September is a HUGE month for Brisbane.
Saturday:
For starters, Brisbane Festival begins this Saturday!
Here’s a suggested Brisbane Festival plan for Saturday:
Kicking off with Welcome to Country, a free opening Indigenous ceremony at the South Bank Cultural Forecourt at 5pm. The Lantern Garden set up in the Cultural Forecourt will light up from 6pm, which you can gaze over as you walk to check out the art installation, Light Sphere, which has been set up in River Quay, the new dining area of South Bank. I suggest checking it out at night as it looks amazing reflecting the lights of Brisbane at night.
Enjoy dinner along the river making sure you mention ‘Brisbane Festival’ or ‘Festival Flavours’ at any of the participating restaurants to enjoy exclusive specials. One that I’m going to take advantage of is new James St kid on the block, Gerard’s Bistro offering: Coal-grilled spatchcock, coriander, fenugreek, walnuts and mint served with 2012 Vinaceous ‘Shakre’ Chardonnay for $30! I suspect Vinaceous wines may be a supporter since they are offered in majority of the Festival Flavours specials. They have really funky, vintage-styled labels (visual appeal!) which I haven’t yet had a chance to try. Better now than never!
Stick around for the City of Lights later that evening (Sunday – Thursday at 7pm and 8.30pm, Friday – Saturday at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm). Conveniently, The Spiegeltent and it’s adjoining Garden Bar are set up in South Bank also. Enjoy a tipple and live music. The program includes:
- Sunday 9 September – Little Creatures
- Thursday 13 September – Marissa Giannake
- Friday 14 September – Soulman O’Gaia
- Sunday 16 September – Marissa Giannake
- Thursday 20 September – Little Creatures
- Friday 21 September – Camaron De La Vega
- Sunday 23 September – Brett Lee
- Thursday 27 September – Greshka
Check out my earlier blog on the festival to see what I’m most looking forward to. What other shows do you want to see?
Other things on this Saturday include:
West End markets at Davies Park, West End Twilight markets on the corner of Wilson and Boundary St behind the ANZ/NAB banks, Jan Powers Farmers markets at Brisbane Powerhouse.
Sunday:
The last day of the week. Judging by recent weather, it’s going to be fantastic weather to be outdoors.
What better way to spend a Sunday than enjoy tasting cheese at the annual People’s Day Brisbane Cheese awards, Portside Wharf, 10am-4pm. $10 entry gets you access to cheese, the winners and the winners (there can be no losers with cheese). Also includes wine, beer and cider tastings! Special things to look out for: Master Classes with Will Studd and Matt Kirkegaard at Moda Events – matching beer with cheese. Cost $20 entry fee.
After you’ve eaten all the cheese you can eat, head over to Jam Jar, West End for the September round of their Poetry Slam! $5 and it starts from 3pm until 6.30pm. It’s hosted by Scott Sneddon aka Darkwing Dubs, who is amazing in his own right. I’ve been to a workshop with him before at the State Library and he’s a lot of fun – and very, very good with words. Have dinner here, their new menu from Damien Styles is delicious. I love the idea of smalls, which means you can basically make your own tasting plate.
All weekend:
Shakespeare Festival is on this entire weekend at Bulimba. Lots of free events including sword fights (don’t be shy, you know you want to see this), various readings as well as Henry V in entirety! Suss out the whole program.
Starting tomorrow (8 September) and running until 29 September is the Brisbane Fringe Festival. Please go along and check out the program which offers many free/cheap performances. Support independent arts in Brisbane!
Ending this weekend is the 2012 Brisbane Writers Festival. Check out the program on the website to see what could inspire you next!
Eating my way through life. 