I hadn't come across this store before, so popped in to see what they do. I was impressed by their…read morerange of notepads and account books. I could find any size here I needed! I stocked up on a couple of obscure sizes I use for everyday notes. I was bemused by the shelf of instant coffee and kitchen cleaners in the centre of the shop, then more so by the paper plates and cups nearby. Then I realised - it's EVERYTHING an office could need. How clever! I always got cranky if our shop kitchen didn't have coffee or milk. Way to keep the employees happy - stock up on caffeine when you pop in for 500 reams of paper. In terms of paper, they're not very cheap, but they have a large range of oddities, like all different sizes and widths of receipt papers and specific printing paper. They also sell ink jets and blank CDs and DVDs, which always come in handy. A good little store, with friendly staff.

Discovered this store is an agent for Australia Post since the one across the road was closed down…read more Very useful. Friendly staff. Good range of stationary products.

Popped in about a year ago and was amazed at the variety of stuff (yarn and everything else). No…read moreweird looks for being a male in a yarn shop, mind you the person behind the counter was also male. On another occasion I was served by a different person (female) who was just as friendly and knowledgeable. Happy that this business has kept going over the years and the changes have been positive.

If I were a fan of knitting I'd definitely mark this as a "Woohoo, as good as it gets" so for those…read moreof you who are this is utopia. I mean I've seen fabric shops stocking some of this stuff but this shop takes the cake, an absolute professional in its field. It is huge and filled with a knitters wonderland from needles to patterns, wool in any shade, tapestry, haberdashery too and alot more to do with handicrafts. They take pride in stocking the best knitting wool products from Australia and New Zealand and also Merino, Mohair and Angora. Word of warning: they are not cheap but if you love to knit quality items, this is the place to get it and for loads of knitting patterns for anything. Fancy making a teapot cosy, dolls clothing, craft projects, etc all the patterns and books are available. Plus, if there's something in particular you can't find anywhere even here, they will try to source it.

We live in the age of unprecedented choice: meaning shops are getting bigger, offering us almost…read moreoverwhelming options. Looking for a pen? Here are 450 to choose from! Office National isn't that kind of place. It's small and focused with basic office supplies. Yes that's as boring as it sounds: but 'boring' can also equal super useful. If you're an office worker or business type, there are times when all you need is A4 paper or printer toner or sticky tape. I pop in here for those kind of basics when I'm out and about.

One of the growing number of legal grafiti style, street art locations throughout Adelaide…read more The art work here changes from time to time, but at present consists of two full wall murals. The first, and in my opinion major piece representins an imaginative dreamscape with bright colours, crazy critters, fluid lines and bold lettering. The secondary piece is more rigid and based in linear design, constructed from an abstraction of green and white. It features a photographic stenciling as a centrepiece. Whilst both are strong works, they are slightly commercial in nature (the primary piece having a small advertisment in the top corner for stores upon Ebenezer place) and not hugely innovative. Regardless a welcome addition to Adelaide's public art.

PROS: The legalised street art on the brick wall just off of Ebenezer Place totally makes sense…read morewith the whole vibe of the alleyway, which has def seen a renaissance of sorts over the last few years. It's also a rad spot for a piece: this is the locale for the Friday night lates that are held over summer in the East End, with short flicks, stalls etc bringing the place to life. And the artworks themselves are lovely, even if the main pieces have been there for a few years at least. CONS: While I totally enjoy the work of the Everfresh crew *fist bumps*, I'd love to see something by an SA artist/ crew, rather than Melbournians. After living in Melbourne for 2 years I respect the fact that Melbourne own the street art thing in Oz, but rather than emulate what they already do so very very well, it'd be great to see a style distinctly Adelaidean up on the wall!

Greenhills is a fairly well respected commercial Gallery in North Adelaide…read more It is housed within a stately heritage building which once upon a time served as an inn. The quality of artists shown at Greenhills varies from time to time. I recently checked out the work of Ben Stack and Michael Lindscott, and I must say I was not thoroughly impressed. Stack's work was there in parts. Consisting of fairly bleary coloured abstracts. I would have little time for this sort of work were it not for Stacks employment of shadowing to achieve a tromp l'oeil effect whereby the abstract clumps of jarring impasto seem to levitate from the canvass. For the most part this merely lifts Stack's work out of the complete rubbish pile, and at times achieves little more than novelty, however in the case of the work entitled "And then .... So clear" a really lovely effect was achieved. This work stood out completely from the others and was reminiscent of an abstract landscape, as opposed to happy pants which was the prevailing aesthetic for the other works on show. The entire work appeared much more considered and the tonal and colour relationships more harmonious. The levetatiting impasto trick, although still present, was much more subtle, thus becoming more of a feature than a novelty and allowing the work to stand on its own. Lindscott's work consisted of washed out poorly drawn photographic compositions with little consideration of colour or tone. Whilst the subject matter was at times interesting, technical competence was clearly an issue inhibiting the artists expressive possibilities. An instance, where this played to Lindscott's advantage, however, was the work "At night there are lights by the river." This moody work captures beautifully the essence and ambiance of it's subject matter and the dimly lit lighting scenario caters well to the washed out appearance of Lindscott's work. Less successful was "Pink Top and Jeans," where Lindscott's inability to handle colour, tone and the human form, and his reliance upon photographic reference material were truly evident.

I'm not sure whether the Australia Post outlet is part of the newsagency - it's in the same shop,…read moreso I'm assuming it's connected - therefore, I've reviewed both together. First, the newsagent - I come here usually for stationery bits and pieces, for also for printer cartridges - they are seriously cheaper than anywhere else I have visited! I buy Canon cartridges, and they are at least $3-$5 cheaper than larger supermarket chains - excellent value! Staff are friendly, and there is a good selection of stationery and magazines. A good all-round newsagency! Now ... the reason I've given a total of 3 stars instead of 4 or 5 - the Australia Post section is terrible. Rude staff, who did the whole 'looking me up and down and grimacing' routine before serving me ... oh, that was before they had a chat and made me wait before looking up. I would rather drive out of my way and visit a friendlier Australia Post outlet - hopefully this couple retire soon :P

This is a kick-ass newsagent. It's really a one stop shop for all your newsy, postal, and gambling…read moreneeds. You've got all the usual aisles of mags and cards, as well as stationery, gift wrap and a decent pressie section. You've also got the standard SA Lotteries part, stocking my personal fave the $1 scratchies. As well there is a small Australia Post branch, which makes it very handy to mail your bits and pieces almost as soon as you've purchased them. There are only ever a couple post staff on though so there's often a line. On top of all this they also offer a dry cleaning service, and the bonus of extended trading hours on weekdays. In a nutshell - a damn good newsagent!

Hill Smith is an up market commercial gallery located on in the middle of Pirie St in the city…read more It is housed within a beautiful red two story building with large windows at the front and a charismatic black umbrella dome covering the entryway. There are exhibitions more or less monthly, as well as a number of works held in their stockroom which can be accessed on request. Hill Smith represents a number of the better known local and interstate artists, including David Bromley, Robert Hannaford and Nick Harding. Presently on show is the work of Stephen Trebilcock (Main gallery), Janine Mackintosh and Peter Syndicas (First Floor Gallery). I really love Janine's work which consist of something representing Mandalas constructed from various found natural and man made objects. Her work with eucalyptus leaves has an especially appealing aesthetic, the leaves being beautifully preserved and meticulously stitched with linen thread to the canvass. The juxtaposition of rusted man made objects with preserved natural elements also gives the work a musical quality. Syndicas work, exhibited also on the First floor, consisting of sticks cast in iron and bronze, also follows this natural aesthetic but is, in my opinion, less appealing and although certainly difficult to accomplish, less creative. Trebilcock's work, presented in the Main Gallery consists of a series of beautifully painted still lives, vibrant in colour and texture. The few exteriors presented in the body of work appear slightly illustrative and artificial due to an oversaturation of colour which is more suited to the still lives. This detracts slightly from the overall effect. Of particular appeal were the two triptychs, "Australian Selection" and "Oranges and Grapes."

Dessert was so disgusting i'm going to cry thinking about it my wife is still mad at me for making…read moreus eat here. Apple pie was cold and base was sitting on my tongue with bad feeling. Chocolate cake was a flop, let it be known i'm an eater and do dabble with chocolate often but this is a cry for help. Never again!

Ok... I am going to do it. I am going to review IKEA…read more So, it is hard to describe my relationship with IKEA. I remember when this place first opened. I actually did not know a whole much about IKEA. The brand was very foreign to me. I heard of it, but was unfamiliar with it's scale. Like the rest of Adelaide, I had to check it out. All new, shiny and plastic. Oh yes, walking through the maze that is IKEA was quite wonderful. I then started to notice something. It is not only the deisgn of their products that make IKEA successful, it is also the design of their stores. Do you ever find that when you go to IKEA you end up taking home a shoe horn, dish brush and a new mirror that you don't need? You end up having to go fetch your car to drive into the bay to load it full of stuff with a $2 icecream in your hand. I am always left saying huh? How did that happen? Over the years IKEA's appeal went downhill for me. I have had furniture and items break. What I have always been impressed with is the 3 month return policy. So, if you are not happy you can take it back for store credit. That is a plus. What do I usually get in this store now? Water glasses, plastic tubs, glass jars, curtains and maybe linen. That suits me fine. Every now and then I might get a decoration of some sort, but I have to really like it. I recommend IKEA if you are on a budget. It was awesome while I was at Uni. Try and look for the solid wood furniture if you can. They last a lot longer than the chipboard stuff. It's great that they have started to use solid pine now! Also, here is my HOT TIP: If you want to get furniture from IKEA and want it to look a little special and not just from the catalog, check out a website called IKEA Hacks. It is full of ideas for turning IKEA products into something really cool and unique. Also, don't feel like you have to use their door knobs and hinges, you can get cool antique ones from thrift stores or salvage places to make the furniture look more funky!