Scout Finch

Brisbane’s Jackie Boccaccio, 20, has always been known for her cheekiness, but now it’s literally out of this world.

Not content with just producing a song as part of her final studies at Bachelor of Music at the Queensland University of Technology, Jackie decided to go the extra mile and self-fund her first album based on the adventures of a futuristic songstress who comes back to today in the search for love.

Inspired by David Bowie’s concept album Ziggy Stardust, Jackie created her stage persona Cheeky Velvet, and is just weeks away from releasing her debut EP ‘The Adventures of Velvet’ in October at West End’s The Be
arded Lady. 

The back story behind Cheeky Velvet is set in year 2115, where a mad scientist and his offsider decide to save the world from the bleak future that lies ahead.

They create a scientifically modified girl they call Velvet. They download all of the world’s knowledge to Velvet, while she lies in her cryo-tube; however they refuse to teach her about love, so as not to distract her from her mission.

The offsider develops feelings for Velvet. He disobeys the scientist and while she is sleeping he tells her what love is. The day comes to wake Velvet up and send her back to 2015. Velvet awakes from her slumber, blows the lackey a kiss and is sent back to 2015, where her adventures begin.

The ‘Adventures of Velvet’ will feature six songs and pays homage to David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust. The album is a conceptual story with elements of sci-fi fantasy and upbeat modern day love themed pop songs, all done with Jackie’s much-loved quirky tongue-in-cheek lyrics.

“I didn’t just want to just create a body of work,” Jackie said. “I wanted to create a story and a character that people could lose themselves in. I feel like it’s another edge to my art and if you’re a super fan you can sink your teeth into the story.”

“I’ve been sitting on these songs for so long and now being in the final year of my degree at QUT, I thought now is the time. Why am I waiting?

“I’ve always wanted to do this and now I can. I’m a very creative person and ultimately consider myself a songwriter and an artist. So it was an amazing feeling being able to hear my quirky songs that I’ve dreamt up come to life with the help of my producer, Hayden Johns.”

Jackie has always been inspired by retro and vintage, 1940s style, comic book pop art, pin ups, crazy 80s fashion, power dressing, as well as the modern/dominant sexy, and says Cheeky Velvet is a combination of all her loves thrown in together.

“The look is very pin-up with the bangs, but also quite futuristic with the V fringe, and I have to say if I wasn’t called Cheeky Velvet, I’d probably be called Cheeky Latex,” Jackie said.  “I also love musicians that consider themselves to be visual artists and take pride in the different art forms in their work such as fashion, film, dance and drama. It inspires me to entertain my audiences!”

Known for her love of performance, costumes and theatrics, Jackie is already causing a splash of colour throughout the Brisbane music scene. The Brisbane-born singer and songwriter is musically influenced by Eurythmics, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Dita Von Teese and Amy Winehouse.

Her eccentric style and passion for fun, drama, and creativity is expressed heavily throughout her tongue-in-cheek music. Her aim is to revolutionise the Australian music scene through her own unique lens, and bring together an explosion of dance, and theatre in her performance. And most importantly, get people dancing again!

“Overall the EP is pop music,” Jackie said. “Mostly pop rock with electropop influences. I just wanted to create something entertaining that people can belt out to in their car, and get them on the dance floor which is the beauty of Pop.

“I am tired of going out and seeing people not dancing, to the club beats, particularly the ones that have no vocals and are just boring! I just want people to go mental on the dance floor to my music, and be able to rock out and sing along!”

The first single from the album is Crazy for You and can now be streamed free on the ‘Cheeky Velvet’ Soundcloud as well as being available to purchase on iTunes. The launch party for The Adventures of Velvet EP will be on Sunday October 18 at the Bearded Lady in West End, which will also be up for purchase on iTunes. Tickets are $10 and available at the door.

Can you keep a secret? Well, I can’t.

One of my favourite vintage shops in Brisbane, Can You Keep A Secret, is moving and expanding.

The cool vintage shop was located at Greenslopes for more than four years, but for a number of reasons they needed to move. Owners Ajanta and Emily are moving their much-loved store near the Mater Hospital at Wooloongabba in September.

Right next to a funky bar they set up earlier in the year.

Owner Ajanta said the move to expand was a natural choice given their love for entertaining.

“We used to host functions and parties at the last place and always received such positive feedback about the music, venue and the fact it felt like a good old house party,” Ajanta said.

“We also found every time we went out we were never satisfied. Nowhere felt as good and fun as home.

“So we opened our own bar/home away from home!”

Complete with exposed brick and a stunning heritage terrace feel, the site is amazing and true to the vintage heritage.

For Brisbane-ites, it’s located in the former Hillyards Shop House and was just what the pair had been looking for.

“We’d been looking for a new space for a short while and were either trying to find a house so we could have the same vibe as we had, or a warehouse to go more into the events/function side of things,” Atjanta said.

“I visited some friends in Melbourne and after walking the streets down there knew what I really wanted.

“Low and behold, when I got back and asked Emily what she saw and where, we had the exact same vision and area, without me mentioning anything to her about my thoughts.

“We went online to look at real estate and saw Hillyards Shop House pretty much straight away. Great minds I say.”

The former jewellery shop needed a bit of TLC before they could move in, but like any vintage piece it was worth the work.

“The back room already had exposed brick so we knew it was under there, but didn’t know the state of it,” Atjanta said. “You could feel the place sigh when it all came off. Finally it could breathe again!

“Our style and theming is fairly consistent with our original shop with obviously adapting into it the classic era of the building itself.”

The new store was a natural progression for the vintage lovers and allows them to provide more space for their growing store and to cater for Brisbane’s supportive community.

“There’s a nice community in Brisbane and the true vintage lovers are very dedicated,” Atjanta said. “The dealers I have met all support each other as we all have our own niche market/era.

“Everything is sourced locally and hand-picked so the quality of our items is very high.

“It also means we’re pretty much all Australian made. We’ll find stuff at garage sales, deceased estates, second-hand shops, you name it! Emily can sniff things out from a mile away.”

Check out for their Facebook page to see upcoming news or updates. And keep an eye out for their funky signs they have outside – very funny!

Brisbane is truly the Cinderella of Australian cities. It’s gorgeous, but just needs a fairy godmother to highlight what’s underneath the somewhat bland exterior.

I was at a dinner recently with some good friends and a girlfriend wisely said ‘Brisbane is beautiful, but it’s only a great place to visit if you know someone, a local, to show you around the hidden gems.’

This group of women – ranging from long-time residents to relatively new Brisbanites – all nodded their head in agreement and thought of the times they took their own friends around the city and  showed them their little hidden finds.

So for those of you not fortunate enough to have that fairy godmother-like figure in Brisbane, allow me to wave my magic wand and show you some of Brisbane’s hidden gems.  Brisbane Scouts will be a regular section in Scout & Finch.

No it won’t feature the usual suspects of tourist activities, but places or things to do that interest me and potentially might interest you and your guests.

My top five (with no theme, rhyme or reason to my order) –

Downey Park Food Trucks

Held every month at Downey Park at Windsor (near the hospital) this is Brisbane’s best food truck event. Join their Facebook page to be notified of the next one. Each month they have a selection of yummy food trucks and it’s free to wander.

Some delicious food from crepes, ribs, donuts, nachos, delicious iced tea etc…you got to go. Hint: don’t eat beforehand (despite the 2pm starting time) and bring cash.

The New Inchcolm Hotel & Suites

You must visit the newly renovated Inchcolm Hotel and wine and dine at the gorgeous bar and restaurant. This heritage-listed boutique hotel has a rich and varied history dating back to the 1880s.

Dr John Thomson chose the site to build his personal residence. The accomplished doctor, scientist, astronomer, psychologist and pioneering photographer named his home Inchcolm after Scotland’s Inchcolm Island.

The hotel was built during the 1920s era. It replaced Dr Thomson’s home and private medical practice and was originally built to house the rooms of a number of medical specialists.

In 1997, the building was purchased by its current owner who was actually born in the building. His vision to create a New York style boutique hotel saw The Inchcolm Hotel open its doors in 1998. It was renovated and reopened as The New Inchcolm Hotel and Suites last year.

For those special occasions, make sure you book a spot at their very stunning restaurant called the Thomson’s Reserve Restaurant. Located on the ground floor, this restaurant is named after the doctor who originally owned the building.  He was known for ‘reserving’ his judgement until he had proof, like a high quality or reserve wine, Thomson’s Reserve Restaurant provides the quintessential experience.

All Inn Brewery

Some of the best things to do in Brisbane are outside of the city, like really out of the city.

In Banyo you will find the very cool and non-assuming All Inn Brewery Co. Drink right where the beer is made, and sit at their makeshift bar and surrounding picnic tables.  It’s currently only open Friday and Saturday afternoons and evenings.

They regularly have live music and food trucks visiting. Dogs, kids are welcome and they sometimes have board games out. Each beer is named after a vintage pin up girl. My favourite beer is the Betty, Lucy oh who am I kidding they are all lovely. Also, try their new cider.

Great and relaxed find, plus the owners Harley and Clare are lovely.

Every month they release their schedule of events and which charity they are supporting that month. It’s a great place and worth the visit. Keep an eye on their Facebook page to hear of what is coming up.

This is what is in store for August.

Hawthorne Garage

It’s a deli, market, café, florist…the Dan & Andy’s Hawthorne Garage is just a great place to visit for food and coffee. But the main selling point, for me, are their gluten free bagels and donuts. Oh my!

My recommendation, buy some picnic items and go for a very small walk down to the river (where the Hawthorne ferry terminal is) and watch the world go by.

As you can see I’m very much led by my eating habits, but it’s a great start to showcase what this cool city has.

Once you have uncovered some of these cool gems, you will start to see it as the lovely princess it is.

What would you recommend for your Brisbane scouts?

When I stumbled across SWOP in West End (often part of the Boundary Street Markets) I thought I had simply come across a cool vintage shop.

But then I had a “wait there is more” moment that would make any telemarketer very proud.

As I sifted through the racks and racks of cool items, I saw that this place is so much more than that.

It’s a place – the name really should have given me a clue, but at times I’m not the quickest – that lets you swap and resell old clothes you are no longer wearing or can’t fit into (you know you have them!).

The owners also buy vintage or retro clothes and cool accessories and then resell them to the public. You can either walk away with some moolah or choose to swap that money for the many great pieces in store.  Guess, which one I did? Go on, I bet you won’t guess.

Ha ha

Going by my chat with the cool hipster lady at the counter, SWOP’s main objective is to create an affordable fashion den in Brisbane where people can buy and sell cool clothes without breaking the bank. But still looking very cool!

The owners have apparently modelled the SWOP store on clothing exchanges throughout the USA.

The great thing about SWOP is that you can sell any clothing, shoes or accessory item as long as they are in excellent condition.

You don’t need a wardrobe bursting with designer outfits to trade at SWOP.

SWOP is open Wednesday to Sunday – I believe they do their buying on weekends, offering cash at 25% of the sale price or 50% in-store credit for your goods.

If not all of your spring-cleaned goods are accepted, the team will donate them  to charity for you, saving you that extra trip to an op shop. But don’t take my word for it, check them out via the usual methods below…

SWOP
Factory 1, 93 Boundary Street, West End
Ph: 0421 414 475
Open: Wednesday to Friday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, Saturday to Sunday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

I know this place isn’t new. I know everyone has written about this place, visited it, bought things from here, taken their mums here … yadda yadda yadda.

But I haven’t, so it’s new to me, and that’s what this whole blog is all about – places that I’m discovering for the first time.

This place is amazing. Located in the former Plaza Theatre on Latrobe Terrace in Paddington, it is home to 50 separate dealers who all have their own sections, or “shops” as they call them, scattered around the large centre.

The original Plaza Theatre, built in late 1920s, was one of only two “atmospheric” theatres in Australia. When it first opened, it was part of the short-lived picture palace movie theatre phenomenon. In the early 1960s, it ceased to operate as a cinema and a level floor was installed and the building was used for indoor basketball. I don’t like this part of the story (ewww) so will rush through quickly … ahhh here we are, then in 1985 it opened as an antique centre.

It’s packed and you will need a lot – I mean a LOT – of time to see everything. There is some rhyme and reason in their theming and order, but not much, and to be honest it’s that organised chaos that brings a little something extra to the experience.

It’s got everything from vintage and retro clothing, to old furniture, new furniture done up to look old, military stuff, china, glass and silver, old jewellery  and old records…I haven’t even begun to really get into the list of stuff this place has.

Like any antique shop, there is some crap that really shouldn’t be in antique or vintage arena, but there are a lot of little wonders to make a visit worthwhile.

My favourites were the lamp and retro glass cabinet sections.

It’s here that I finally found the perfect vintage glass scotch decanter that I’ve been searching for for years. Now my tortured writer look is coming together…excellent (insert Mr Burns voice here).

And yes, they also have a quaint little café inside too…which looked cool.

Please note I have stolen (I mean borrowed) quite a lot of these photos from Paddignton Antique Centre and mingled them with some of my own so you think I’m a really cool photographer when really I just got distracted with all the cool and pretty things as I walked around.

Following my recent post about the art of op shopping, I’ve decided to occasionally feature key op shops that I either find on my travels or are among my favourites.

I can’t think of a better op shop to launch this idea than this great dame at 16 Latrobe Terrace in Paddington.

This Paddington Vinnies is found in the stunning and heritage-listed (I’m led to believe) Foresters Hall.

This store has become one of my favourites because it hasn’t followed other op shops in trendy suburbs in Brisbane by becoming either too wanky, too expensive or (and this is happening too much) full of brands and labels that companies have got rid of because they’re not sold at retail.

While the latter is OK, it’s not OK to put in an op shop then only charge $5 less than what it sold three seasons ago in retail.

This Vinnies is set in an old-style community hall with two levels.  And at all times it’s packed to the brim of goodies. From modern pieces to shoes, bags, furniture, kitchen items and even a disco ball hanging right in the centre of the old hall.

Then you come to the back end (on second tier up stairs) where you find the vintage and retro section, which, in my opinon, has to be one of the best in Brisbane to date.

Here you will find moderately priced items, such as formal wear, shirts, skirts and even leather jackets, from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and some from the ’90s. I have found a retro pair of Levi’s and an old knee-length red leather jacket from the ’70s in this section for only $20. The dry cleaning cost me more!

This area also has a section dedicated to beautiful pieces that the savvy volunteers know are a good buy. For example, last time I went I took my beautiful friend Naomi and we found her a Charlie Brown silk cocktail dress (from last season) hanging on the hanger. This dress – still with new tags of $398 – was selling just for$12! That’s right, it had never been worn and it still had tags on the dress.

Now that’s why I op shop. Not because I’m a tight arse (although there’s a little of that too I suppose) but because it’s the thrill of the find.

When we found that, we both felt like we had just won the ultimate of all lotteries. While I’ll never get my head around the idea of someone paying that retail price and then never wearing it, I’m secretly glad they do as otherwise I would never wear brands. Ha ha ha ha

Anyhow, back to the store. The back section is a treasure trove of vintage finds at reasonable prices.

Back near the counter and entry, you can take the narrow creaky steps up to the gallery, which overlooks the hall. Here you can also find funky evening wear and dress-ups including a masks, pirate vests, karate and Hawaiian fancy dress outfits.

It’s a shop that has never let me down. Give it a go.

Following on with our mission to explore our new home town, we decided to venture north and up to the hills during the Easter long weekend. 

The three of us ended up at Dayboro … rather fitting ‘a day at Dayboro‘.

I have never been here. For those like me who have no idea where it is, it’s on the way to Woodford and about 40 minutes out of north Brisbane. Basically go to Stafford or Everton Park and keep driving to the hills.

I can’t recommend it highly enough for a day trip.

I really loved everything about this town. From the drive through the hills to the great little stores, Dayboro is a very cool place to visit.

I was also impressed at the vintage/retro feel to the town. Right across the road from the cool pub (complete with big fig trees out the front and wooden picnic benches) there is an antique shop and a Bohemian vintage shop. Well worth the look.

Further down the street – heading towards the renown Dayboro bakery – is a vintage clothes store and one of the best little delis I’ve been to in a long time.

I’ll let the photos tell the story.

But before I do, after your little trip through Dayboro take the time to continue to the hills and head towards Mt Mee and drive along the tourist drive – it’s simply stunning.

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY blame my grandma for my love of op shops.

It all started before I went to school. As I was a very excitable (another term for talkative and a little bit of a handful) girl, my long-suffering parents would ship me off to my grandma’s for visits (aka time out for them).

In the beginning, my grandma would bribe me by saying we would visit op shops and if I was good (and didn’t wander off or mess up my dress which she had painstakingly made from fabrics she collected on said shopping trips) I was rewarded with a sweet treat. I’ve always been a sucker for cake.

At the start, and while biding my time before an attack on the cake stand, I used the time in shops to work out ways to remove the stupid girly ribbons from my unruly hair without my eagle-eyed grandma noticing, but then over time I began to explore the wonders of the charity shops we visited.

At first I would wander behind my stylish grandma and just touch all the beautiful fabric, but I soon began to pick up her tricks of the trade.  Over time, her lessons on what fabrics to look for, how to look for good-quality labels and find quality clothes that with a little nip and a tuck there, would make a stunning and timeless piece began to connect.

And then it happened. One day we went to our favourite charity store – I still remember it as it was two streets away from a wonderful cake kitchen where the owner used to slip me ginger cookies with my milkshake – and lo and behold they had a sale. Fill a bag with anything from the store – for just $2.

Grandma handed me my own shopping bag and, in doing so, gave me the plastic reins to my lifelong passion for op shops. I never looked back, even when my friends at school teased me about my love of op shopping, while they all wore the SAME doc martins, surf shirts and denim skirts.

Even at university – a time when you are meant to be out there and forging ahead your own personality – I had some peers who would sit back with a look of disdain on their faces when I told them I got the vintage skirt and scarf from an op shop in the Annerley.

But, just like other female pioneers, I forged ahead. I even decided to launch my own education campaign by taking friends (and later discerning fashionista customers as I liked to call them) on op shop tours in my battered baby poo-coloured Toyota Corolla, which itself should have been in a vintage shop.

Over the years I have found some treasures, including a floor-length 1970s vintage Chanel dress, a stunning Spanish-influenced red velvet skirt, bohemian threads before they were bohemian, and endless classic books that are no longer in print.

I’ve found old suitcases (some even appeared in our wedding), stunning furniture pieces, gorgeous costume and estate jewellery, artwork, a funky jacket complete with someone’s concert ticket stub from seeing a band in St Kilda in the 80s.

I have also picked up day-to-day clothing, which has suited all of my many jobs (with a quarter of the price tag) from journalist to corporate businesswoman.

My favourite joke at barbecues is that through my op shops I’ve supported just about every charity there is and how can my husband question my shopping sprees when I say “but it supports charities”.

But I have noticed a trend in the past five years. No longer am I receiving odd looks when I say “oh this old thing? I picked this up at an op shop in West End.” Now people are saying “so can you give me some tips on how to get some similar bargains myself, I’m so tired of wearing all the same stuff as everyone else.”

Op shopping is no longer considered daggy. It’s considered normal for anyone – from any social status – to rifle through racks upon racks at charity shops for that special item, at a fraction of the price of new items or those seen at the growing number of vintage shops there seem to be.

On top of making use of the opportunity for budget-conscious shopping, people are opting for op shops in search of their own piece of individuality and for the joy of the search. They like going into a shop, rifling through racks of clothes and coming out with a handful of items (while not breaking the bank) which are unique and theirs.  I dare anyone not to give themselves a mental high five when they stumble upon a designer item (with the tags still on) at a ridiculously low price.

For me, op shops provide you with individual pieces, with their own stories, while providing worthwhile charities funding for their great work. It’s philanthropy at play, and I get a nice jacket for my trouble.

It is truly the piece that just keeps on giving. And as for my grandma, if you see a red-haired woman in Indooroopilly, with cake crumbs on her stylish lapel, rifling through racks. Stay clear she’s a professional.

Happy op shopping!

Fifteen tips

1. Always try on clothes before buying. Don’t think “ahh it’s cheap it won’t matter” as you’ll end up with a closet full of clothes you can’t wear.
2. Never go expecting to find something. It’s not a retail store – it’s pot luck.
3. Always go around stock-take sale time or at the end of seasons. Op shops will do clearouts.
4. You will always find winter clothes at summer time and vice versa. We usually throw winter clothes out when we are sweltering and summer clothes out in winter when we can’t think about wearing that little amount of clothes.
5. Always visit op shops around wealthier suburbs – they throw out the best stuff with store tags often still in place. They have the best finds and designer clothes. I always shop at op shops in select suburbs of Brisbane, North Sydney, inner-city Melbourne and around Noosa.
6. Don’t think op shops are just for skinny minnies – most of us throw clothes out when we start to lose weight so often you will find brilliant clothes in all sizes (some often with the tags still on).
7. Take the time to explore. Sometimes you can quickly run in and grab something in less than five minutes but often you need time to go through the racks.
8. Op shops have cottoned on to the fact that people don’t think there are bargains so have often done the hard work for you – and have label racks now.
9. The bigger chain of op shop are generally more expensive than the little charity shops.
10. Join VIP lists – Endeavour has a great VIP program where it will often announce fashion parade and new-season events.
11. Try to have cash on you. While most op shops now have EFPTOS facilities, it is easier for the charities if you have money.
12. Make sure you donate back. Give your old clothes and items back to charity bins (don’t dump outside the bins as that is just rude!).
13. The staff are volunteers – give them an extra smile. They are legends.
14. All money goes to charity. If you can, round up your bill. If it comes to $11.50 give them $12. At the end of day, op shops are generally the main source of income for many charities.
15. Op shops aren’t just for clothes. Some op shops (particularly the Lifeline at Virginia) have wonderful knick knacks and furniture. 

As the weather continues acting like a crazy mo fo here in Brisbane, I decided to make this post about things that have grabbed my attention lately.

—

First off, if you haven’t already, make sure you get down to the Lifeline Bookfest. It finishes today (Monday January 28) and the last day (ie SALE DAY they call it) is amazing.

In fact, they say sale day has become almost as famous as the event itself. I went last week and picked up some great finds. Cracked me up how many Dan Brown books I found…piles and piles of the Da Vinci Code. That’s because it’s crap people….crap I say.

On Sale Day apparently the books in the priced section all come down to a $1 and books in the unpriced section become their classic ‘fill-a-bag’ special where you fill a bag for $5, or fill three for $10.

The High Quality section becomes their priced section – that is, all books $2.50. The rare and collectables – in the glass cabinet – are half price. The bookfest is at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Merivale St, South Brisbane.

If possible (weather permitting and you aren’t in danger) get down there today. All money goes to the great charity.
—

In case you don’t know, I am obsessed with Babushka dolls. LOVE, love, love them.

It’s with this in mind, that my lovely husband decided to surprise me with a Babushka doll birthday cake, which was modeled off the authentic Russian Babushka doll he gave me for my birthday.

I’ve added a photo of the real Babushka doll and the photo of the cake. How great does it look?

The cake!

What a cake…I have to give the amazing Brisbane cake-making team a plug here as they did an amazing job and even made a baby wheat and dairy free version for me as well.

They are called Cakestar (www.cakestar.com.au) – check them out.
____
Lastly, recently while in Melbourne for the Australian Open (I know, never thought I would be saying that I actively went and watched sport live – I blame Mr Scout) I was on the hunt for the perfect cup of coffee to feed my caffeine addiction.

I had heard great things about the funky trio who ran a small hole-in-the-wall coffee shop in the middle of the subway Campbell Avenue (under Degraves Street).

These cool dudes love their coffee! So much so that when a customer in line (before us) was too engrossed in his phone and missed his order, the dude yelled out “hey get off twitter and get this coffee while it’s hot.”

Rude or not (I say not!), I don’t care…it’s brilliant coffee.

Cup of Truth – best baristas in Melbourne.

.