Oktoberfest Brisbane 2011

This one is for all of you beer drinkers and lovers of great German food...

This year is the 201st anniversary of the Munich Oktoberfest and Oktoberfest Brisbane is going to attempt to be the largest and best Oktoberfest in Australia.

It will be a great day out for everyone from children to grandparents as there are many activities planned for all ages. There will be entertainment in the main Oktoberfest tent for families during the day.

Oktoberfest Brisbane is on this weekend 14 to 16 October at the RNA showgrounds, Bowen Hills, Brisbane, Queensland. Please note that entry can only be made via the Gregory Terrace gates.

Opening hours and fees (tickets available through www.ticketek.com.au and at the entrance gates on the day)

Fridays 4pm to midnight	$16
Saturdays 11am to midnight	$22
Sundays 11am to 8pm	$16

The RNA Showgrounds is easily accessible by both bus and train. The grounds are a few minutes’ walk from the Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital bus station, and about a 10-minute walk from both Bowen Hills train station and Brunswick Street (Fortitude Valley) station. www.translink.com.au

For more information head to the Oktoberfest Brisbane website.

Daily Photo…Saturday 24 Sept 2011

This is what your plate looks like after the food was so good that you ate it all faster than you could get the camera out to take a photo of it.

Fantastic dinner at Lefkas Greek Restaurant, West End.

Last night of Brisbane Festival…

Last night I headed out to Southbank with my family to meet up with my in-laws to watch the laser light show.

At first our children were not too impressed to be missing out on watching their favourite show on tv.  But when they saw their cousins and got to eat dagwood dogs and hot chips they soon changed their minds.

The laser light show was produced by SANTOS as part of the Brisbane Festival that has been running from the 3rd-24th September.  The sky was lit up every hour from 7.30pm to 10 pm.

The sky was so clear and the weather was great for a night out on the Brisbane River.  Our vantage point was just in front of the Lyric Theatre and the Brisbane Wheel.

Here is a 2 minute video of the Light Show.

After seeing the light show the kids were pretty happy that they did not stay at home to watch tv.  They were very impressed by the way the lasers shot out from all of the buildings and displayed images on the water.

Daily Photo…

This is a pumpkin from our vegetable garden.  Not sure what I am going to do with it yet, but the last one was great roasted.

Any ideas?

Mt. Tamborine…

Now that it is Spring in Brisbane and the weather is being very kind at about 27 degrees C we are venturing out to see some of our surrounding areas.

Mt. Tamborine is about 30-45 minutes drive from Brisbane (depending on where you are).  From my house it takes about 25 minutes.  It is a favourite place for my family to visit and we have visited many times.  There are bush walking trails through the rainforest, winery and food tours, picnic spots, restaurants, boutique hotels and the skywalk. The latter being where we went, we being my mum, dad, my 2 children and I.

The Tamborine Rainforest skywalk costs:

Adult : $18.50

Child : $ 9.50

Family: $47.00

Seniors $15.50

We opted for a family ticket and a seniors ticket.

It is open everyday except Christmas Day and is open from 9.30-16.00.

The walk takes about 45 minutes.

 

 

There are some really great views from the skywalk. 

This post may be very humorous to many of you who know me well and know that I do not usually venture out into the “bush” and how you have heard me refuse to go bushwalking, but this walk was high in the trees and there was no need for sports shoes (but you really should wear flats).  I love that I can enjoy the prettiness of nature and not get my feet dirty .

  

This is also the best time of year to be doing any bushwalking as it is not too hot.  Don’t forget your sunscreen and sunglasses!

Where are you favourite bushwalks?

Spring for Brisbane etsy sellers…

This morning I woke to a wonderful Brisbane Spring morning ( and a day off from my job ).

My children are at home on school holidays and after making a request of French Toast for breakfast, I got stuck into some cleaning (as you do on your day off ).  When I had vacuumed, done 2 loads of washing and washed the floor, I decided it was time for lunch.  I was inspired by a can of tuna in “spring” water and made my version of a nicoise salad. (mine was less the potato, anchovies and beans).

mmm… yes it was nice.

After lunch I decided to see what my fellow Brisbane etsy handmadies were up to and I put together a Spring treasury. 

Here is a sample of some of them:

kimono reincarnate

Ruby2GoGo

Dash robin design

Don’t you just love the vibrant reds, blues and greens that have been used?  What fantastic colours for Spring in Brisbane!!!

Please feel free to leave comments on other great Brisbane designers and handmadies.

Spring has sprung with some hot and cold weather…

This week started off cold for Spring in Brisbane. The minimum was 7 degrees C and maximum today was 29 degrees C.  So we have been rugged up in winter woollies and beating the heat in shorts and t-shirts. 

The trees are getting their leaves back and the fruit is starting to grow.  We recently purchased lemon, lime and grapefruit trees for our backyard and they are flowering with their first fruits (small).

 

While at the hardware/garden store we purchased a birdhouse for the kids to put in the Jacaranda tree.

This time of year is great for thinking about heading outdoors to the parks, pools and beaches before it gets too hot and crowded.

This weekend my husband purchased a boat trailer after wanting one for many years he finally got a great deal and can pull his tinnie around himself.  This should keep him and the boys occupied during the Christmas holidays.

Where do you go with your boat?

Brisbane Festival 3/9-24/9…

This Saturday the Brisbane Festival kicks off with the Golden Casket Light Sphere and Riverfire.  The Sunsuper Riverfire fireworks will start at 7pm at South Bank Parklands, City and the Kangaroo Point Cliffs.  Get there early for great views and pack a picnic so you don’t have to leave.

Some great vantage points are on this map courtesy of www.brisbanefestival.com.

There will be all sorts of different  types of entertainment during the day at Southbank, Powerhouse, Metro Arts, Westend and Roma Street Parklands.

Head out and enjoy all that Brisbane Festival has on offer during the next few weeks… you never know you may just see me out and about with my camera.

Bulimba Festival, City & Southbank…

On Sunday 28 August I went to the Bulimba Festival, I was joined by my sister in-law Ruvay.  We travelled by train from Narangba to Central, then walked to Eagle Street Pier to board a City Cat Ferry to Bulimba (1hr20mins). The trip on the Ferry was great on our way to Bulimba (it was a lovely sunny day).

 

 

It was a short walk up Oxford Street to find the market marquees and the live band.  We headed straight to Mugged for a coffee. I have to say with regret that my espresso tasted like someone squeezed lemon juice into it (maybe it was an “off” day for them, I will return to test it again), Ruvay said her Latte was great!

There were many food stalls from the local cafes and restaurants and heaps of local stores had stalls there as well.  We ran into a friend there, Sharissa from Love, Marriage, Baby Carriage.

 

After a few hours of walking in the heat and crowds Ruvay and I decided to go back into Town to get something to eat.  We hopped on the City Cat and headed back to Eagle St Pier… not such a smooth ride back this time (bit green faced).

We ended up in David Jones trying on $1700 shoes for a little pick me up… made my day . After some retail therapy and tummies grumbling we walked across Victoria Bridge to Southbank and enjoyed Filo’s and salad.

I introduced Ruvay to Max Brenner's Chocolate shop, unfortunately the line up to buy anything was so long we gave up.

We found a lovely place to sit and rest while we waited for our wonderful husbands to come and pick us up on their way home from the Family Farm.

There are so many Festivals on this time of year head out to one near by or head to a part of town you haven’t been to in a while and rediscover Brisbane.

The Sunstate Roller Girls vs Brisbane City Rollers…

Last night I had the privilege of helping out my friend Kellie Christie at the Roller Derby.  Kellie had a market stall displaying all of her wonderful and unique button and resin jewellery.

We arrived at the Beenleigh Sports Arena at about 3pm to be set up by 4pm, the derby started a few hours later.

After all the market stalls were set up and the girls were ready to start the bout we had some entertainment… (I apologise in advance…Sorry).

The apology is for my friend Amanda who probably had nightmares after the entertainment. hehe.   It was a mixture of “let’s get physical”, FLASHDANCE and MANNEQUIN. Oh and I forgot Cher.

So let the bout begin…

Sunstate Roller Girls

 

Brisbane City Rollers

 

A short video of the roller derby…

to come…

The Sunstate Roller Girls defeated the Brisbane City Rollers 360 – 26.

Friday night in the city…Twilight

Last Friday night I participated in the BrisStyle Twilight Markets at King George Square in Brisbane City.  I have my own handmade business Maleena Eve Designs and I make home decor items to sell there.

My sister in-law Ruvay and I decided to go back to the Story Bridge to take photo’s of it at night.

Here are some that I took: