Civic Video Rosalie is actually quite surprising. Since the place looks pretty small, you would…read morethink that this place would not have a very good range but to my surprise, they actually have all sorts of DVDs available. They also offer good customers service and deals for their customers. Upon first entering this video rental store, I was worried I would not find anything to watch judging by the size of the place. I quickly realised how wrong I was as I noticed the number of classics, art house films, documentaries and television series on offer. Whoever makes the selection of the films available here must be a bit of a film buff! Another great thing about this place is their Tuesday $1 deal, that's right- every DVD is only $1 to rent out every Tuesday! I will occasionally receive a text message from this place announcing exclusive offers. The staff have always been helpful and will make little comments about the films you rent out which is always nice. I'm pretty pleased with my local DVD rental store, it has a good range and customer service.

I'm sure that if you're a horror movie buff you will know that Scream 4 came out earlier this year…read more You'll also know that it's compulsory to have a movie marathon of the first three Scream movies with your friends before you all line up at the cinema to see the new edition. I know you know this because in April when my friends and I were trying to track down a copy of Scream 3 just days before Scream 4's release, all the shops had sold out and every video store we rang said it was hired out. Looks like great, twisted minds think alike, huh? By the night before Scream 4 was due to be released, my friends and I had set up an unintentional telethon type situation as we all sat around someone's kitchen table with our phones and the yellow pages and rang just about every video store in Brisbane. Finally we found a few that had Scream 3, but none would put it on hold for us, some would but only if we were already members and we weren't allowed to join over the phone. Next on my call list was Civic Video Rosalie. I dialled their number and a lovely chap answered and jovially informed me that yes, they did have a copy of Scream 3, and yes I'd be welcome to put it on hold. Of course it didn't matter that I wasn't a member. Of course they could hold it not just for an hour or two but until tomorrow. And that was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Even after Project Scream (as I like to call it) was over, I continued to frequent Civic Vid at Rosalie because they have a rad collection of films and they're just a lovely, helpful bunch. I know what you did last summer, and I know what I'll be doing this summer: renting movies from these guys.

It's really great to see how we can pull together when one of our Brisbane icons is being…read morethreatened, and I was chuffed to see how we did that for Rocking Horse. I wanted to see it stay because it's been a staple in my life ever since I started going to school in the Valley. Whenever my friends and I would go to the City of a Friday afternoon, we'd always wander in to Rocking Horse in an attempt to widen our music tastes, and I think that my taste today is owed in part to Rocking Horse. Not only is it the heart of Brisbane's best music, Rocking Horse has also been home to ridiculously long ticket lines for concerts and festivals. It's a modern venue with musical choices for everyone. Plus, here it's so much easier to get your hands on harder music than anywhere else. As an independent store, it has a kind of cult following, but how can you not adore it once you've stepped inside? There's not just music either. You'll be able to find a t-shirt in dedication of your favourite band and a sea of books and mags to tantalise your music tastebuds. I'm really proud to call Rocking Horse an independent Brisbane brand, and I'll be there if it's ever in need of support again.

I remember being a fresh-faced university student prowling through Rocking Horse Records, looking…read morefor CDs, records, posters, strangers eyes, discussing with likeminded friends about how we knew, "the music would save us". After four years of university and life I don't know if I would rummage through Rocking Horse Records with the same optimism that I once did. Rocking Horse Records offers an extensive range of CDs, DVDs and EPs old and new. The establishment itself seems to permeate a sort of grungy vibe, however now days the service staff seem to dress more hipster, as opposed to diehard, melancholic Nirvana fans from the late 90s. It's nice to see a music store with such a vast range outside of those larger outlets that dominate that CBD. All the products are categorized accordingly; it's just up to you to know if you're "into" 'alternative folk dubstep' or 'new-age punk metal' (categories may not be as specific as the latter). It's no mystery that the electronic innovations in music have hit the music industry hard, especially in terms of unique stores like Rocking Horse Records. There are of course attempts to reestablish their necessity in the market, such as being a place to purchase tickets for concerts and festivals. In addition, has anyone noticed how vinyl has made a real comeback? Even I have developed a real romantic inclination towards listening to my favorite music on an EP. I don't know if it's real or just manufactured in my head, but it does seem to add a certain quality to the sound that seems to hit me harder; perhaps it's just because we're sick of our music existing solely in our phones and on our computers? I couldn't help but wish that Rocking Horse Records would have a more extensive range of EPs, however I can understand how it may prove to be unprofitable to stock a wide range of music on record, when only a handful of people would come looking for. This being said, shouldn't they be establishing themselves as a business that offers us something we can't get online? Maybe if they got on board with this "hipster" trend and sold more EPs and record players we'd leave the safety of our computers and flock there on mass. After all, they are called Rocking Horse 'Records'. At the end of the day Rocking Horse Records is a great venue to have a browse and remember what it was like before we all had IPods. The unfortunate truth is I tend to go there to browse and buy my music online instead. This being said, those of you who prefer to have hard copies of music or have developed an ethereal connection to the sound of vinyl, Rocking Horse Records is the place for you.

As I grow older and wiser, I'm finding that the ABC Shop and I have more in common. For instance,…read morewe both agree that documentary DVDs make a great present for the older branch of my family tree. Natural history DVDs such as March of the Dinosaurs and Living Planet. Not to mention all the lifestyle shows on DVDs like Grand Design or French Food Safari. I'd probably be able to find the same DVDs at JB HI Fi or online but committed shoppers like me enjoy browsing DVD covers, finding interesting shows that I've missed on tv or never knew existed. This place is also great scouring grounds for kids presents. On my last visit, I found a gorgeous Giggle and Hoot stuffed owl plushie. It was originally intended as a gift for my young nephew but I've since claimed it as my own. So the next time you get stuck on a gift idea, check out the ABC Shop.

Although the prices may not be this shops forte, you can always find your ABC show here…read more For example, my kids love the Wot Wots. For those of you who don't watch enough ABC2 or have kids, the Wot Wots are Wotty Wotting and they are blue and purple and learn about funny animals, they draw them, play with them and show live video clips of specific animals in general. Very educational, just trust me on this one. No where else will sell you a Wot Wot dvd in Brisbane except the ABC Shops. Or if you go to the ABC Shops online, you can probably broker a better deal than inside the shop itself. Something else the ABC shop sells that others done... the Justine Clarke CD series. With songs like Watermelon, I Like to Sing and Part of the Gumtree Family (going over and over in my head), you might want your kids to entertain themselves in the car when their feeling sad. Justine is always the answer. If you're looking for that special gift, they have cute girl and boy Giggle and Hoot PJs for summer here as well, we have the winter ones. ABC yay! Love this shop, ever since I had kids, I tend to gravitate to the kids sections, but i'm sure you can find some killer dvd's here and books as well too.

You could blink a miss this tiny music store located up a set of stairs off Boundary Street in West…read moreEnd. The store is very small but filled to the brim with sheet music, instruments and music paraphernalia. Guitars and ukuleles seem to be the specialty of Browning Street Music but the shop attendants are also very knowledgeable on the best places to go in Brisbane for lessons. I'm certain you could throw any music trivia question at them and they'd answer with ease. Unfortunately due to the size of the store there's not a great deal of stock in Browning Street Music, which would make it hard for them to compete with the likes of Billy Hyde and Allan's, but if you're starting out and need some advice it's a great place to start.

Since the demise of Rocking horse records and the doom and gloom over internet piracy,…read moreIt seemed that Independent music retailers were a dying breed. Thankfully we have a new little store to pin our hopes to, What used to be a market stall Jet Black Cat has evolved into a small store oh so handily located on vulture st. Some parts rock and all parts indie Jet Black Cat sticks it to the man (or the internet) and specialises in hand picked music, CD's and Vinyl music goodness. This store has a lot of heart and won't disappoint music lovers. The owner is very friendly and you most likely will not leave empty handed. (Local tip. Watch out for their collaborations with the End bar down the road!)

To me, record stores never quite understood how they could survive in this new digital era of music…read moredistribution. Personally, I found that the record stores could benefit from a customer-orientated methodology of bringing their knowledge and taste to their often clueless but enthusiastic clientele. Jet Black Cat is an exceptional little store that caters for the vinyl lover of modern indie music. Their range is not terrible but they've foregone having a deep catalogue for having the latest albums, both major and indie stuff, on vinyl. Shannon, who typically runs the store, is very friendly and will offer her recommendations openly without seeming pretentious. Music is her business and she knows it very well. You get the sense that she wants you to enjoy what she enjoys and I think that's why Jet Black Cat will survive the digital revolution. They're closed on Monday but open from 10am from Tuesday through to Sunday.