I needed to get a book which I was having trouble finding. Borders found it on their records and ordered it for me. I did need to place a deposit but that came off my end price. It made it so easy. The service is great and I signed up for Borders online newsletter where they send you discount vouchers on their books. I love the Chermside Borders best because of the Gloria Jeans within. You can curl up on lovely big lounge chairs with a book and a coffee and thoroughly research a subject or study in ambient environment.

Approximate cost: $15-$100

This is a great theatre, it is small but intimate and does put on some quality shows. I have been both a patron and volunteered at the Arts theatre.

From a patron view some of the best shows I have seen their was Fame, Bolotti Blues and Away. The Drama festival yearly is also a good event and not to be missed.

As a volunteer I gained experience in bar, ushering as well as light, sound management and assistant stage managing. If you are looking for experience the arts may be happy to have you on board as a volunteer as long as your enthusiastic and commited.

Approximate cost: $20

Italian Shoes Factory Outlet. I needed work shoes for the office and some new boots. And I was able to find some great leather court shoes and boots at Strutt. The best thing is the fitting was wide enough and the staff membe who served me was very helpful and down to earth. I also like that the shoes are italian and leather. Strutt shoes can be found in the Rowes Arcade accessed by Edward or Adelaide st orfrom Post office square.

Approximate cost: $80

Aromas is a lovely tea/coffee house just inside the majestic Queen st mall Regent Cinema. I like this coffee house, its slightly tucked away a little dark but has an cosy, warm feel about it. I have supped both coffee and tea. The coffee is first rate. The chai latte was delicious. Instead of making me up a premade lipton chai Aromas made it properly with a tea strainer and a side jug of hot creamy milk that allowed me to add in the milk once the tea had properly brewed. Infact if I hadn't wanted chai Aromas has a large range of other teas to choose from and I intend to go back and try some out. The service was quick efficient and friendly and you do not have to be a movie goer to patron the cafe.

Approximate cost: $3.50

This is a new but small organic cafe. They serve gluten free, diary free and other organic snacks and coffees. I like the vegetarian, gluten and dairy free Lasagne. It has sundried tomatoes, eggplant, pumpkin and capsicum I think, it is very delicious. The rissotto balls are ok. The potato cake pleasant by the organic lasagne is a stand out. The coffee is tasty.

Approximate cost: $7

I wasn't expecting much when I was invited to come to a Birthday dinner at the Jewel of India. My Dad cooks high quality Indian cusines which most Indian resaurants or food courts just cant match. I can't say Jewel of Indian matched his cooking but it came the closest. We opted for the buffet banquet for $24. There was a selection of 9 different curries, meat and vegetarian. The curries ranged from mild to spicy. I love my a hot curry. There was salad and fruit available and tea and coffee for afters. I had a lovely time and was pleasantly surprised. The naan was most delicious and cooked properly in a tandor.

Approximate cost: $24

I invited a group of friends to Bada Bing on my last birthday. For $25 I bought a couple of tapa's trays for my guests to get them started. The tapa's were not bad but I cant say they were very spanish and when I think Tapas, I think spanish. These tapas were just normal cafe finger food. Meatballs, springrolls, etc. After there was a Pizza and pasta for $10. The pizza's were great. Tasty, flavoursome and original.

Approximate cost: $15-$25

SouthBank Cineplex cinemas are always a dream. I love seeing the latest Blockbuster in Cinema 5 which has the the Imax 25m screen. The seets are a little small and not as comfortable as the other cinemas in the complex but the size of the screen is terrific. The other thing I like about this cinema is it is inexpensive and if you park at the cinema itself you can park their free for 4 hours, alternatively you can park at the south bank car park for 4 hours for $2. If you don't have a car then it is easily reached by bus or train. With ticketing it has this option of having an online wallet, buy ticket online, and buy them at the box office. My favourite is the online wallet, why?, because all I do is top it up with $20 when I need to and that credit stays there until I use it all up plus I only pay one transaction fee; if I was to buy tickets as I need them from the buyonline options I would pay a booking fee each time, with the wallet I only pay it once when I top up my wallet. When I want to see a movie that has just opened on the big screen, I book my tickets online which means I dont need to cue, I just take my home printed ticket to the Usher and wholla I am seeing the movie I want to see, I have not had to cue and if I really wanted to be decadent I could have even purchase my candy bar selections online too.

Approximate cost: $4-$8

Well I had an hur massage but I was told to arrive 30 minutes early and I did. This was so I could enjoy the complementary spa before my massage. my massage was great and after i felt so relaxed but to complete and complement the detoxification of the massage I was then directed to use the steam room or sauna. As I was coming down with a flu, the sauna was recommended specifically. I left Holistic heath feeling relaxed. My flu symptoms disappeared shortly after. Most hour massages are going to cost between $50 to $120+ but at Holistic Health I also had complementary access to the spa and sauna thrown in. I made the whole experience a little more special and certainly helped me.

Approximate cost: $85

The Beach house promotes itself by advertising if you eat there for four times you can become a member and gain their special Beach House members card. The advantage of this is that you receive 25% off your meal. They also have movie deals you can opt for as an alternative to using the card. On the two most recent occasions I have been there both have been disapointing. On visit one I took up their Steak movie meal with hot roast vegies and when my meal arrive the vegies were still frozen in the middle and undercooked.

On my 2nd visit, I thought I would use my member card and get 25% off my meal. My meal cost just under $20 and with the 25% discount I should have paid only $15 however when I gave the junior staff my $50 note she only gave me $15 change, charging me $35 for the meal. So when the penny dropped and I went back with my receipt to complain the senior staff member rudley grunted at me; pushed her inexperience college who made the stuff up out of the way and reprocessed my bill herself. Her attitude was rotten, she could have shown her Junior staff member how to process it correctly but no she had to take over and make me feel like it was a great imposition and a waste of her time. This time she charged me the full $20 and left off the discount I was entitled to but I didn't go back and complain because of the unhellpful attitude of this staff member. It is obvious that there is not enough staff employed or properly trained. I am hesitant to go back and I would think twice before you do unless you enjoy being ripped off.

Approximate cost: $20