What’s hip this August

No, not the replacement surgery type of ‘hip’. It’s a selection of on-trend snippets that could include places to dine, travel destinations, where to shop, what to see and visit, as well as what to watch, read and listen to, so you can stay up to date with family, friends and neighbours of all ages.

Where to stay

FOR those who’d like a few more options for overnight stays on Brisbane’s northside, your wishes have been granted. Adina Chermside Brisbane recently opened at 523 Hamilton Road as your new “home away from home”. The 148-key apartment hotel boasts a conference space, spacious lobby, café/bar, gym, meeting spaces, undercover parking and a host of views. It’s been created for travellers who value space, comfort and connection. Choose from a mix of studio rooms and one-bedroom apartments with kitchen and laundry facilities. Located in one of Brisbane’s fastest-growing lifestyle precincts, the hotel is just moments from Westfield Chermside, close to hospitals, and an easy drive to Brisbane Airport, the Brisbane Entertainment Centre at Boondall and the city. Visit adinahotels.com/en/apartments/chermside-brisbane

What to book

The Sunshine Coast hinterland has cemented its credentials for ‘night life’ after being confirmed as Queensland’s first Dark Sky Reserve. Now, Sunshine Coast Stargazing has launched its small-group, 90-minute Stargazing Experience. Participants will be able to discover distant planets, star clusters and galaxies through high-powered telescopes and a laser-guided night-sky tour. The experience is $160 per person. Go to sunshinecoaststargazing.com.au. More on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Dark Sky Reserve is at visitsunshinecoast.com/guide/starry-nights-on-the-sunshine-coast-where-to-go-stargazing-in-the-hinterland. And one of the best places to view our celestial wonders is from the Magical Dome at Petrichor Estate, a serene retreat in Bald Knob. Book the three-bedroom home on the estate or the dome at petrichorestate.com

What to listen to

IF YOU’RE new to podcasts, here’s two that might help ease you in to a whole new world of listening. On Apple podcasts, Two Cups of Tea is a popular society and culture podcast hosted by British TV producer and author Chris Heath. In each episode, Heath sits down with an older, notable legend for a warm conversation over tea to explore their incredible life stories. The podcast, which drops new episodes every two weeks, features compelling characters and heart-warming tales. Or try The Over 50 Health & Wellness Podcast. This one focuses on inspiring listeners in their 50s, 60s and beyond to live their strongest, healthiest and most fulfilling lives through expert interviews.

What to experience

DO YOU remember the first time you saw Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the timeless classic Dirty Dancing? The longing. The forbidden love. The oh-so-sexy dancers. That soundtrack. Now you can have the time of your life again as Dirty Dancing in Concert revisits the enduring love story of Baby and Johnny at the Great Hall of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre at 3pm and 7.30pm on December 5. Shows will feature a screening of the digitally remastered movie while a live band and vocalists perform the hit songs in sync with a full-size screen on stage. The experience continues with an after-party, where the audience is encouraged to sing and dance to their favourite songs from the feature film and relive their best movie memories. Go to visit DirtyDancingInConcert.com for tickets

image: aap

Back in the day…

“Oh, look who that is!” Delight would ring out in picture theatres and lounge rooms across Australia whenever Sam Neill popped up on screens large and small. It didn’t matter whether he was the star (Jurassic Park, Evil Angels or The Dish, for example) or playing a supporting role (The Horse Whisperer, The Piano and Ride Like A Girl come to mind), he had a quiet dignity that always gave the show a fighting chance of being good – perhaps even great. He could say so much with a cheeky smirk or a judgmental raising of an eyebrow. His career spanned more than five decades – from blockbusters to independent films and memorable TV series including Peaky Blinders and The Twelve. The world of entertainment and fans mourned the passing on July 13 of this affable 78-year-old Northern Ireland-born, New Zealand-raised, Aussie-cherished ‘leading man’.