
Who doesn’t love a good street party? The combination of delicious food, flowing beverages and some killer live tunes is not only a sure-fire winner in the fun stakes, but also a great way to get out and celebrate the community spirit that Brisbane is so well-known for. When it comes down to it, these events are best left to the professional party people – those with a reputation for creating good vibes. The Stones Corner Festival returns on Sunday April 30 for an all-in fiesta that will be taking over the hub of the suburb, sprawling through the streets to bring you the best that Brisbane has to offer. more
There’s a lot to be said about an escape to the country – the air is crisp, the folk are friendly and the food is fresh as can be. A pocket of paradise that personifies these characteristics is the farming town of Felton Valley, nestled just 30 kilometres south of Toowoomba. Luckily for us city slickers, the Felton Food Festival packages together all that is great about authentic country life into one magic weekend filled with eats, entertainment and education. more
We might as well get straight to the facts – the craft beer scene in Brisbane is second to none. From our local watering holes to our abundance of boutique breweries, we are never lacking for a world-class brew, and nobody knows this more than the gang from Brewsvegas. From March 10–19, this hop-heavy festival will take over more than 50 venues all across Brisbane to celebrate local beer culture with everything from dart competitions and street parties to cook-offs and art collaborations. more
Remember the first time you heard a Mr. Whippy truck rolling down your street? The tinny sounds of 'Greensleeves' heralded the arrival of the ultimate indulgence – ice-cream. Aside from the nostalgia factor, not much can beat the feeling of wrapping your lips around a deliciously frosty treat on a warm summer’s day. Well, all of our Christmases have come at once with the announcement of the Brisbane Ice Cream Festival – on Saturday March 11, the historic Peters Ice Cream Factory at West Village will be brimming with frozen delicacies as far as the eye can see. Stock up on Lacteeze, because this is going to be huge. more
Picture yourself, if you will, nestled in the lush grass on a warm summer’s day. Sitting in your lap is a plate of juicy, tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat that has been lovingly prepared by a barbecue expert. In your hand is an ice-cold craft beer, the perfect accompaniment to your feast. Is this a dream? No, dear reader – this could very much be your reality when the BBQ and Beer Roadshow rolls into the Doomben Racecourse this Saturday February 18. Wear your loosest pants and don’t forget the wet wipes. more
These days it’s pretty difficult to pin down what makes someone a quintessential Australian. Our increasingly diverse population is one of the things that makes Australia so vibrant, but it also makes it tricky to define what it is to be ‘true blue’. One thing we think Australians of every walk of life appreciate is a public holiday, and we’ve got one coming up! The Australia Day public holiday lands on Thursday January 26, which means that many will be looking to take advantage of a four-day weekend. If you are keen to get out and about on Australia Day, we’ve collated this bonza list of events, perfect for celebrating in style with our fellow Aussies. more
Here in the great southern land, we have a lot to be thankful for. The weather is primo (heatwaves notwithstanding), the scenery is sublime, the food is fresh and we have some very talented entertainers in our midst. Bringing together all of these elements is Great Australian Bites, a three-day celebration over the January 26–28 Australia Day long weekend showcasing the best that Brisbane has to offer. more