Brisbane Blog

So, if you’ve just joined Twitter you may be be wondering exactly what all the fuss is about. People use Twitter in lots of different ways, but the main way I use it is to meet other people in Brisbane. Brisbane has a thriving community on Twitter, and once a month there’s a big meet-up called a btub.

The next btub is Friday night, Friday July 2 2010, at Greystone Bar, Southbank.
btub stands for "Brisbane Twitter Underground Brigade" but it’s not really underground any more, we have lots of people turn up. There’s lots of interesting and friendly people to chat to so if you’re free, drop in. Sadly I can’t make it as I’m working till midnight :(

There’s a btub group on Facebook, and there’s a Facebook event for this Friday’s meetup. And you can also follow btub’s Twitter account, and there are lots of photos from the last year or so of btubs here.

The meetup is at Greystone Bar, 177 Grey St, Southbank – click here for a Google Map with public transport details. If you need to look up public transport routes or timetables, click here for the Translink journey planner.

If you’re on Twitter, a service that lets you find out what people are doing, you might want to follow the Brisbane Blog’s Twitter account and you’ll get updated every time there is a new story on the Brisbane Blog. Or if you want more, follow my personal account (David Jackmanson) and find out what I’m up to.

Brisbane artist Yuki Nakano is having an exhibition at Hanasho Flower and Art in West End.

The exhibition is called “Dreamgirls and Candy Perfume Mountain”, and it begins on Thursday July 1st, and on Thursday July 8 Ms Nakano is giving a talk from 6.30pm, and there will be free food and drinks.

You can follow Yuki Nakano on Twitter, or become a fan of her on Facebook. You can also click here for the Facebook event for the exhibition.

The exhibition is at Hanasho Flower and Art, from Thursday July 1 to Saturday July 31 2010. The gallery is open from 7.45am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 4pm on Saturdays. The gallery is at 5/235 Boundary St, West End – click here for a Google Map with public transport details. To look up the timetables for the route 199 bus, click here to use the Translink journey planner.

I went to The Music Kafe in West End last night, and it seems it was blues with a rock-vibe night, which suited me just fine. I caught the full set of Blind Dog Donnie, and thought I’d share the band with you.

The YouTube vid above gives you a taste of what Blind Dog Donnie’s band is like. There’s more YouTube vids if you click here, plus the band’s Facebook page and MySpace page. Apparently they play a regular Friday night gig at the Boundary Hotel in West End.

I also saw a two-hand band called Blue Honey, one woman on guitar and vocals and one guy on blowsy harp. Can’t find them online though but keep your eye out if you like that sort of thing.

Brisbane Arts Theatre is having its annual sale of vintage clothes and costumes this Saturday, June 26 from 9am. So if digging through old, old clothes for that perfect party outfit is your thing, you should get along there.

Prices start from $1. EFTPOS is accepted, but you’ll get your new finds a lot quicker if you bring cash.

Brisbane Arts Theatre is at 210 Petrie Terrace in Brisbane City. Click here for a Google Map with public transport details, and click here to use the Translink journey planner to look up public transport routes and times.

Brisbane author John Birmingham is letting the world know about his new book, “After America”, the sequel to “Without Warning”. On Thursday July 1, you can hear him talk about the new book at Avid Reader in West End. He’ll be talking with fellow Brisbane author Matt Condon.

Without Warning and After America are about an energy wave that destroys most of the USA just before the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The books explore what would happen to the world if the most powerful country became almost nothing, overnight. John Birmingham is also known for writing the books He Died with a Felafel In His Hand and The Tasmanian Babes Fiasco, which have both become successful plays. You can follow John Birmingham on Twitter. He thinks that if you read this review in The Australian’s literary section you’ll probably want to buy his book.

The event at Avid Reader is free, and you can book by clicking here, or by calling 3846 3422. Avid Reader is at 193 Boundary St, West End – click here for a Google Map. You can get there by catching a route 199 bus from the Cultural Centre bus station to Stop 5 on Boundary St, just outside the Lock n Load bistro, just across the street from Avid Reader. Click here to look up the 199 bus timetable.

One of Brisbane’s three Roller Derby leagues, Northern Brisbane Rollers, are having their third bout for 2010 this Saturday, May 15 2010, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in South Brisbane. The bout features the Love Rockettes vs the Diner Might Dolls, who’ve met twice this year with the Diner Might Dolls winning both bouts:

Bout 1, April 17 2010: Diner Might Dolls 157 d Love Rockettes 113

Bout 2, May 15 2010: Diner Might Dolls 134 d Love Rockettes 119

Love Rockettes vs Diner Might Dolls, May 15 2010 - Photo by Charlyn Cameron

Love Rockettes vs Diner Might Dolls, May 15 2010 - photo by Charlyn Cameron

Thanks to photographer Charlyn Cameron for permission to use her photos of the May 15 bout – you can follow her on Twitter if you click here, see her photos on flickr if you click here, and see her own website if you click here.

If you’d like to know more about the rules of Roller Derby, and how the game works, just watch this YouTube video:

You’ll be able to buy food, drinks and alcohol at the bout, and there will be EFTPOS and ATMs there. Tickets for Saturday’s bout are $16.50 for adults, $11.50 concession and $6.50 for children – all these prices include booking fees. You can book tickets online at Ticketek if you click here.

You can follow Northern Brisbane Rollers on Twitter, join their Facebook group, or become their friend on MySpace. The bout is at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, on Merivale St, South Brisbane. Click here for a Google Map with public transport details, and click here to use the Translink journey planner to look up bus and train routes and timetables.

This video by YUZUimages shows a bit more of the action at the May 15 NBR bout.

If you’d like to hear some brand new music, you should come down to the Rumpus Room at 56 Russell St, West End, today, Sunday June 6 2010 at 3pm. Community radio station 4ZZZ-FM is putting on Music Geekzzz, where you can hear a selection of the new music in the 4ZZZ-FM music library.

There’s a gold coin donation if you want to eat the sizzled sausages, or there’s plenty of cheap eats on Boundary St, right near the Rumpus Room.

You can follow 4ZZZ-FM on Facebook, Twitter or MySpace (remember that?)

Music Geekzzz will be on once a month, on the first Sunday of the month. The Rumpus Room is at 56 Russell St, West End, near the statue of the giant lizard on Boundary St. Click here for a Google Map with public transport details, and click here to look up 199 bus route details, or click here to use the full Translink journey planner.