If you can’t hear sleigh bells by now, you must be in serious denial – Christmas is drawing very darn close. The city hasn’t gone into hibernation just yet, so get out and enjoy your days of freedom! From fabulous brunches to doggy Christmas parties, we’ve found the best things happening around town on the December 13–16 weekend. more
Hot damn, we love a good rags to riches story that also happens to be true – and they don’t come much better than that of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. It’s a classic tale of four blue-collar boys with rough backgrounds that go from zero to hero at a skyrocketing pace. The self-made stars did things their way – they wrote their own songs, created their own sound and changed the face of music as it is today (all before hitting 30 years of age, mind you). Their story has been adapted for the stage with thrilling success – Jersey Boys hits QPAC from January 2, 2019 and you’d better believe it lives up to the hype. more
We're going to just go right out there and admit it – we look forward to every third summer in Brisbane more than any other. Why? Because that's when QAGOMA's Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art is in town! Seeing as this explosion of life and colour only happens every three years, its opening night is definitely cause for the entire city to celebrate. From 7:30 pm this Friday November 23, both QAG and GOMA are opening up their doors to the public for one heck of a party, filled with DJs, performances, food, drink and of course some awe-inspiring art. more
Everyone loves a little holiday, and sometimes the best destinations for an escape are right under our nose. One event that personifies the spirit of vacation is James Street RESORT, the annual two-day soiree that celebrates the best of the beloved precinct whilst also treating Brisbane’s residents to a heady dose of culture. Running from October 11–12, this year’s RESORT is happening in conjunction with the opening of a bona fide holiday destination – the brand-new Calile Hotel. more
If you’ve noticed a sudden spike in the amount of people getting around in dirndls and lederhosen, we can assure you it’s not something in the water – it’s Oktoberfest season, baby! Despite the fact that we are nowhere near Germany, us Australians love to get amongst the spirit of the traditional European holiday – hey, if there’s beer, pretzels and schnitzels involved, we’re all in! We’ve scouted around to find the best Oktoberfest celebrations happening in Brisbane this year, so raise your stein and get ready to party. more
Anyone who frequents Fortitude Valley (or just generally has their finger on the pulse of cool stuff) would know that the laneways are where it’s at. The beloved Bakery and Winn Lanes have long been go-to locations to scout the best of Brisbane – from food to fashion, these hotspots are loaded with local gems worth your attention. The Valley is about to welcome a brand-new laneway into its fold, and the powers that be have decided to celebrate by throwing one hell of a party. The Hidden Lanes Festival is taking over town for one day only on Saturday October 13, uniting the three locations to showcase our city’s secret charms. more
Folks, the time is almost upon us – the hotly anticipated Valley Fiesta is back in town and sticking around for an extra few days of goodness. For the first time in its inception, the Fiesta will be spreading its program of live music, art, theatre, immersive experiences and parties across five jam-packed days. There’s so much to see and do that we thought we’d give you a helping hand sorting through it all – from tropical rooftops to laneway shindigs, we’ve picked our must-dos at Valley Fiesta for every night of the week. more
Folks, spring has almost sprung and it’s bringing a little something special with it – we’re talking Brisbane Festival, baby! Come September 8, our fine city will be overflowing with a selection of local and international entertainment that will make your head spin. From circus and cabaret to top live bands and immersive theatre, the festival brings together the best of the arts scene for your enjoyment – so you’d better get out there and lap it up. Mark September 8–29 in your diary and start planning your hit-list, because this one’s going to be a doozy. more
There are so many things to love about the Ekka – the food, the animals and the rides are right up there, but it’s the public holiday that we’re most grateful for. If you’re not up for braving the crowds at the showgrounds on Wednesday August 10, we’ve whipped up a little list of things that are happening around town on the public holiday and the night before – you get a sleep-in, after all … more
Look, it’s absolutely no secret that Fortitude Valley is one of Queensland’s premier party hubs – the place was literally built for fun. Since 1997, there has been one particular event dedicated to shining a light on the Valley’s reputation as a hub of arts, culture, food and entertainment – the weekend-long celebrations of Valley Fiesta. Well folks, we can confirm that Brisbane’s biggest street party just got a heck of a lot bigger – clear August 29 to September 2 in your diary because the Fiesta is coming in hot with five days of revelry. more
The great state of Queensland quite simply has loads of things to be proud of. XXXX Beer, Savage Garden, the Story Bridge and Yatala Pies have all earned us some serious bragging rights, but there is one thing that makes our hearts swell with pride for the rich culture we have cultivated – the Royal Queensland Show (or the Ekka, as its more affectionately known as). This year the show celebrates an impressive 141 years (seriously, the only thing that’s stopped it since its inception have been the Spanish influenza and World War II), returning to its home turf of the Brisbane Showgrounds to celebrate the best of Queensland. more
Certain pairings are just meant to be – peas and carrots, Ben and Jerry, horse racing and … rock’n’roll? Hear us out here – while it may not seem like the most orthodox combination, the union of Tattersall’s Racing Club and Triple M has come about to treat us punters to a race day that is set to shake things up. Taking over Doomben Racecourse on Saturday July 21, the Triple M Rocks Tattersall’s Race Day comes with all of the ingredients of a rad race day event combined with some seriously rockin’ additions. more
He may not be a household name, but William of Rubruck sure did leave something beautiful behind. During his life, he embarked on an epic quest to convert the Great Khan to Christianity in the Mongol capital of Karakorum. During this time he kept a thrilling manuscript and itinerarium detailing his adventures, which have been given a special new life thanks to the Brandenburg Choir and La Camera delle Lacrime. Coming to QPAC’s Concert Hall for one night only on Tueday August 7, Karakorum: A Medieval Musical Journey is a truly stunning sonic ride that will make you feel like you’re trekking the Silk Road circa the 13th century … with David Wenham as your personal tour guide. more
When it comes to a great day out, there are a few key ingredients that we like to include. Delicious food is a given, fantastic drinks kick it up a notch, a spot of shopping certainly doesn’t go astray, and something to keep the kids occupied is just the cherry on top. If this sounds like your idea of a nice time, we have something that ticks all of the boxes. On Sunday June 24, Portside Wharf will come alive in a flurry of food, fashion and family-friendly fun for its inaugural Flavours of Portside event, celebrating all aspects of the precinct in signature riverside style. more
When it comes to iconic voices, few people can hold a candle to Etta James. Known as the Matriarch of R&B, Etta spent decades singing songs across the spectrum of human emotion, all while battling some of the most paralysing demons that one can face in a lifetime. She didn’t just sing the blues – she lived them. Coming to the Brisbane Powerhouse for an exclusive run of shows from June 27–30, At Last: The Etta James Story shines a light on one of the most legendary voices of all time … as well as the rich life behind it. more
Friday June 1 marked a very special day for Brisbane City – the opening of its first five-star hotel in 20 years, W Brisbane. There are many elements that make W Brisbane particularly worthy of the five-star accolade, one of which is the W Insider, Montana Tozzi, a gal about town whose job is to ensure guests have access to whatever they want, whenever they want it. Each month Montana treats guests with her hit-list of what to do and see in Brisbane via the Cool Hunter Guide, and seeing as that's our specialty, we've partnered with her to curate it each month. Here you have it folks – the best of Brisbane this June. more
We’re less than a day away from the official opening of Brisbane’s newest five-star hotel W Brisbane and to celebrate, the hotel is kicking off one massive party. Want to know the best thing about this party? It’s mobile! This glamorous shindig will be brightening up Queen Street Mall at midday today before hitting the road and shimmying its way south. more
Real talk – one of the best things about Brisbane is that it’s a cultural melting pot. From the delicious food to the lively events, there is always something happening that celebrates the unique mix of people that call this place home. Whether you want to taste something exciting, take part in a new ritual, catch tunes from another culture or see art from across the globe, it’s all happening in Brisbane this winter. We’ve taken a look through Brisbane City Council’s Live guide and picked five must-do events that prove you don’t need a passport to see the world. more
Brisbane, the time is almost here – the haloumi is sizzling, the honey puffs are getting dusted with sugar and the zorba lines are approaching at a rapid pace. That’s right, Paniyiri Greek Festival is back! Returning to Musgrave Park and the newly renovated Greek Club from May 19–20, Brisbane’s biggest celebration of Greek culture will fill your belly and warm your heart. more
Drink, dance and dine the day away as South Brisbane’s iconic laneway is transformed into the hotspot of the city. From midday on Saturday May 12, bring your mates and your appetite down to Fish Lane Festival – it’s going to be tasty! more