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We all have at least one friend who’s IMPOSSIBLE to buy for. Each year, their birthday rolls around, and you are left scratching your head over what to buy. Whether they are absolutely picky or have absolutely everything, Absolutely Fabulous kills two birds with the one stone (not that we...
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Us pigeons are dreamy birds, and for fellow Brisbanites who also enjoy flights of fantasy Cult/Corporate Culture is the perfect place to daydream. Their Ann Street showroom is filled with the sleek Danish furniture of our fantasies and now they have introduced some Italians. Corporate Culture is brimming with the...
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It was a drizzly afternoon that took this pigeon into Paddington seeking a new perch. Tucked into Paddington Central just above the Woolworths, Decked Café & Bar brightened up the afternoon and will prove a happy nest for birdies whose hearts belong to the eighties. The groovy glass-topped tables are...
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Pigeons aren’t famous for being songbirds. Nor do they often associate with cats. However, pigeons can (safely!) find music to bop their little heads along to at Jet Black Cat Music, West End. Shannon, the owner, makes friends with everyone from behind her piano counter where she spins crystal clear...
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The depths of The Brunswick Social basement harbours the secret to perfect Hong Kong dumplings Urban legend has it that basements are fearful places alive with monsters and creatures of the dark. Naturally, descending the steps of The Brunswick Social for the first time, a bird would feel their feathers...
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It seems the love of France has become quite the fad, however this new, French-inspired café in a leafy street of Balmoral has shrugged the usual stereotypes. There is not an Eiffel Tower wall decal in sight, yet Pompidou Café provides all of the delightful things that France is truly...
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Two-minute noodle enthusiasts beware; at Taro’s, you’re taken into unfamiliar territory outside your culinary prowess. I don’t just mean boil-the-water-for-an-extra-minute territory either; I mean the complicated and wonderful intricacies that form the art of ramen making. Taro takes painstaking care when crafting his ramen dishes because they are, as he...
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We, at The Good Guide, are all for Valentine’s Day, in fact there will be a few soppy celebrations this year and a lot of envy inducing romantic gestures (if you haven’t already come up with these, you know who you are). But there are those of us who will...
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A good, home cooked meal is bound to get you at least to second base. Spring Hill Deli have supplied us with two amazing recipes that will heat up the kitchen, and your love life. All the ingredients can be bought from Spring Hill Deli. Smoked Salmon Pasta Ingredients: 1...
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If you’re over the whole Valentine’s Day free-for-all at some of the restaurants (sometimes it’s like holding hands with your significant other and five other couples) why don’t you stay at home and cook this delectable recipe from Black Pearl Epicure for your lover. They’ll be impressed, we promise! Roasted...
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You’ve found that moment, where everything about how you feel, how you look, how the world around you has been created is intoxicating. You’re high on the touch of the air to your skin and the way your partner looks into your eyes. It’s there in their gaze, that magnet...
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Picnics are all about the sun and touching your partners skin. When you’ve been in a relationship for a certain time, just getting outside and being still and quiet with the person you love is perfection. —Yne wears La La Luxe dress $199 (on sale $119.40) and blouse $159 (on...
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That first date feeling. Where the evening has a special glow and it seems to have settled within the skin of the person sitting next to you. Ahead of you, you can glimpse a future – when they laugh or make you laugh, when they brush your hand. For the...
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It’s hard to hold a negative opinion of a cake shop. I mean… they sell cake. It’s a fairly foolproof blueprint to begin with. Enter Cakes by Judy C, a delicious little slice of Ashgrove. Judy’s been in the biz for about 20 years – which is a damn lot...
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No girls I know need a little bird to remind them that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Boys on the other hand, well, I’ve never known a boy to turn down gift-giving advice. With that in mind, this Pigeon took flight around James Street in search of 2012’s...
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This Valentine’s Day, dip me in chocolate and take me straight to Passione Gelateria and Dessert Bar in Teneriffe. This saucy shrine to saccharine creates desserts that are the epitome of sex appeal and lust that the Italian heritage is well renowned for. Serving up gooey chocolate piccolos and cherry-popping...
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So, I was at this extremely cosy watering hole called Sky Room on the weekend, you know the one, with the terrace overlooking the Valley that almost kisses the clouds? The Good Guide had bestowed upon me my very own V.I.Pigeon Pass, thereby granting me, along with dozens of other...
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Close your eyes, click your heels together and say, “There’s no place like Harajuku Gyoza”. From the moment you step into Harajuku’s doors, you’re whisked away on a spectacular adventure that drops you smack in the middle of the fast paced and completely mesmerising world of Tokyo. This place is...
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With all the rainy, mood-dampening weather lately, this Pigeon needed to a find a place to rest her wings and recuperate. If you fly down to the far end of James St, solace can be found at The Little Pantry. This cafe is both quirky and humble with its wooden...
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Tis often a sub-Perfect Day That magically melds into a Perfect Night Somewhere eclipsing those sorrows that follow you Into the gloaming of the eve and all you seek Is solace in a space Where your guitar finds its voice And your heart of hearts may sing out to the...
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What better way to celebrate the weekend after Australia Day than an evening at Dragonfly? We suggest adding Chinese New Year’s celebrations and an all you can eat, all you can drink package to the mix! This Pigeon went to Dragonfly on Saturday night with his sister to celebrate the...
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A few nights ago, this pigeon found herself on a hot date with George Clooney (…her boyfriend tagged along too). We rendezvoused at Blue Room Cinebar, just off Rosalie Village. Now, it just so happens that this bird about town had purchased herself a Good Guide V.I.Pigeon Pass and was...
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As I write this, the sound of pouring rain is just outside my window. My gumboots have turned into insect water parks and when looking at my garden the words bedraggled and flattened come to mind. Hopes for a sunny summer are going the way of Europe’s economy. But this...
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Lust for Life is a sweet blend of three quintessential lifestyle pre-requisites: art, coffee and shopping. In this lush Asian-inspired tattoo parlour lies the labour of love of owner Aureole, who has poured her artistic passions into a single space, breathing new life into the meaning of living art. The...
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COOL GIVEAWAY 1 double pass to this years So Frenchy, So Chic festival at the Brisbane Powerhouse on the 20th January, plus the album of the same name to be won. The concert features Moriarty and French-Nigerian songstress Asa. email us at share@thegoodguide.com.au with your favourite world artist and why....
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Organising a date can be a bit stressful. Especially if it’s the first date. You want to seem keen but not cloying, refined but not aloof. We’ll let you into a secret. Three words. Blue Room Cinebar. No one can say no to this boutique cinema that moonlights as a...
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New Years Eve. The one night of the year that always fails to live up to expectations. Whether you’ve drunk too much and spend the countdown vomiting out the back of your friends house, or you spend it paying a cabbie, or standing in line to get into a club,...
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A foot in the door at Kova Lifestyles and already I was greeted with the most pleasant, sweet smelling aroma of essential oils and cinnamon sticks. I knew this place meant business and I mean the business of the stylish living kind. Kova offers the kind of luxury lifestyle that...
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Let’s be honest here, this birdy doesn’t often fly out of her inner city nest… she’s a bit of a princess. She’s heard the occasional whispers of Oxford St shenanigans, but never really bothered to fly that side of the river. Oh, how naive she was! Her new favourite reason...
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Birds eat worms. It’s a biological fact. But we pigeons at The Good Guide make an exception for bookworms, a species (almost) just as sophisticated as our winged kindred. Recently we’ve had our bird’s eye on the many bookworms wriggling into Folio Books. Located in the heart of the city,...
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There’s a new whisper floating along the streets of Paddington… a hushed but fervent exchange between coffee lovers and foodies is spreading through this little town of ours. Oh yes, a brand new establishment, Ruby Café, has opened its doors and is ruffling its feathers amongst the tried and tested...
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C Gallery is a gift giving wonderland, and their exhibitions bring forth exclamations of excitement and amazement. If you’re stuck for a gift this year we recommend something from C Gallery. You’ll thank us when the mother-in-law is eating out of your hands. Now follow us back a few months...
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Wow! Do The Good Guide Girls know how to throw a party! So, I was at the Babes in Business Christmas lunch a few weeks ago (don’t ask me why) and I bumped into my friends Antonia and Bodhi from The Good Guide! It was fortunate that I did, as...
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The corner of Wilson and Boundary Streets in West End may look like a mundane bank car park by day, but come Saturday afternoon, the area undergoes a bespoke metamorphosis to become something truly special: the West End Twilight Markets. The seductive aroma of organic coffee wafts onto the street,...
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Question: What present: a) is good for the planet b) will make your loved ones smile on Chrissy morning and c) easier to wrap than a Prius? Answer: An eco friendly trinket from our friends at Biome! Pronounced ‘bye-oh-m’ (rhyming with home), Biome is a sweet little Brisbane nest, packed...
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It was a rainy miserable Monday, a day where sad stories begin. But not this one! When TGG pigeon blew into Comfort at my Table there was a wicker basket of shinny red apples waiting to be picked and the smell of roasted coffee. This popular Milton café feels a...
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Escape the festive season nervous breakdown in the calm and beauty of Millie & Mags. Not just a place where happy homes begin, Millie & Mags has so many beautiful and lovely things hidden within its warehouse treasure cave that the only problem you’ll have is trying not to buy...
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On a hushed spring evening when most people were curling up in front of the TV or looking at their Good Guide collection, a sense of anticipation shimmered in the air in Paddington. Iceworks, usually busy with dinner guests and workers unwinding with a beer, was quiet, the windows covered...
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The Hands of Hope Project, since 2006, provides a place of peace, hope and support for one of the most persecuted groups in society – those living with HIV Aids from the villages around Nong Khai in the northern border region of Thailand. They still suffer shocking discrimination, often even from...
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When Sarah opened the doors to Villa & Home she opened a gateway into a European dream space. Sure, Paddington is full of homeware shops and Villa & Home isn’t even the biggest, but it has a glow to it that makes you want to rush back to your own...
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We all know the saying, one man’s trash is another’s treasure. A simple scratch and a worn out patch can evoke a million tales to its newfound owner. The Woolloongabba Antique Centre is a treasure trone to all vintage lovers filled with nooks and crannies to fulfil any thrifter’s quirky...
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Jan Power’s Farmers Market h. Every Wed 10 – 6 Bridge End, Queen St Mall, Brisbane m. 0417 720 943 In the city, where ovens are often abandoned and gardens non-existent there is a haven for the lovers of fine fare. Amongst the hustle, a foodie nirvana awaits rich with...
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Nestled in the rolling heart of Spring Hill, lies this enticing and innovative gem. Devoted to delivering the highest quality undiscovered local art, Spiro Grace offers an occasion to engage with innovative designers and artists alike. It allows creatives to construct and exhibit thought-tantalising art within a new context. The...
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Listen here boys and girls. When asking the love of your life to marry you it’s safe to say you don’t want a ring that disappears into the jeweler’s box in shame. Some traditions are great, like public holidays and Oktoberfest, while others are getting a bit old, like Sunday...
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The Good Guide flock prides itself on knowing the coolest places in town, and there’s few places as effortlessly cool as the Brisbane Jazz Club. They have an unspoken guarantee of well-dressed musical maestros, fine wines, and seductively low lights. Last Friday we swung by for a night with...
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If James Street were a person, it would be a female – pure and simple. It offers so much good (good coffee, good cinema, good fashion) and everything style, that it is impossible to imagine it waking up one morning in need of a good shave and general scrub up...
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Advertising guru David Ogilvy once said “Like a midwife, I make my living bringing new babies into the world, except that mine are new advertising campaigns.” Of course, as the spelling suggests, there is no relation between David and the fashion boutique tucked away in Fortitude Valley’s ultra-trendy Emporium. And...
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Knock knock Who’s there? Ida Ida who? Sorry ida know I don’t know either! I never thought my terrible joke telling abilities would ever get me anywhere in life. I always wanted to be a comedian but after years of my sister (and all other relatives, friends and colleagues) telling...
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Lets unwrap Chasing Bow and play in this little world of fashion heaven. Frolic between the racks of handpicked designer pieces from luminaries such as Marnie Skillings, State of Georgia, Genetic and Limedrop. They are also one of the only boutiques in Brisbane to stock Sretsis, the label synonymous with...
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On a star filled evening this pigeon flew straight into the arms of Cabiria and fell in love. You can’t blame this lovebird though, Cabiria is a woman who knows what she is and seduces without apology. Nights of Cabiria is a famous Fellini film, and if you’re at all...
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Box Vintage is like my grandmother’s wardrobe, if my grandmother had a shopping problem in the 60’s. It is filled with glamourous and quirky retro treats, spilling out onto the footpath decorating West End’s Vulture Street with adorable summer dresses and vintage printed tees. There are racks upon racks of...
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While we pigeons love all that is naff and new, we hold true to traditional pearls of wisdom. Pearler Number 1: nothing beats a cup of tea. You’ve lost your job? You’ve got head lice from the cat? Oh bless. Spring has caught you out like an albino walrus in...
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When you step inside the Easton Pearson store on James Street, you know you’re around global glamour. Each garment in store is a distinctive artpiece that has been handcrafted to encapsulate an eclectic mix of influences from around the world and to exude bohemian luxe. Think vibrant splashes of colour,...
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Brace yourselves, as I have an incredibly announceable announcement to make: Wikipedia is not reliable! Yes I know, sorry to drop that bombshell on you, but I thought it best that you learn the news from a truly reliable source – we all know pigeons are the real secret keepers....
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Our fair city glows in the spring- puts its best foot forward, sheds the short and sweet winter coat to let the sunshine in. Better yet, it means change of season looks- be mother nature, ditch the coat, embrace the heat! With such nice weather and in such a good...
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On Friday afternoon, Brisbane Writers Festival attendees flocked to New Farm’s illustrious Powerhouse Theatre for an intimate encounter with crooner and author Simone Felice. Hailing from New York City his appearance at the festival offered a deep and soulful experience for all involved. The theatrical setting within the former power...
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There is a girl you should meet. She’s a La La girl. She glories in lovely lace and fabrics like spun gossamer. She celebrates all that is wonderful about being a woman with the pop of a champagne bottle and the click of a heel. You can be a La...
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Venturing into the Valley for a night usually means a messy one out on the town. It could involve one or two drinks (or maybe a few), a greasy New York slice and watching the sun rise with heels shamelessly in hand. But the nightlife in the Valley is now...
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Calling all Bridesmaids to be – gone are your nightmares of 27 Dresses and looking like a pasty chartreuse cupcake on your best friend’s big day. Sacha Drake, nestled in the heart of Paddington’s fashionista strip, is dedicated to making her big day a stylish affair for you as well....
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King Henry VIII successfully beheaded a hell of a lot of his wives, broke the Church in half and made divorce legal. Yet failed woefully when he tried to ban the brewing of beer- the peasants and masters of a fine ale just wouldn’t allow it. So power to the...
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Beach season is descending upon us, and many may be feeling a bit guilty-working (and playing) a little too hard, forgetting to exercise and maybe not eating what we should. Having said all of this who manages to actually balance all of the above? That’s where Bodywize will save the...
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Oh it’s all over! And what a night! We flew through the city alighting at various pumping venues and were treated to some of the greatest new bands in Australia. We then fluffed up our tail feathers at the after party as some big birds spun amazing tunes for the...
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I have had a dream past the wit of man to say what dream it was. A story of a midsummer night is told, the most lamentable comedy therein beholds fantasies that apprehend, more than cool reason ever comprehends. Transcend into the ether of the lovers and madmen, their minds...
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The hibernating chill of the colder months is finally fading and Sunday morning calls for shorts, dark sunglasses, a hearty breakfast and an extra shot of coffee. A Saturday night debrief is in order and Symposium is where the deconstruction will begin. Shyly tucked away on Fortitude Valley’s Commercial Road,...
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BIGSOUND 2011 This lil Byron shire bird has left her seaside love shack and headed to the big city of ol’ Brisbane town to check out the goings on at Big Sound. BIGSOUND has brought top national and international industry peeps together for the last 10 years and its stronger...
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A banneton is traditionally known as a wooden basket used to shape bread loaves prior to baking. But in the heart of The Gabba, that wholesome scent of freshly baked bread wafts through Banneton Bakery, originating a new meaning to the most-loved food staple. Boasting a team of dedicated bakers,...
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Jane Austen, that minxy mistress of wit, was pretty observant: “the person, be it lady or gentleman, who has not pleasure in a good novel (or nice bookshop), must be intolerably stupid”. Some sassy words to go with Good Guide’s visit to Avid Reader, West End, celebrating National Bookshop Day...
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When it comes to cuisine, I have a tooth sweeter than American candy and a Moroccan tagine with my name on it. So when the description of our Sensational Flavours tour read “from sweet to spice and all things foodie nice” I was pretty sure I’d hit the jackpot (I’m...
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We all have a story to tell about the floods this year, and by golly Epic Cycles does have a truly epic one. Although the discerning passer-by wouldn’t know that now – the only give away is inside where the pre-flood wall stops and the stripped, post-flood wall starts (which...
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COOL GIVEAWAY 3 double passes up for grabs, getting flappin’ to be a bird about town! HOW? Email the nest: info@thegoodguide.com.au with your full name and contact details. Queensland Theatre Company presents George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion- “Is it possible to survive being dressed up and dragged into a tier of...
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COOL GIVEAWAY 5 double passes are on offer to the first five pigeons! HOW? Email competition@qag.qld.gov.au with the details of what film they would like to see and when, plus their full name and contact details! Program Details Alfred Hitchcock: A Retrospective Cinema at GoMA Until 27 November 2011...
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A good first kiss always leaves you wanting to go back for more. Kisses on James Street is no exception. Once you’ve caught your eye on a stylish outfit or accessory in store (and chances are, you will), you won’t stop thinking about it until you go back to buy...
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In the words of Beyonce, “if you like it then you should put a ring on it.” So whether you are on the hunt for a diamond ring or just a ring with diamonds, there is bound to be something for any woman’s finicky, fancy taste hidden in the secret...
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We say ‘Marco’, you say… ‘Polo’! Look to the motif stamped on your favourite Ralph Lauren shirt if you don’t what we’re talking about – the horseman carrying a mallet is playing one of the oldest sports in the world: Polo. Last Sunday, we flocked over to the Australian Open...
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If accolades are indicative of an establishment’s success, passion and talent then Angelo Andronis Designer Jewellery requires no further explanation. In 1987 Angelo Andronis was the youngest recipient of the coveted DeBeers Supreme Diamond Design Award, and throughout his career since has snapped up many more impressive titles. Even the...
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I have the most hilarious dog friend. A buck-tooth Rottweiler with an obsessive compulsive disorder who woofs like she’s just run 20km and thinks other dogs are just the bee’s knees. To be honest, I’ve always felt hesitant about leaving her in the care of someone else but I reckon...
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Ladies and gentlemen, dress to impress because tonight, we’re headed to the wonderful world of Zuri. It’s no secret that the rich and famous choose to party at this luxe establishment when in town, and it’s easy to see why. Just like its glamorous patrons, Zuri Bar and Dining is...
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Heading to Metro Arts showing of Woyzeck for their under the radar segment of the Brisbane Festival, this pigeon’s date was less than keen. With bribes of “you can hold my hand” and “I’ll give you kisses” (we must all sacrifice for art) the date finally consented with the warning...
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The brims of South Brisbane’s nest have long been the bastions of Brisbane’s multicultural diversity, particularly when it comes to food. This little birdie flew from the hustle and bustle of the Brisbane city to escape and have a little taste of Euro. But be sure to not blink twice...
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Picture this, dear readers… The sun’s first rays begin to spill over the awakening world. You arise from your Salute to the Sun amidst a lush, tropical garden. The vibrancy of the grass beneath your feet seems to glow and spread through your entire body, transporting vitality into every cell....
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Avoid the daily grind at this coffee house and new local for the city flock. Taking cues from Melbourne this addictive and enticing haunt lies down a little laneway in the soul of the city. Just like a loving (or well trained) partner, it is there to greet you in...
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There was a little bit of over excitement recently when TGG pigeon discovered sweet antique French milk bottles at Jean & Joyce. Image this bird’s horror when it comes back and finds them all gone! The moral of this tragic story is that if you like something in this lovely...
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“Boundless in the existence of living time and the ability to personify the invisible world that lies behind the visible…” To view Gavin Hipkins’ work is to take a breath. Dreamlike in it’s simplicity yet eternal in the spaces he is creating. In this day and age where more seems...
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What shall we with the drunken sailor? Here’s an idea – get him to open a boutique that offers a trendy collection of modern urban wear. Pete Bennetts made a career change from boilermaking to fashion retail after deciding that buying cool clothes shouldn’t have to come with exorbitant prices...
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When I heard that one of this year’s feature theatre productions for Brisbane Festival was Rhinoceros in Love, I had a shocking thought that they were bringing a Discovery Channel documentary to stage. Now, there may be a slight fascination in observing rhinoceros’ in mating season on the telly at...
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If your feet could talk what would they say? They would probably tell tails of times less enjoyable than a Chinese foot binding ceremony. Or of the pain endured in the name of cocktail parties and Manolo Blahnik. The suffering ends here, at Children of the Revolution. Now is the...
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Boys of Brisbane rejoice! For you now have a socially conscious reason to pick up the console and play video games until your fingers cramp. Until Friday 30th September, you can flock to the Bleeding Heart Gallery in the city to take part in the ‘Emulator’ art exhibition, and explore...
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We say ‘Marco’, you say… ‘Polo’! Look to the motif stamped on your favourite Ralph Lauren shirt if you don’t what we’re talking about – the horseman carrying a mallet is playing one of the oldest sports in the world: Polo. Last Sunday, we flocked over to the Australian Open...
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When I heard that one of this year’s feature theatre productions for Brisbane Festival was Rhinoceros in Love, I had a shocking thought that they were bringing a Discovery Channel documentary to stage. Now, there may be a slight fascination in observing rhinoceros’ in mating season on the telly at...
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So you remember waking up and Cloudland Ballroom was gone in the night; going to the Royal Exchange Hotel involved Harleys’ and Ducatis’; Powderfinger held the resident spot at Rics. You remember an epic era of backyard gigs, 10pm lock-outs, Joh Bjelke-Peterson, the Valley, strip clubs, crooked cops, punks and...
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On Friday afternoon, Brisbane Writers Festival attendees flocked to New Farm’s illustrious Powerhouse Theatre for an intimate encounter with crooner and author Simone Felice. Hailing from New York City his appearance at the festival offered a deep and soulful experience for all involved. The theatrical setting within the former power...
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Venturing into the Valley for a night usually means a messy one out on the town. It could involve one or two drinks (or maybe a few), a greasy New York slice and watching the sun rise with heels shamelessly in hand. But the nightlife in the Valley is now...
-
I have had a dream past the wit of man to say what dream it was. A story of a midsummer night is told, the most lamentable comedy therein beholds fantasies that apprehend, more than cool reason ever comprehends. Transcend into the ether of the lovers and madmen, their minds...
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BIGSOUND 2011 This lil Byron shire bird has left her seaside love shack and headed to the big city of ol’ Brisbane town to check out the goings on at Big Sound. BIGSOUND has brought top national and international industry peeps together for the last 10 years and its stronger...
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Brisbane & our visitors fell in love with The Good Guide (can’t a bird sing its own praises?) It is our upmost delight to squawk and crazily bird dance from the treetops… the LAUNCH of the new The Good Guide… (Drum roll please!) ‘The Best of Brisbane’ Our beloved luxury...
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Flying high with her debut EP, this bird has wings… The Good Guide Ilona & swoon over ‘That Which Lasts’. Having been born and bred in the far Northern Territory Ilona Harkers music reflects the depths and wilds of this frontier landscape. Ilona moved to Sydney and studied under Ian...
