My Christmas present to you all is the new theme. It spices things up a bit to change the look and theme of Brisbane Is home and I hope you all like it. You may also want to check out the new about me page to find a little bit more information about me and where I would like to take this blog. I have kept all existing advertisements on the website so that through them I’ll be able to buy a new camera to take many beautiful photos to be shown on this blog.

The following photos are some photos from a setup last year down at South Bank. They gave me a great laugh and I’m sure that everyone out there will also enjoy it.

Have a great Christmas (and don’t forget to tell all of us what your special present was!).

Here’s a quick sample of some of the food photos I took at Paniyiri last weekend. Click here to see all 20 photos at flickr - you can download them for your own use, see them in much larger sizes or watch the photos as a slideshow. 

The winner of the Honey Puff Eating competition.

Spanokopita and Calamari.

Ouzo balls.

If it doesn’t come with sludge, it’s not proper Greek coffee.

More Paniyiri 2007 photos are on the way - next time it will be people having fun.

The Greek community in Brisbane has been celebrating Paniyiri all week, and I’ve just made a video of tonight’s “Greek Dancing with the Stars”, hosted by Effie (Mary Coustas):

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjbZCGuzxtU[/youtube]

There’s a fantastic belly dance starting about half way through, and you’ll also see Brisbanites Glenn Lazarus, Tracey Wickham, Loretta Ryan from Radio 4BH, and Massimo Murdocca from the Queensland Roar dance off for a glittering trophy. Sleek the Elite from Fat Pizza also dropped in.

Paniyiri continues Sunday May 20th 2007 at Musgrave Park, South Brisbane (Click here to see a Google Map of the exact location). Best way to get there is to catch a train to South Brisbane or Southbank/Vulture St stations or a shuttle bus from the city - click here for more info.

Sunday is the last day of Paniyiri - if you head down you can see the final of the Olive Eating contest, and also the Honey Puff eating. Narissa (the belly dancer from the video) will be dancing again, and there’ll be some grape stomping. I took some photos today which should be on the site soon, and there is also a ‘Ready Steady Cookoff’ at the Greek Club and public lectures on Greek and Greek-Australian culture and cooking demonstrations. And the official Paniyiri after party starts from 8 and goes on to…whenever, really.

Valley Jazzfest - orchestra just played

Originally uploaded by Brisbane Is Home.

The jazz orchestra is just finishing up…There is still time to head into the Brunswick Street Mall in Fortitude Valley to catch some free jazz this afternoon and evening

Gabcast! Valley Jazz Festival - Click here to hear live sounds from the Festival at Brisbane Is Home #8