Before the Queensland Museum moved to the cultural precinct at South Brisbane, it called the Old…read moreMuseum it's home from 1899 until 1986. It was designed by George Henry Male Addison and was built in 1891 after the original building that stood there was destroyed by the fires of 1888. It is if you ask me, one of the most beautiful and opulent landmarks of inner city Brisbane. The Old Museum stands out like a glimmer of hope in the midst of a concrete jungle. The modern and renovated Royal Brisbane Hospital is just over the bridge, the Ekka showgrounds are just underneath it, and the more industrial zone of Bowen Hills is directly behind it. If you stand back and take in the entire landscape, it becomes easy to see how far Brisbane has changed through the ages. Quite frankly, I like the Old Brisbane better than the new one if the Old Museum and other heritage listed buildings of her kind are anything to go by. The Old Museum is now a venue for a multitude of events. The Finders Keepers markets are held there biannually, international and local musicians play there frequently (Amanda Palmer! Beth Orton!), travelling showcase events like the Bohemian Masquerade Ball have held their Brisbane leg of the tour there, and the Burlesque Bombshell Academy holds burlesque dancing workshops there. Holy dooley. The Queensland National Ballet, Queensland Police Pipes and Drums, Queensland Youth Choir and Zen Zen Zo Phyiscal Theatre are all tenants of the Old Museum too. Even though there's a seemingly endless line of groups and people in and out of there all the time, you can hire the venue space. There's a lot of information on the website, and it appears that all you have to do is write them a proposal of what you'd like to do there, and when, and they'll decide yay or nay and get back to you. When I was a little kid, my mum took me for a picnic on the grounds of the Old Museum. With all of my traditional girly notions still intact, I told her I wanted to get married there one day. Apparently I got very excited about the whole idea, and when she told me it had closed down and I couldn't have my wedding there, I wailed. Well, look, some 20 years later, and the dream place of my nuptials is a venue for hire. Now all that's left is for me to find that poor bastard who'd put up with me 'forever more'.

Although I am relatively new to the Brisbane scene, it wasn't long…read morebefore I found out about the charming and handsome Old Museum. Character literally flakes off these old beams and floorboards, this space provides a truly beautiful and intimate setting. Not just a pretty face the Old Museum has played host to myriad events. This old gal has seen everything from Amanda Palmer, Designer Markets and the QLD youth choir being staged beneath her red brick arches. My favourite event here has to be the Finders Keepers markets, the old halls are perfect for this vintage themed event and the gardens make for a kickass concert space/picnic area. (Perfect for those languid summer afternoons and eve's I recommend grabbing some friends and heaving a picnic basket to the lawn.)

I wish I could enlarge the font so you'd really get the tone I'm using when I say I F**KING LOVE…read moreTHE WAITING ROOM. It's this kind of place that is the reason West End has a reputation for being community minded. It is a DIY music space that is open for local musicians to use for recording, rehearsing and playing gigs. It also opens it's doors to visual artists as well. If you're looking for a place to exhibit your work, look no further! You can also hold workshops there. Hell, let's put it this way, if you're a musician or artist and you've got an idea but need some space to do it, you may as well send these guys an email. It's thewaitingroombrisbane@gmail.com I always like to wander past The Waiting Room on the weekends- there's usually something good happening there. The space is awesome too. It's an old Queenslander that has been tangled up with blue and yellow fairy lights. Depending on what's going on, people usually bring their own grog, find a camp on the floor and watch the band that's playing. At least they're the kinds of gigs I've gone to at The Waiting Room. The gigs that the The Waiting Room put on are usually quite diverse, representing the vast population of musicians who use the space. Going to The Waiting Room for a gig is like going to a fully decked out house party. You rock up with your six pack, walk up the back stairs and rearrange the fridge or esky so you can fit your beers in. You meet some kid you've met around the traps "yeah, yeah man, I've seen you around- good to meet you" and you go watch the band together and bum a smoke off him (or he off you) when you go out back into the garden. You know the deal.

I'm reviewing the Waiting Room both as someone who has hired out the space to put on my own show…read moreand as a regular punter. Cam Smith, the guy who runs the venue, is absolutely wonderful to deal with. He's genuinely passionate about music and puts in a lot of effort to make this a unique Brisbane venue. The place itself is an old Queenslander that has been appropriated into a live music venue. The atmosphere is more akin to a house party than being at an actual venue. except the band that's playing have a professional sound tech with a real mixing desk and PA! (Hint: there's also a bathroom downstairs, so don't wait around upstairs like a sucker) If you're putting on a show, you basically get full control of everything. You organise your own bands, set up your own person at the door, charge your own entry fee, and set your own times (though due to noise restrictions things need to finish up around 11). It's all BYO alcohol, so there's no worrying about the bar or licensing. It's also cash only. Entrance is at the rear, so if you're wandering past and hear some noise that you'd like to check out the front door isn't going to be much help. There's no preferred genre of music that plays here, so you never know what you could be in for. Yes the venue is on the smaller side (I believe max capacity is 80), so busier gigs mean you're less likely to actually see the band play (especially as there is no elevated stage), but I believe the laid back party atmosphere makes up for this. The smaller shows hold a special charm, with many of the patrons just setting up camp on the floor for a quiet night of enjoying the live music.

I'm surprised to see so many positive reviews, but I can only speak from my own experience with…read moreDarling & Co. This was my second time here and without a doubt, my last. I ordered a well-done beef burger (due to past food poisoning overseas, I never take chances). It came out medium. I sent it back. Simple request, right? What I overheard next near the kitchen was shocking. In the meantime, I received a call on my phone & needed privacy & somewhere quiet. I went next to the kitchen, where I overheard someone in the kitchen. The head chef (initials JS) went on a foul-mouthed tirade, complaining: "F#%k me, I hate these people asking for things well done. I don't give a Sh*t about my job. I cook so much better for my dog." I was disgusted. When the burger came back, I refused to eat it, how could I trust it hadn't been tampered with after that? I raised this with the manager, who did absolutely nothing, said sorry, just smiled and walked away. This place is a joke. When I enquired about who that person in the kitchen was, to my dismay, it was the head chef that I witnessed with that disgusting behaviour. The chef clearly doesn't care, the manager has no backbone, and the customers are treated like garbage. Avoid this place. Don't waste your money or risk your health. The kitchen is unprofessional, the staff are careless, and the leadership is non-existent. The owner should be ashamed.

We had our engagement party here, and it was a fabulous choice. The Swayze room holds 120, and with…read more60-80 guests there is plenty of room to move without feeling empty. The room itself is a vibrant turquoise and has it's own bar, though I did need to ask that the lights be turned up as it was a little dim for a day event. Of course we had to go in earlier to view the space and sample the menu. Kingfish tacos are an amazing snack to share with wines, or alone for a light dinner. The house wine selection is generous, and they have an extensive selection of local and imported beers including very local babes Green Beacon. Thursday night was wine-and-cheese night, and we scored a generous cheese platter and two glasses for a bargain price, I believe it was $35. I wish I had eaten more of the canapes we provided at our party, as the antipasti platters were heaving, and knowing the food is good I regret not fighting more people out of the way while I was busy mingling with our guests! So; great space for casual drinks and functions, great booze, great food, oh... and the staff are helpful and knowledgable too. Yep, I'm a fan.