Working from home seems all kind of glamourous when you're gated in a cubicle farm for 40+ hours a…read moreweek, but I guess everything always seems greener on the other side, right? So for office floaters, freelancers and entrepreneurs who want to get out of the house and put their office-frame of mind in gear, enter River City Labs. Part office space, part start up / innovation hub, part event space - this unassuming office just metres from the Fortitude Valley train station on Wickham Street is a cool surprise on Brisbanes technology and start-up map. They offer tenancies on various leases from month to month or longer term arrangements. Just imagine the collaborations that would take place with the mix of businesses already calling River City their working home!?! I had my first River City Labs experience recently attending a Content Strategy Meet Up and it won't be my last!

Not as heavily trawled through as the paddington retro stores…read more(or the Salvo's on boundary) This little op-shop is a godsent for thrifty minded people like me. You find all sorts of odds and ends at the rickety and charming St Veronica's. I know I've bought a couple of clothing gem's here over the years (a prize powder blue party dress) as well as quirky gifts for friends. (Naked Garden gnomes anybody?) Employ those eagle eyes when hunting down that perfect dress as finding treasure here can get challenging (as the photos can attest.)

This is the kind of ramshackle, 'bomb hit it', order in chaos, treasure trove op-shop that is…read morereminiscent of the outlaw op-shops I used to rummage through growing up in the far reaches of the northern suburbs. I always walk out with armloads of clothes when I visit St Veronica's. If you can spend some time rifling through the racks, both men and women will be pleasantly surprised with the findings. They also have an enviable collection of manchester, vintage crockery, books and an abundance of cheap frames (of particular mention for any artists out there). If you're on the lookout for some random domestic need, go there for a gander. Last week I was in desperate need of a tagine, and I struck gold. It's just that kind of place- full of handy wears you never knew you needed until you laid your eyes upon it. It isn't the cheapest op-shop around, but for a West End op shop, it is the most reasonably priced. You'll probably also have a higher success rate for finding gems because of it's out of the way location.

The Stitchery is a fashion based art run initiative based in Fortitude Valley. It was born from a…read moreband of QUT Creative Industries graduates wanting to get together to actively promote sustainable fashion. As part of their vision, they run community projects like the silk scarf painting workshop coordinated for women in Kelvin Grove's Afghan community, in effort to develop and empower diverse communities. As a fashion based collective, they explore how to create inclusive and sustainable communities through innovative fashion design, exhibition and curation. They have a whole bunch of really cool events happening on a regular basis- the current one being 'life drawing with clothes on', where women model kooky combinations of threads and have an audience draw them. It's beneficial to everyone- to the artist who gets to draw something different than naked bodies, to the amateur fashion student who is learning how to speedily sketch an idea, to the model who may be testing life modelling waters out in a less confronting manner than what is otherwise offered, to the clothes that get a fine coat hanger to display themselves on. This is how the Stitchery works. It is one of my favourite new artist run initiatives to come out of Brisbane. Check out their website regularly. There is an abundance of cool things to join up for here. How to make LED bikini's, upcycling workshops and more.

Very friendly service! I definitely recommend this place! Great range of leather products.read more

Hallelujah Shoe Works is conveniently located in the Fortitude Valley train station. They are open…read moreearly so you can get in before work to drop off your shoes for repair. They also do watch repairs, shoe repairs, key cutting - all the standard stuff you'd expect from a shop like this. The guy who works there is always really helpful and has told me a number of times, that if you won't make it before 5:30pm, just call him up and he's wait around a little bit for you if you need to pick up or drop off an item.

It's not fantastic for clothes, at least, the kinds of clothes I like to wear…read more However, the strong point of this little gem of an op shop is the weakest point of countless others. It is accessories heaven. They've got such an extravagant collection of scarves that I felt I could make a custom wish and I'd probably find it. Three big baskets of belts. Straw hats, felt hats, beanies, fedoras, XXXX caps, gardening hats and about five of each. Clip on earrings. A pin board full of real earrings. Necklaces and bracelets made of wooden beads, plastic beads, sea shells, silver, gold and everything in between. Shoes, oh my god, shoes. Bags! Argh! Then there's the craft section. Holy dooley. Wool! My favourite op shop find. Big baskets of patterns, and abandoned cross stitch projects. Mountains of manchester. What's more, is that while I was browsing, an older woman was beginning to weigh herself down with all the treats she'd found (she happened to quite like the clothes). "But I can't afford them all, I can't. I just can't. I've got too many bills to pay" in a delightfully rich european accent. "Oh, yes you can. Look at this one. Let's say $1. And this, 50c. And these ones, yeah, you can have them for $1 each too. How's that?" says the shop keeper in her friendliest voice. She had reduced each item by at least $3- $5. The older lady reached out her hand to the shop keeper and nodded slightly in agreement. I nodded slightly too. The older woman paid $4.50 for her treasures and placed the shop keepers hand in between her own and gave thanks. It made my experience at Stafford Vinnies a memorable one. I even went back later that day for another scrounging I enjoyed it so much the first time.

A fantastic child care centre. A good mixture of old and new staff who really care about the…read morechildren. Provides meals too, which is great if you've got fussy kids!

A great local organisation that has partnered with local employment agencies to provide training…read moreand employment opportunities to the long-term unemployed and other uniquely challenged.

These guys do a great job servicing Greenslopes and the surrounds. Food is prepared fresh daily and…read moredelivered to clients between 11am - 1pm. Meals on Wheels are always looking for new volunteers. If you have a few spare hours during the week and want to make a worthwhile contribution, try your local branch.