Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 5 . BRISBANE
MARKETS Authentic retro ’50s and ’60s fashion, off-beat stuff like old LPs,
secondhand crafts, fashion by up-and-coming young designers, and all kinds
of junk and treasure are all up for sale at Brisbane’s only alternative markets,
Valley Markets, Brunswick Street and Chinatown malls, in Fortitude Valley
(& 07/3006 6200). Hang around in one of the many coffee shops and listen to
live music. It’s held Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 4pm.
Friday night is a fun time to visit the South Bank Art and Craft Markets,
Stanley Street Plaza, South Bank Parklands (& 07/3846 4500 or 0414/754 082
mobile phone), when the buzzing outdoor handcrafts market is lit by fairy
lights. The market is held Friday from 5 to 10pm, Saturday from 11am to 5pm,
and Sunday from 9am to 5pm.
Brisbane’s glamour set likes trawling the Riverside Markets at the Riverside
Centre, 123 Eagle St. (& 07/3870 2807) and the adjacent Eagle Street
Pier Craft and Deli Markets (07/3846 4500, or 0417/635822 mobile phone)
to buy attractive housewares, colorful pottery, wooden blanket chests, handmade
toys, painted flowerpots, and other stylish wares. It’s held Sunday from
8am to 4pm.
For an authentic taste of Queensland’s best produce, the Farmers Markets
(& 0439/999 009) operates every second and fourth Saturday, from 7am to
1pm, in the grounds of the Brisbane Powerhouse, Lamington Street, New Farm.
Here you’ll find much to tempt your palate, brought into the city fresh that
morning by farmers from around the southeast of the state. There’s everything
from fresh fruit and vegetables to homemade chutneys, quail, fresh seafood, freerange
eggs, and patés. Foodies will find themselves in heaven.
9 Brisbane After Dark
You can find out about festivals, concerts, and performing arts events, and book
tickets through Ticketek (& 13 19 31 in Queensland, 07/3404 6700 outside
Queensland; www.ticketek.com.au). You can book in person at Ticketek agencies,
the most convenient of which are on Level E at the Myer Centre at 91
Queen Street Mall, in the Roma Street Transit Centre, and in the Visitor Information
Centre at South Bank Parklands. Or try Ticketmaster (& 13 16 00;
www.ticketmaster7.com).
QTIX (& 13 62 46 in Australia) is a major booking agent for performing arts
and classical music, including events at the Queensland Performing Arts Complex
(QPAC). There is a A$6.60 (US$4.30) fee per booking, not per ticket. You
can also inquire and book in person at the box office at QPAC between 8:30am
and 9pm Monday through Saturday, and at its outlet at the South Bank Parklands
Visitor Information Centre.
The free weekly newspaper Brisbane News lists performing arts, jazz and classical
music performances, art exhibitions, rock concerts, and public events. The
free weekly TimeOff, which comes out Wednesdays and can be found in bars
and cafes, is a good guide to live music, as is the Courier-Mail newspaper on
Thursday.
THE PERFORMING ARTS
Most of Brisbane’s performing arts happen at the Queensland Performing Arts
Complex (QPAC) at Queensland Cultural Centre (see “Exploring Brisbane”
earlier in this chapter). For information and tickets, call QTIX (see above) or
www.qtix.com.au.