Congrats to The Gunshop Cafe – taking home the ‘Best Cafe’ award by delicious. Magazine’s Cafe Awards.   Taking home the award last year for Best Cafe in Queensland – they’ve now trumped their past by claiming Best Cafe in Australia.

“The Gunshop is clearly beloved by its regulars,” delicious. editor Kylie Walker, a former Queenslander, said.

“Voters raved about the friendly service, the focus on fresh produce in the food, and the relaxed atmosphere. It’s clearly a very welcoming place.”

But owner Jason Coolen, who took over the establishment three years ago, said his customers were attracted by its “old-fashioned” ambience.

“It’s not all corporate glass and concrete. It has a homey feel,” he said.

Mr Coolen, who doubles as the chef, also said the changing daily menu set it apart from competitors.

“I get up every morning at 6am and go to the markets to see what’s fresh, and a wet boat at Mooloolaba rings me every morning to tell me what they’ve caught,” he said. “It means our diners can eat the same things they might in a posh city restaurant, but for a fraction of the price.”

The cafe was also well known for its breakfasts, with patrons lining up on the pavement for a table.

(article via)

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FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE GUNSHOP CAFE AND SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES ON THE BUSINESS HERE.

From early February 2010 – The Mana Bar will be the first licensed venue for Australia allowing people to drink their favourite alcoholic beverage while getting stuck into their favourite video games.

Brought to you by four Brisbane locals – Guy ‘Yug’ Blomberg, Ben ‘Yahtzee’ Croshaw, Pras Moorthy, and Shay Leighton – the 50 seater venue will reportedly be free to enter and even better – offer a ‘no charge’ policy to play the games.

The club will initially offer a wide selection of games across a total of five terminals.  The team will also reportedly be working on trying to secure high-profile titles available to play before they are released to the general public.

That being said, before you even think about making the corner of the place your new home with 55 levels of your favourite RPG to complete – the focus will be on games leaning towards a ‘pick up and play’ style  – ensuring everyone can enjoy themselves without having to master an instruction manual or having to wait an eternity to have a play.

“We don’t want people grabbing a controller with 16 buttons and reading an instruction manual,” Blomberg said. “We just want people to come in, pick up a controller and have a play.”

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GET READY TO SHARE YOUR REVIEWS OF MANA BAR HERE

This year in Brisbane, if you’re out and about wanting to celebrate Australia Day – it’s all about the Parklands at South Bank for an event packed day for friends and the family.

Courtesy of the Official Australia Day website – here’s a quick run down of some of the events taking place at the Parklands:

10 am – 5 pm
- Australia Day fun with Triple M and Channel Nine in the Little Stanley Street Precinct
- Discover your creative talent at the circus, sound and art workshops throughout The Big Backyard sponsored by The Sunday Mail at Rainforest and Riverside Greens.
- Music, dancing, acrobatics, magic and family-friendly fun on the Suncorp Piazza Stage

See the  Visions of Australia displayed on iconic Hills hoists

10 am – 4 pm
Kick back and enjoy watching popular movies at Streets Beach

10 am – Ink Heart
12 pm – Igor
1.45 pm – Speedracer

4.30pm – 7.30pm
- Chill out and enjoy ‘AusSounds’ with home-grown bands Omni Anti, Chocolate Strings, Hungry Kids of Hungary and The John Steel Singers.

7.30pm
- Australia Day Fireworks – end our national day with a spectacular fireworks display over the Brisbane River.

Of course, there’s plenty of local events taking place near you and also other must see events such as the Flag Raising Ceremony and the Multi-Faith Ceremony.

For the full run down of activities in and around your Brisbane and outer regions, visit the Official Australia Day website for QLD – select your area and plan your day so it’s one to remember!

There will be all sorts of breeds,from kittens and cats.

Watch the felines being judged. Also a chance to talk to breeders and exhibitors.

If your looking for a new kitten for the family this is always a great place to start.

When? Sun 24 January 2010
Time? 9am – 3pm
Where? Lawnton Showgrounds, Lions Hall, Gympie Road, Lawnton

How Much? Adults $2 Children/Pensioners $1 & Families $ 5
Contact

* Robbie Walker, QFA
* phone 0429 422 131
* web http://www.qfeline.com/

APT6 includes the work of more than 100 artists from 25 countries, including collaborations and collectives, which reflect the diversity of practices across Asia, the Pacific and Australia.

APT6 has a number of specific focuses and thematic links while considering recent shifts in contemporary art in communities that have not been represented in the APT before, including works by artists from Tibet, North Korea (DPRK), Turkey and Iran, and from countries of the Mekong region such as Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma).

APT6 also acknowledges the innovation that exists in performance and music in Asia and the Pacific. To this end, the Pacific Reggae Project looks at this musical genre as it has developed in Hawai’i, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and New Zealand.

The major thematic cinema program for APT6 looks west to explore cultural constellations across the Indian subcontinent (Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Kashmir, Pakistan) to West Asia and the Middle East (including Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine).

WHAT: The 6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art
WHEN: 5 December 2009 – 5 April 2010
WHERE: Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art
MORE INFO: Click here

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Write your review of the Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Moden Art here.

Councillor Jane Prentice invites residents to come and celebrate the festive season at a free Christmas celebration in the park.

Highlights include:
* Free Giant Slide Ride
* Free Jumping Castle
* Free Rock Climbing Wall
* Free Face Painting
* Free Christmas Carols
* Free Movie Under the Stars- “ The Muppet Christmas Carol”

Santa will be dropping by with treats for the kids!

Sausage sizzle and drinks on sale, provided by Lions Club of Brisbane Inner West.

Proudly brought to you by the Brisbane City Council through the
Lord Mayor’s Suburban Initiative Fund.
Date: Sat 19 December 2009 Show dates
Time: From 4pm
Where: Akuna Oval, Hepworth Street, Kenmore

How Much: Free
Contact:

* Councillor Jane Prentice, Walter Taylor Ward Office
* email waltertaylor.ward@ecn.net.au
* phone 07 3407 0005
* web www.janeprentice.com.au

Apart from the fact this place just looks and sounds amazing (reason number 1 to check it out) they’re about to throw a Christmas party for the masses.  It’s completely Free (yes…we did say free) although you do need to RSVP ASAP.  With some tasty sponsorship coming in from Russian Standard Vodka, expect a fun fuelled night of delicious cocktails, Russian Standard Vodka models (uh huh), Cossack dancers a DJ/Cellist mashup provided by Jamie Vale and MsNataliya.

Here’s the deets.

WHAT: X&Y Bar – White Xmas Party

WHEN: Sunday 20th December – 9pm – Late

WHERE: X&Y Bar, Fortitude Valley (click for full address and map)

COST: FREE – but you need to RSVP ASAP to rsvp@xandybar.com.au (18+ only and ID will be required).

We’ll see you there!

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Been to X&Y Bar before?  Going to this event?  Click here t0 tell us what you think about the bar here.  Brisbane (and the owners) would love know.

Conrad Treasury will screen the family classic, “Elf” out in Queen’s Park on Friday December 18, from 7pm.

There will also be a sausage sizzle from 6:30pm, to raise money for the Cerebral Palsy League, who provide services and support to people with Cerebral Palsy and related disabilities.

Date: Fri 18 December 2009
Time: Gates open at 6pm, movie begins at 7pm
Where: Queen’s Park, George Street, Brisbane CBD
Between the Conrad Treasury Casino and Hotel Conrad

How Much: Free
Contact:
* Conrad Treasury Brisbane
* phone 07 3306 8888
* web www.conradtreasury.com.au

We’ve put together some of the best coffee shops (collected recommendations from a previous RAYV member survey).   We now want you to tell us who’s the best.   Why is there only 8 options on the poll and not the usual 10?   Tell us your other favourites (by adding a comment below) and the most popular 2 will get added to the poll.

Have you been to one of these coffee hang outs? Love them? Hate them? Add your quick review or have a gander at what other people have had to say by clicking on the business below:

Three Monkeys, C Word, Cabinessence, Cirque Cafe, Naked Coffee, Station 8 Espresso, Urban Grind, Vue Lounge

3 nights of fireworks.

Dates:    Fri 18 December 2009 – Sun 20 December 2009
Times: 8pm each night
Venue:  Cultural Forecourt cnr Melbourne and Grey Street, South Bank
Cost Free
Further information
Email: visitorcentre@south-bank.net.au
Phone: 07 3867 2051
Web: www.visitsouthbank.com.au