Hit up a local market: In case you didn’t know, there are plenty of local food, fashion and craft markets still operating across the coast! Here’s a handy list of all of the markets still open, including a couple of new arrivals, so you can venture out and fill up your fridge (and wardrobe) safely this weekend. On Sunday, the original Mudgeeraba Country Markets return, and the Bundall Farmers Market at HOTA are also back open from this Sunday after a covid hiatus.
Tune into Sheppard’s live airport-runway gig: Brisbane-based indie-pop band Sheppard are playing an exclusive iso show this Friday – and it’s being held on the runway at Gold Coast Airport! With actual live-music gigs and concerts off the cards right now, this virtual show is the next best thing … and what a location! The performance, which kicks off at 4:30 pm, will be broadcast on 1029 Hot Tomato and streamed live on Facebook via both Gold Coast Airport and Hot Tomato accounts.
Take your lover (or mate) our for a dinner date: After months of takeaway-only feasts, going out for dinner is finally back on the cards – yay! If you’re keen to dine out this weekend, make sure you book ahead – nearly all restaurants and cafes will be implementing strict reservation-only policies, so be sure to check in with the venue before visiting. We’ve compiled a rolling list of spots that are waiting to welcome you with open arms, check it out here.
Hit up a virtual plant sale: The team at The Jungle Collective, known for hosting pop-up plant sales across the country (including right here on the Gold Coast) are back! Well, virtually. This weekend they’ll be hosting an online plant sale, where you can choose from hundreds of on-trend indoor plants, which will be delivered straight to your door! You can never have too many plants, right? Get the details here.
Talk art with QAGOMA: A #homewithQAGOMA virtual event, Confronting Contemporary Art: That Looks Like Fun! is happening on Saturday from 10:30 am. The event, hosted by Dr Louise R Mayhew, will unpack the big ideas and ‘art speak’ behind contemporary artworks, including artworks from artists like Emily Floyd, Pipilotti Rist to Nick Cave and Carsten Höller. Register for the free event here.
Dance the night away: Sydney dance studio Groove Therapy runs dance classes designed to make you feel good. These fun live-streamed classes “for people who think they can’t dance” are now available online for just $8 a pop (and lock). You can access them here.
Fall into a unsolved mysteries YouTube hole: The BuzzFeed Unsolved Network YouTube channel is a one-stop destination for all things mystery, true crime, conspiracy, supernatural, and everything in between. Learn how the authorities caught the BTK killer, get insight on the macabre death of Edgar Allan Poe and hear a lightning strike survivors story. Interested? Watch all these videos and more here.
Cook up one of these heartwarming pasta recipes: Pasta is comfort food – through and through – and there’s no dish we’d rather eat for dinner when rugged up and cosy at home. If you’re keen to make a bowl of fork-twisting goodness, peep our round-up of five warming pasta recipes that will make your iso experience like the food equivalent of a big, warm hug.
Sip organic and minimal-intervention grape juice from LOC Bottle Shop online: If you’ve been staring vacantly at the same old varietals on the shelf, say hello to LOC Bottle Shop online and sip better. LOC stands for Left-Of-Centre, which provides the first hint that this is not your average online bottle shop. Essentially, it’s like having your own personal sommelier-curated natural wine list at home that specialises in procuring hard-to-find, organic and minimal-intervention wines from Australia, France, Italy, Spain and Austria. Delivery is available Australia-wide so get browsing at LOC Bottle Shop and cheers to you, our fellow wine-loving friends.
Keep up with Kirby Jenner (Kendall’s fraternal twin): The Keeping up with the Kardashians parody spin-off series, aptly titled Kirby Jenner, premiered on Sunday May 24. It follows Kirby, who is a performance artist, self-described “amateur model” and Insta-celebrity known for his popular spoof Instagram account where he pretends to be Kendall Jenner’s fraternal twin (with a little help from the magic of Photoshop). Proving they can take the piss out of themselves, the eight-episode series is even executive produced by Kendall and Kris Jenner. The Kardashian model and momager duo appear in a few episodes, along with other famous family members Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian and Kim Kardashian West. The show also features guest appearances from actors Ray Romano, Beverly D’Angelo and Ted Danson – we’ll cheers to that.
Spice up your life: Join the Houseparty team for the world’s first interactive online Spice Girls party direct to your front room via the app, Zoom. Live hosts, dancers and DJs will guide you and an audience from across the world through an evening of interactive Spice Girls fun including quizzes, sing-a-longs, dance workshops, surprise giveaways and more. Nab yourself a ticket here. All of the profits sales will be donated to support the NHS and Unicef Coronavirus Appeal.
Watch Taika Waititi and his famous friends read a Roald Dahl classic: To help raise money for charity Partners In Health, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi is reading cherished children’s book James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. Taking this fairytale reading to the next level, he’s summoned help from some very famous faces including Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, Chris Hemsworth and acting icon Meryl Streep. Tune into a reading this Friday on the Roald Dahl YouTube channel.
Tune into Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s final kitchen disco: Remember the classic 2000 (excuse the pun) dance floor hit, ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’? Of course you do. Well singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor is back and has turned her kitchen into a disco and this week is her last hurrah! There’s singing, dancing, a hilarious dose of chaos and the occasional toddler squabble – it’s a real treat. Tune in at her IG live on Saturday or stream the video off her YouTube.
