I have visited Retrostar several times, and I always enjoy browsing the range of retro/vintage clothing, accessories, and boots.

Retrostar have a large range of authentic vintage and retro themed clothing, ranging through about the '50s to '80s, with a predominant focus on '70s and '80s items. As these clothes are authentic, availability of clothing from certain eras can often vary from time to time, as can quality. On some visits, I will leave with three or four dresses, and other visits I leave feeling disappointed with current availability. Prices on clothing is average - some items are priced for great value, while others could hardly be considered worth the price tag.

Retrostar also have a room full of band t-shirts, which feature artists from the '50s to current times. I suspect some of these shirts to be reprints created especially for the store, while others seem more authentic. They are priced around $40 a piece, which I find average for a band shirt. Unless I know an item is authentic, I would rather not pay so much for it. I tend to wait for sales to purchase from the band shirt collection.

As for accessories, I do not believe they are not authentic vintage items, I find them to all be reproduced costume jewellery with a vintage feel. However, they are priced accordingly and they have some cute designs available.

Retrostar used to have one of the biggest ranges of authentic vintage cowboy and cowgirl boots in Australia, however I do not believe this is the case anymore. On my past few visits, they have not had many at all, and sizes have been extremely limited. I had previously purchased boots here and they were great quality - I am still wearing them after almost everyday wear for 2 years. If you can find a pair in your size, I'd highly recommend them.

Staff are friendly and helpful, and make the experiences in store enjoyable.

If you are looking for an authentic vintage store, I would probably not recommend Retrostar, however if you are looking to kill time in the CBD, it is worth having a browse at the beautiful (and not so beautiful) fashion pieces from through the years!

I have visited Pony music mainly to purchase and browse musical instruments, but I have also visited their recording and rehearsal studios, and been in the audience where their audio-visual production work has been used. I think that they do a great job in all areas of service provided.

Pony music have a wide range of instruments, mainly focusing on drums, keyboard, guitar, bass & ukulele, with new and second hand items available. I tend to find that they stock a lot of great brands, some items new and others preowned, with value-for-money products for beginners right through to serious professional musicians. They also stock a great range of accessories for all instruments, with a great range of unique and fun items. I find that the store mainly focuses on rock and metal music, and with myself being more interested in country music, they do not always have what I am looking for in terms of instruments and brands (I am a fan of Taylor Guitars which sadly this store do not stock, and they also don't have much in terms of banjos, mandolins, or fiddles.) However the staff never have a problem in forwarding me to stores that can meet my needs in this case.
Pony also offer DJ, audio recording, acoustics, and lighting tools in their store, all of which are high quality.

While I have not used their recording and rehearsal studios, I have had a tour. I believe some local famous Australians have used these facilities, and I can see why! The rehearsal and recording areas are a warm and friendly environment, with great technology available where necessary, and helpful staff on hand. I would consider returning to use these services if I ever needed them. They are fantastic and of a great quality.

While I have not purchased audio visual production services from Pony, I have seen what they have to offer at other shows, and I believe that they do a great job! The show I attended sounded incredible.

Staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, and very well educated in all areas of work.

I would recommend any musician in the area check out Pony Music, for beginner music equipment and tuition, right through to professional equipment, recording, rehearsing, and audio mixing.

My family and I have used this veterinary hospital on and off for several years, and despite trying other clinics, we always end up coming back to the DVH! The quality of care and the customer service (for both animals and their owners!) is exceptional! I have visited the clinic with cats and dogs, as well as animals considered "exotic" such as bunnies, birds, and more.

There are several nurses, receptionists, and veterinarians on hand at the clinic, all of who are exceptionally skilled and professional in their work.
The clinic has great opening hours, including "after hours" on weekdays (8 AM - 8 PM) and also fairly good hours on weekends (9 AM - 5 PM Saturday and 10 AM - 5 PM Sunday). When veterinarians are unavailable, excellent alternative 24/7 care details can be provided for emergency treatment.

While it is advisable to make an appointment, I have never had a problem booking in last minute where necessary, and I have also never had trouble in booking an appointment on the required time or day.

Veterinarians at this clinic also have some basic knowledge of animals considered exotic, however may recommend further exotic animal specialists in case of serious illness or injury. I have found their list of contacts in this case to be exceptional; I have only ever been referred to the best of the best.

Services such as grooming and puppy preschool are also offered.

Prices are average, but the quality and service provided are the best in town! I will continue to use their services and would recommend the clinic to anyone else looking for a friendly, passionate, and well trained veterinary clinic in the south eastern area!

Yummy's is my favourite cafe to visit when I am in the Mulgrave area!
They have a huge range of homemade style meals and takeaway foods, including all day breakfasts, and they also serve some of the best milkshakes and coffees I have ever had!

I am a huge fan of the Strawberry pancakes, which at $8.40, are perfect value for money. The three pancakes, served with fresh fruit, as well as cream and ice-cream, are always tasty and hot, and the serving size is perfect. The cheese wedges (served with cheese, salsa, and sour cream) are also great.

The menu at Yummy's provides a few vegetarian options for those who don't eat meat, and also has meals available in kids sizes.

As well as the great menu, great food, and great value, the staff are always friendly, and the service is as quick as possible when food is cooked freshly! I would definitely return when I am in the area again!

Approximate cost: $10

I have been having my eyes tested at Glen Vessey's Eyecare Plus in Mulgrave for several years now.
I am always greeted by friendly reception staff, and the optometrist provides the most thorough and complete eyecare testing I have had, providing me with my best prescription glasses to date.

The optometrist has a large range of eyecare tests available, which I find reassuring. In the even that you do need glasses, they stock most major fashion brands (Converse, Calvin Klein, Fendi, JAG, Wayne Cooper, Guess, Charlie Brown and Adidas to name a few), mostly at affordable prices for glasses.

If you do need prescription glasses, they are able to order them in and have them available for collection within days.

Medicare rebates may be available for appointments and orders.

I would recommend Glen Vessey's Eyecare Plus as the best optometrist in the local area - they provide great quality service and products, with very good value! I could not imagine ever seeing another optometrist!

I have been to quite a few Build A Bear workshops, purchasing for both myself and family and friends.
The basic concept of this store is that you choose a bear or other animal skin, stuff it (making a wish on a cloth heart provided free, as well as choosing paid extras such as scents, sounds, or lifelike heartbeats for $5-$15 each). A barcode should also be added inside in order to register the bear (If lost bears are returned to Build A Bear outlets, they will try their best to track down the owner and return it). Then you can choose to add clothes or accessories to the bear - some of which are quite expensive. You could be looking at $25 for a dress or shorts & a t-shirt, $15 for shoes, and there is also underwear and socks available at this store. The last step is to give your bear a name before leaving. It's generic birth date is the date created, but you can alter this information. A birth certificate is included in the price of the bear.

When I visited this store, I was quite unimpressed. While bear skins and clothing was of the same high quality of elsewhere, the making and creating process was poorly done. My friend and I were the only two in the store, and we chose a monkey skin. We waited at least 10 minutes before an employee came to assist us in stuffing the bear. After stuffing and making a wish for my bear, I was shocked to see the employee simply stitch up the bear without the usual "hug test" and without adding a registration barcode. The monkey feels quite understuffed in places, particularly the stomach. While I don't particularly need a barcode as it is for myself, I would be disappointed if this happened in the process of making a young child's bear.
While trying to pick a simple accessory for the bear (I settled on a black guitar), staff made me feel somewhat pressured to purchase a full outfit or other extras - something I have never felt at another store. I still registered my monkey in order to create a birth certificate.

When I went to the counter to pay for the monkey, I was not given the usual option of keeping or removing price tags. All price tags (including my unused registration barcode) were thrown in the bin before I had a chance to even request otherwise.

I would not be likely to return to this store to make another bear, simply for the fact that I felt customer service was pushy and rushed, and the quality of the finished stuffed animal (due to being under-stuffed) is inferior to the quality of bears made at other workshop locations.

While I would recommend Build-a-Bear as a fun (yet expensive) school holiday activity, I would recommend visiting another location if possible.

Approximate cost: $60

I've been to Build-a-Bear multiple times, creating bears for myself, as well as family and friends. I have been to multiple stores, but this one is by far my favourite.

The idea of Build-a-Bear is that you pick a bear (or various other animal/fantasy creature/doll) skin, which a store assistant then helps you to stuff. Included in the price of your bear is a little red heart - which you make a wish on, before placing in your bear. Young children may be asked to complete some Simon Says type tasks with the heart (holding it to their heart to fill it with love, etc) before making a wish. For $1, you can upgrade the red heart to a checkered one, with profit going to charity, and you can also add sounds, scents, or a lifelike heartbeat to the bear for $5-$15 a piece. Once everything is inside the bear, you give it a "hug test" to make sure it feels just right, then a barcode is added inside the bear before your assistant stitches it up. Another copy of the barcode (on your bear's ear tag) can be used to register your bear in store. If a lost bear is returned to any Build-a-Bear workshop Australia wide, they will contact you to make sure you get the bear back. Registration is included in basic price.

After this is where it gets expensive. Build-a-Bear stocks a variety of clothes, underwear, shoes, socks, and accessories of various themes in store. There are seasonal holiday items, sporting gear, musical gear, Disney costumes, mobile phones, iPods, and all sorts of formal and everyday wear available for your bear or other chosen animal. Then, there are extras such as beds, clothing storage, strollers, and sleeping bags.

Products are generally the same store to store although my vary. I have found that this particular store often has a bigger range or more variety compared to other local outlets.

While bears or other animals start at $15, they can be up to $35 - this is without any extras. If you are looking to add a basic outfit or accessory, you would be looking at around $40-$50 - a bear dressed in a full outfit with an accessory could cost up to $80, depending on what you have chosen.

It should be noted that products are of a super high quality, and Build-a-Bear are happy to "re-stuff" or stitch up any worn out looking bears, provided they still have some sort of Build-a-Bear identity attached (such as the tush tag).

Prices are a little bit expensive, but this can be put down to high quality products which can be personalized easily, and the great customer service provided by the business.

Staff are friendly and do a great job to help people of all ages! I would definitely recommend this for people of all ages - however if you are taking young children, it may be a good idea to set a price limit before entering the store, to avoid spending hundreds of dollars at once.

It can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour to fully build, clothe, and register your bear. Fun rainy day activity for school holidays, and great for special occasions. Build a Bear also offer parties in store.

Approximate cost: $60

This is one of my favourite Charcoal Chicken takeaway stores to visit in the area. While I am not a fan of most of the hot cooked food, and I sometimes think their chicken and potatoes could be improved, they have the best hot chips in town. Very generous serving sizes make them the perfect snack for the whole family after school, or I love to buy them as a side when cooking my own chicken at home. They also make some of the best salads I have ever tried, my favourite being the pasta salad.
The staff are friendly, the store is clean, and there are a few little tables if you prefer to eat in.
If you are in the area and looking for a decent, well priced lunch or dinner, I would highly recommend the salads and chips.

I have been buying from Red Balloon for several years, and they usually do not disappoint. They have a large range of typical fried take away items (chips, wedges, Dim Sims, potato cakes, and such) at very competitive prices, and they are great considering the low prices!
They also make wonderful fresh sandwiches, where you can choose your own meat and salad if desired, and serve some beautiful homemade hot food dishes such as pastas and potato bakes.
They also do breakfasts, snacks (such as cookies), tea and coffee, and make some of the best Iced Chocolates (and Iced Coffees) I have ever tried, as well as fantastic milkshakes!

Staff are friendly and prices for food vary from great value (generic fried foods) to fairly good (sandwiches, homemade meals, etc). There is seating inside the cafe or a takeaway bar if you prefer to eat on the go or in the food court. If you are in the shopping centre and looking for a cheap, fast lunch, or a nice hot or cold drink, this is the place to go!

Babushkas is a little shop in the Harbourside shopping centre in Sydney, which a friend and I stumbled across on a recent holiday. As the name of the store suggests, they sell a large range of Babushkas, or Russian nesting dolls. They also sell a variety of Russian toys and games, and decorations, as well as jewellery, including some beautiful Amber jewellery - some of the most beautiful I have seen.

Products are of a high quality, and staff are friendly. I found some items to be a little expensive, but they have an authentic Russian quality to them, and they are truly beautiful. I would return if I visited Sydney again.