Homepage Latest News Archives - Page 23 of 86

Pawn & Co. Brings Pawn Shop Meets Party Vibe To Fortitude Valley

Photo Credit: Pawn & Co Brisbane/Facebook

A Bentley in the window, cocktails served in lava lamps, and furniture you can actually take home, Fortitude Valley’s new nightclub, Pawn & Co., is not just a place to dance but a space where nearly everything is for sale.

A New Kind of Nightlife Experience

Pawn & Co. landed in Brisbane in mid-2024, instantly drawing crowds with its “party-meets-pawn-shop” twist. Tucked along Ann Street in Fortitude Valley, the two-storey venue lets guests sip cocktails, dance to DJs, and even buy the décor, from vintage gramophones to high-end cars.

*Photo Credit: Pawn & Co Brisbane/Facebook*

It’s open Thursday to Sunday, starting with theatrical drinks from 6 p.m. and shifting into nightclub mode from 9 p.m. on select nights. Over 250 items have already been sold through its ever-changing displays. Originally from Melbourne, the concept mixes nightlife, retail and a bit of curiosity into one unforgettable experience.

Everything Is for Sale — Literally

Pawn & Co. may look like a vintage pawn shop, but here, almost everything, including the DJ booth and wall art, has a price tag. Its ever-changing collection, sourced from local pawnbrokers and collectors, keeps the space fresh and unpredictable.

You’ll find $10 trinkets sitting alongside a Bentley worth over $300,000. According to staff, the biggest sellers so far include quirky toys, costume jewellery and cheeky adult items.

Cocktails That Double as Theatre

Pawn & Co.’s cocktails aren’t just served, they’re staged, arriving in locked vaults, framed prints, or boxes filled with rose petals. Each drink is inspired by a signature scent, developed through the venue’s in-house perfumery.

This scent-to-cocktail connection adds a sensory layer that sets the experience apart. Guests can also take part in private sessions where they create their own fragrance, later turned into a custom cocktail. It’s a playful blend of mixology and storytelling that feels both personal and unexpected.

Upstairs: The Vault of Curiosities

Upstairs, Pawn & Co. gets cheekier with its “Vault of Curiosities”, an adults-only lounge featuring risqué novelty items, all available to buy.

book a table

Think vibrators, harnesses, and other unexpected finds you wouldn’t normally spot in a nightclub. The vibe is edgy but lighthearted, with staff emphasising humour and guest comfort.

Even the bathrooms play along, hidden behind mirrored glass with a two-way mirror overlooking the bar. It’s all part of the venue’s mission to surprise, delight, and never take itself too seriously.

Published 04-August-2025

Interactive Adventure Experience Launches in Fortitude Valley

Photo Credit: Prison Island Brisbane

An interactive team-based experience featuring 35 challenge rooms is opening in Fortitude Valley, marking the Brisbane debut of Prison Island.

Background and Concept

Prison Island, an indoor team challenge concept that originated in Scandinavia, is expanding into Brisbane with a new venue in Fortitude Valley. The experience, already operating in cities across Europe and Melbourne, is designed around completing various challenges in themed rooms known as “cells”. Each cell requires a combination of logic, skill, or physical coordination. The concept has been developed by Make It Now and is co-produced with Fever.

interactive team challenges — *Photo Credit: Prison Island Brisbane*

Experience Format and Game Design

The Fortitude Valley venue will open on 4 September 2025 at 162 Alfred Street. Players form teams of two to five and are given 90 minutes to complete as many of the 35 challenge cells as possible. The rooms range from physical tasks like basketball and laser mazes to puzzles testing memory, reflexes, and communication. The format is designed to appeal to all ages from 7 years and up.

Each challenge cell features a different objective and scoring system, with tasks such as dodging beams, colour puzzles, and interactive props. Game outcomes are tracked digitally, and teams earn points based on their performance in each room.

Venue Applications and Group Options

The Fortitude Valley venue caters to a wide audience including families, friends, schools, and corporate groups. Group bookings are available for teams of over 20 players, and sessions can be tailored for special occasions such as birthdays, bucks and hens parties, or workplace team-building events. Smaller group bookings can be made via the event waitlist.

Among the themed cells are games such as “Whack-a-Mole”, “Studio 21”, and “Joker”, each with its own stress rating and scoring system. Participants are encouraged to work together and play to individual strengths across different types of challenges.

Community Response and Ticket Availability

With thousands of global participants having tried Prison Island, organisers have reported strong early interest in the Brisbane venue. A public waitlist is already open, and general ticket sales begin at 6:00 p.m. on 5 August 2025. Sessions will run from the September launch onwards, with bookings available through the official website.

Looking Ahead

Prison Island Brisbane introduces a new indoor leisure option in Fortitude Valley, combining elements of sports, puzzles, and strategy into one structured experience. With 35 diverse challenge rooms and a format suited to groups of all kinds, the venue is positioned as a year-round activity for locals and visitors.

Published 4-Aug-2025

A New Era for Kesha: Pop Icon Brings Biggest Tour of Her Career to Riverstage

After more than a decade, the wait for Australian fans is finally over as global superstar Kesha announces her first headline tour of the country, set to include a massive outdoor performance at Riverstage in Brisbane City.

The Tits Out Tour: What You Need to Know

Kesha is bringing The Tits Out Tour Down Under for four major city stops in February 2026. Beyond the Brisbane show at Riverstage, the tour will also visit Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth, giving fans across the country a chance to see her live.

The Australian leg follows an extensive run of shows that began in the United States in July 2025 and will continue in Europe in March 2026, making it the most significant tour of her extraordinary career. Her setlist is expected to be packed with hits like ‘TiK ToK’ and ‘Your Love Is My Drug’ alongside powerful new tracks ‘JOYRIDE’ and ‘Only Love Can Save Us Now’.

buy tickets

From Party Anthems to Powerful Statements

For many fans, this tour is more than a concert; it’s the celebration of an artist’s profound evolution. Kesha first burst onto the scene as a glitter-dusted force of energy, with her 2010 debut album Animal defining the sound of an era. However, her career path shifted dramatically following a protracted and highly public legal battle that began in 2014, which effectively put her music on hold.

She re-emerged with 2017’s critically acclaimed album Rainbow, shedding her past persona for a rawer, more vulnerable sound. The album, which featured the Grammy-nominated song ‘Praying’, marked a redefinition of her artistic identity. This journey of creating deeply personal and empowering music has continued through her subsequent albums, including the critically praised 2023 release, Gag Order.

A Sound of Freedom and Authenticity

The tour supports her latest work, which includes her sixth studio album, .(PERIOD), released on 4 July 2025. The 11-song collection is described as a defiant and unfiltered declaration of artistic freedom. Conceived, co-written, and co-produced by Kesha herself, the album is a raw and personal sonic journey that showcases an artist who is refusing to play it safe.

It represents Kesha at her most powerful, turning her experiences into vibrant and audacious art. This new music, combined with her catalogue of global hits, promises a concert experience that is both a massive pop party and a moving story of strength.

The tour marks a huge moment for local fans, who will finally see the pop icon in her first headline run of the country in more than a decade. For those eager to secure a spot, tickets go on sale this week. Tickets and venue presales commenced on Tuesday, 5 August, at 10:00 AM. The general public will have their chance to buy tickets on Friday, 8 August, starting at 10:00 AM.

Published Date 04-August-2025

QUT Robotics Director Honoured for Global Mentoring Impact

The QUT Centre for Robotics in Brisbane City is home to one of Australia’s most dedicated research mentors. Professor Michael Milford, the centre’s director and an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow, has been named a finalist in the 2025 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Outstanding Mentor of Researchers.

Read: QUT Researchers Secure $3.2M for Health Trials in Brisbane CBD

The Eureka Prizes, considered Australia’s most comprehensive national science awards, honour excellence in research, innovation, leadership and engagement. Professor Milford’s nomination recognises his dedication to mentorship as a core part of his academic and professional identity.

Over the years, Professor Milford has mentored thousands, ranging from high school students to seasoned researchers, across disciplines and continents. His mentees have gone on to win competitive grants, receive top awards, and step into leadership roles in academia and industry alike. Rather than providing prescriptive advice, he prefers to offer adaptable strategies that mentees can tailor to their own ambitions and circumstances.

He believes that mentoring is both rewarding and constantly evolving. It’s a process, he says, that challenges mentors to keep learning, reflecting, and refining their approach. He draws from his own early career experiences, crediting the guidance of his mentors as instrumental to his success. As he stepped into leadership roles, his commitment to mentoring deepened, becoming a central focus of his work at QUT Centre for Robotics.

What sets Professor Milford apart is not only his one-on-one guidance but also his commitment to reaching wider audiences through digital platforms. His Hacking Academia initiative—now boasting over 60 episodes—offers candid insights and practical tips on topics such as publishing, securing funding, and navigating academic challenges. What began as a casual video on paper-writing techniques has grown into a trusted global resource.

He often hears from researchers who say Hacking Academia helped them land their dream job, win their first grant, or simply feel less alone in the often challenging academic environment. For Professor Milford, those stories are among the most meaningful rewards of his work.

Read: QUT Alumnus Ryan Ginard Quietly Funds a New Generation of Changemakers

The 2025 Eureka Prize winners will be revealed at a special ceremony on 3 September. Whether or not he takes home the award, Professor Milford’s influence on the research community, both in Brisbane and around the world, is already firmly established.

Published 2-August-2025

Aunty Set to Reimagine Wandoo Street’s Restaurant Scene

Fortitude Valley is set for a fresh addition to its bustling food scene as one of the city’s fastest-growing hospitality groups transforms the former City Winery site on Wandoo Street into a modern Asian restaurant called Aunty.

The project, spearheaded by local restaurateur Michael Tassis and the Tassis Group, brings together new energy and familiar faces to one of the Valley’s most recognisable addresses, with an emphasis on community, quality, and creative Asian-inspired flavours.

A New Chapter for Wandoo Street

The space at 11 Wandoo Street, which most locals know from its days as City Winery and, before that, Campos café, is undergoing a complete makeover. Work is underway to convert the 450-square-metre warehouse into a sophisticated yet welcoming venue, reflecting both the Tassis Group’s trademark style and a respect for Cantonese traditions. The restaurant will feature an indoor and outdoor bar, a wine cellar, and several different dining areas including an open kitchen, private dining room and booth seating.

Chef Salvatore de Ponte, who previously worked at Fatcow, will lead the kitchen. His approach will combine traditional Cantonese techniques with fresh Australian produce and some Italian influences, bringing something new to the area while honouring the rich cultural history of Asian cuisine in Brisbane.

Diners can expect favourites such as Peking duck, handmade dim sum, and a selection of wood-fired dishes, with weekend yum cha planned for those long, relaxed catch-ups that Brisbane locals love.

Aunty on 11 Wandoo St Fortitude Valley — *Photo Credit: DA-A006822067*

Community at the Heart of the Concept

Michael Tassis, known for finding unique locations and turning them into community favourites, has stated that the idea for Aunty came naturally after he saw the space. He recognised a gap in the market for a modern yet approachable Asian restaurant in the James Street and Wandoo precinct.

The vision for Aunty is to offer a dining experience that sits comfortably between casual eateries and high-end options already found in the area, while bringing a fresh sense of hospitality and warmth.

The design is being handled by local firm Clui Designs, who have been tasked with creating a “moody, minimalistic, elevated” environment. Inspiration is drawn from the welcoming feeling of a Cantonese teahouse, but with an edge that reflects the changing face of Fortitude Valley.

Aunty is expected to launch in the latter part of 2025, aiming to build on the evolving reputation of Fortitude Valley as one of Brisbane’s leading food destinations.

Published 31-July-2025

Max Alduca Quintet to Launch Monastery Tour at Jazz Music Institute in Fortitude Valley

Fortitude Valley’s Jazz Music Institute will host the first stop of a national tour led by Sydney-based bassist and composer Max Alduca, marking the live debut of his album Monastery.

Brisbane Kicks Off Nine-Date Album Tour

The Max Alduca Quintet opens its east coast tour at the Jazz Music Institute on 8 August 2025. The nine-date run will take the group through Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, and Victoria, presenting Alduca’s first album as bandleader in full.

Monastery tour — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

Debut Album Blends Precision with Spontaneity

Released on 21 March 2025 through Earshift Music, Monastery draws on contemporary jazz, cinematic textures, and free improvisation. Developed after an intensive period of study in New York, the album explores themes of solitude, sanctuary, and musical connection.

Across seven original tracks, the music shifts between structured motifs and open-ended forms. Pieces like “Unknown Flow,” “Scando,” and “Sympathetic Resonance” reflect Alduca’s focus on space, texture, and dynamic interplay.

Five Acclaimed Artists on Stage

The Max Alduca Quintet features Alduca on double bass alongside guitarist Hilary Geddes, tenor saxophonist Michael Avgenicos, pianist Luke Sweeting, and drummer James Waples. The five musicians have collaborated across multiple Australian projects and officially formed as a quintet in 2022.

Tour Continues Through Regional and Capital Venues

Following the Fortitude Valley performance, the group will appear in Bellingen, Armidale, Nowra, Canberra, Murrah, Melbourne, Thirroul, and Sydney. Each show will spotlight live renditions of Monastery’s full tracklist.

BUY TICKETS

Production Overseen by Lloyd Swanton

The album was produced by Lloyd Swanton, known for his work with experimental trio The Necks. He supported the group throughout recording and post-production, helping shape the sound’s tonal clarity and overall cohesion.

Max Alduca’s Ongoing Role in Australian Jazz

In addition to leading this project, Alduca is a regular collaborator with the Eishan Ensemble, the Hilary Geddes Quartet, and several other national touring acts. His work continues to bridge composition and improvisation in a distinctly personal style.

Published 31-July-2025

Keri Craig-Lee OAM Honoured at 2025 Business Hall of Fame

Photo Credit: QUT/YouTube

Fashion entrepreneur Keri Craig-Lee OAM has been recognised for her pioneering contributions to Australian fashion and business during the 2025 Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame induction, with her journey beginning in Fortitude Valley.

Recognition at the 2025 Hall of Fame Ceremony

The 2025 Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame ceremony acknowledged individuals and organisations who have made significant contributions to the state’s economic and social development. Among the six inductees was Keri Craig-Lee OAM, celebrated for nearly five decades of leadership in both the fashion and agribusiness sectors.

The Hall of Fame was founded in 2009 through a partnership between the State Library of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, and the Queensland Library Foundation. It honours those who have provided outstanding public value through ethical and impactful business leadership.

From Fortitude Valley to Fashion Fame

Born into a Brisbane fashion family, Craig-Lee’s early years were spent immersed in the operations of her parents’ clothing label, Fifth Avenue Frocks. Based in Fortitude Valley, the family factory doubled as her after-school study space and early training ground. From a young age, she provided input on design decisions and learned the fundamentals of retail from her parents, Peter and Dianne Craig.

After graduating from St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, she took part in a Rotary exchange program in the United States. During that year, she completed a technical fashion course, an experience she later described as transformative.

In 1977, at just 19, Craig-Lee launched her own eveningwear label. Her debut collection—36 garments—achieved national distribution immediately, a rare feat made possible in part by her family’s established retail network. A year later, she opened her first boutique in Brisbane Arcade.

By the early 1980s, she had received several awards including three Supreme Awards from the Retailers Association of Queensland. In 1987, she became the inaugural and only female inductee into the association’s Hall of Fame. She remains the only recipient of its Award of Excellence.

International Exposure and National Legacy

A defining moment in Craig-Lee’s career came in 1984, when she was commissioned to design and coordinate the wedding garments for Elton John and Renate Blauel. The brief—completed in just four days—included the bridal gown, bridesmaids’ dresses, trousseau, floral arrangements, Elton’s accessories, and venue styling. The high-profile event propelled her label to international attention, with global media coverage showcasing her work.

She continued to build her fashion empire throughout the 1980s and 1990s, exporting to markets across Asia, the Pacific, New Zealand, and the United States. In 1983, she opened the Keri Craig Emporium in Brisbane Arcade, a retail and hospitality hybrid offering fashion, homewares, and high tea. The Emporium, still operating today, remains managed by her family.

Keri Craig-Lee OAM — *Photo Credit: QUT/YouTube*

Partnership in Business and Life

In 1986, Craig-Lee married Trevor Lee. In 1995, the couple co-founded Australian Country Choice (ACC), which grew into the nation’s largest privately owned vertically integrated beef supply chain. Keri played a key role in shaping ACC’s branding and governance, complementing Trevor’s operational leadership.

The 2025 Hall of Fame induction marks the first time a married couple has been recognised separately for their leadership across distinct industries—fashion and agriculture.

Craig-Lee has also contributed significantly beyond business, holding ambassadorial roles for Brisbane, Expo 88, and the Mater Hospitals Trust. In 2017, she received the Medal of the Order of Australia, and in 2024 she was named a Queensland Great. In 2018, she joined the Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard Kennedy School.

Her career has been documented in her 2017 coffee table book, Keri Craig: The Label, The Lady, The Lifestyle, which offers a retrospective look at her impact on Australian fashion and business.

Australian fashion industry — *Photo Credit: QUT/YouTube*

Enduring Industry Impact

With more than 50 fashion awards, hundreds of staff employed, and decades of retail innovation, Craig-Lee is widely regarded as one of the key figures in Queensland’s fashion history. While often described as “Queensland’s Empress of Style”, her approach remains grounded in work ethic, timing, and family support.

Her influence on Brisbane’s inner-city retail sector, particularly through her long-standing presence in the Brisbane Arcade, continues to shape the local industry. Fortitude Valley, where her journey began, remains a symbolic point of origin for her legacy.

Published 30-July-2025

How to Dine at the Most Exclusive Restaurant in Fortitude Valley for Just $65

Photo Credit: Sushi Room/ Instagram

With a philosophy of “purity, provenance, and precision,” Head Chef Shimpei Raikuni is steering the newly expanded Sushi Room in Fortitude Valley through a menu that has garnered national praise and local buzz for its quality.

The Velvet Rope and the Noren Curtain

Following a recent expansion, the Japanese fine diner at the base of The Calile Hotel has grown from a 60-seat venue to a 100-seat establishment. The new space, designed by architects Richards and Spence, adds a striking bar, a small lounge, and footpath seating on Doggett Street. The design presents a study in contrasts. Guests first encounter a stark and steely environment of grey and white marble on the floors, bar, and tables, which some find cool in its modernism.

Yet, deeper inside, the atmosphere shifts to what has been described as darkly seductive and intimate, centred around a stunning 9.3-metre sushi bar made of Hinoki timber. This allows diners to choose their experience, from watching chefs at the bar to seeking privacy in a curved booth or an exclusive mezzanine dining room.

A Menu for Moguls and Locals

Under the direction of Head Chef Shimpei Raikuni, the culinary approach focuses on purity, provenance, and precision with a menu built around fine seasonal Australian seafood. This philosophy caters to two very different budgets. On one hand, the restaurant serves a clientele that includes visiting celebrities, offering a premium omakase where the chef curates the meal, or à la carte selections where a single piece of Kagoshima sirloin nigiri costs $33.

However, the restaurant also provides a more accessible path to its high-end offerings. A $65 lunch set special has become a popular choice, including a chef’s selection of sashimi and nigiri, a choice of wagyu steak or king salmon, a mixed leaf salad, and miso soup. This deal makes the lauded quality of the kitchen available without the top-tier price tag.

The Devil in the Details

Regardless of the price paid, the quality of the food receives high praise. Reviewers have noted the exceptional freshness of the sashimi and the remarkable skill in dishes like the tamago, or Japanese omelet. The spicy tuna crispy rice is consistently highlighted as a signature dish that should not be missed.

The praise is not without balance; some diners have found the sushi rice a bit loose, making it tricky to eat, while others noted the premium A5 wagyu could be overly rich for some tastes. For those enjoying a drink, a helpful piece of advice is to check the wine list carefully. The restaurant offers both 75ml and 150ml pours, and the listed price may be for the smaller glass, which could lead to a surprise on the final bill.

Published Date 29-July-2025

French Traveller Recovers from Valley Attack, Praises Community Support

Photo Credit: Google Maps

A young French traveller who was seriously injured whilst attempting to break up a violent altercation in Fortitude Valley last week has been released from hospital and expressed his gratitude for the community support he received.

Lilian Makusa, a 21-year-old backpacker from Lille in northern France, sustained multiple stab wounds during the incident which occurred outside the heritage-listed Prince Consort Hotel on Wickham Street in the early hours of Thursday, 24 July.

The incident unfolded around 3:30am when Makusa attempted to intervene in a fight between other individuals. During the altercation, he was allegedly stabbed twice in the chest and once in the shoulder, requiring immediate hospitalisation at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

Following his discharge on Monday, the young tourist shared his experience, describing the immediate aftermath of the attack. He recalled feeling confused initially, not immediately realising the severity of his injuries until he noticed the bleeding. Despite the trauma, he maintained his composure and credited both his friends and bystanders who assisted him at the scene.

Makusa, who had been in Brisbane for four months as part of an eight-month Australian working holiday, described the incident as completely unexpected, particularly given his positive impressions of the city. He had originally planned to depart for Bali this past Saturday but has now extended his stay by one week to attend follow-up medical appointments.

The attack has necessitated changes to his travel plans, with the tourist now scheduled to visit Bali before returning to France. Despite the ordeal, he expressed continued appreciation for Brisbane and its residents, noting that the incident has not diminished his overall positive experience in the city.

His family in France were understandably concerned when news of the attack reached them, though they have been reassured by his recovery progress.

Multiple news sources confirmed that emergency services responded to the scene and transported the victim to hospital with life-threatening injuries, which have since stabilised.

Two local teenagers, Jackson Martin and Jack David Pereira, both aged 18, have been charged in connection with the incident. They appeared at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday facing various charges.

Pereira faces charges including acts intended to maim, disfigure or disable, assault occasioning bodily harm while armed or in company, going armed so as to cause fear, and possession of a knife in a public place. He was remanded in custody with his matter adjourned until 25 August.

Martin has been charged with acts intended to maim, disfigure or disable. He was granted bail and his case was adjourned to 18 August.

The incident occurred outside the multi-level heritage hotel which features eight different bars and has been a prominent Valley venue since 1888.

This attack highlights ongoing concerns about late-night safety in the entertainment precinct, though community members and visitors continue to show support for one another during difficult circumstances.

Published 29-July-2025

2032 Olympics: Brisbane’s National Aquatic Centre Budget Jumps to $1.2B

The cost of building Brisbane’s National Aquatic Centre (NAC) for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games has nearly doubled, now projected at $1.2 billion.

Read: Spring Hill to Become Home of Australia’s Largest Aquatic Venue for 2032 Games

The revised figure, confirmed by the Games Independent Infrastructure Authority (GIICA), is significantly higher than the $650 million originally estimated by Swimming Australia earlier this year.

Despite the price increase, officials say the scope of the project in Spring Hill remains largely unchanged. GIICA chair Stephen Conry said the updated figure reflects a more realistic assessment of the project’s cost and emphasised that the aquatic centre will be a long-term investment for Queensland. He described the NAC as a world-class facility that will serve as a national hub for aquatic sports and provide lasting benefits for future generations.

Once complete, the aquatic centre will be the second most expensive Olympic venue after the $3.8 billion main stadium at Victoria Park, located less than a kilometre away. The NAC is expected to be funded through a partnership with the federal government.

The higher price tag does not come as a surprise to many involved in the planning process, who had questioned the earlier cost estimate. Planning for the centre had been constrained by the tight time frame of GIICA’s 100-day review earlier this year, which did not allow for detailed cost analysis.

Shifting the $2.5 billion Brisbane Arena project to private sector funding has freed up public funds, allowing the NAC and other venues—such as a proposed rowing course in Rockhampton—to move forward.

Work is already underway to assess whether the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton can be adapted to meet Olympic requirements. While initial assessments suggested limitations, GIICA is now conducting further studies to explore its feasibility.

Read: Fortitude Valley Builders Join $7.1b Olympic Push

Construction of the National Aquatic Centre is expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027. Conry said planning is progressing well, though he acknowledged that unexpected challenges are common in large infrastructure projects. He expressed confidence that the delivery timeline remains on track and suggested public support for the Games continues to grow.

Published 23-July-2025