Music | Current Picks #2

It has been a while since I indulged in the singer-songwriter genre but it is definitely a genre close to my heart. Within that genre specifically, is one made entirely of women who live or grew up locally to me. Todays current music picks is a collation of three women from Brisbane, or nearby, that are winning in the folk singer-songwriter genre. 

Sahara Beck

I start with Sahara because she sparked the idea behind this post. I first met Sahara at BIGSOUND Live last year (2013) whilst running one of their venues. If I hadn't been informed I was looking after a minor there would have been next to no indication that this young woman was so. With maturity beyond her years and lyrics to reflect that, I hope to see this talent flow on for years to come. If you get a chance to see this young lass in the next year or two, take it because she won't be a small 'local artist' for long. 

Life | Night Noodle Markets

As a part of Good Food Month that is happening in Brisbane this July, there is a two week (11 days) long celebration of local Asian food vendors. I love noodles and when I saw the Night Noodle Market advertised I was pretty keen to go. However, the dreamy abundance of noodles I had imaged was lacking; there was about one place vending noodles at the markets. 

Life | Flashback Films at Palace Cinemas

Depending on your demographic, there are certain films that came out (either in cinemas or on VHS) in your childhood or teen-dom that you will never forget and bond with your peers over. For me, The Lion King and Matilda were the ones watched endlessly on repeat; a shared obsession for my brother and I. However, I can happily say that I can quote and seamlessly remember most lyrics to a big chunk of Disney classics. 
The clever chickens at Palace Cinemas have noticed our generation's penchants for bathing in nostalgia. They created the concept of playing classic movies on weekends over a few months and are now into their second season of Flashback Films. This season is almost half way through so I'm a bit late with this blog post but there are so many good films left to see. 
I saw the 1951 original animation of Alice in Wonderland today and was reminded of how amazingly psychedelic the cartoon is for one aimed at children. After looking through the program I am definitely heading back to see The Little Mermaid, The Adams Family and Aladdin. 
There are Palace Cinemas all over Australia so you can catch this festival nationwide. I definitely recommend going because watching your favourite childhood classics on the big screen is incomparable to watching them alone at night on your laptop (like I've been doing for many years). 
Hope you've all had a great weekend! Erin xx

Shopping | Dragonberry Pop Up Shop

Hi lovelies! Last Friday and Saturday Dragonberry, a popular Brisbane boutique, had a pop up store in the Valley. The store boasted of discounted stock with nothing being more than $10. Of course my interest was peaked and I toddled off cash in hand. 

Life | Eat Street Markets

Hi lovelies! Bit of a change in today's post. I have been lugging my camera around much more frequently lately. Over the course of owning my camera photography has become a big part of my life. Instead of just leaving photos like this untouched on a hard drive I wanted to show them off. 

A couple of Fridays back I visited the Eat Street Markets. These markets have been running for a little while and held at the Hamilton wharf. To fit the location all the stalls are housed in disused cargo containers. 

This isn't the place to go to stock up on fruit and veggies, but they do have a great selection of stalls. From vintage clothing, to jewellery to home wares it all makes for a very tempting browse. The food stalls are also fab. I had the most delicious fresh juice whilst there. Make sure to go with cash though as many of stalls don't accept card and the ATM line can be lengthy. 

With the wine and cocktail bars as well as the plethora of dinner options this would make for a great night with friends or your partner. 

When we went around 7pm it was jam packed with people, so you might be better off heading in earlier or later. The Eat Street Markets run every Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 10pm. For more info on parking and the like check out their website here. 

If you're Brisbane based I'd urge you to check it out.

Where are your favourite markets?

Jess x

2013 | Yearly Round-Up

Some of the my favourite places, adventures and sounds from the year that was. 

Eat and Drink

Next Door Kitchen and Bar/South Bank, Brisbane

If you follow A Rose and a Peony or my personal account on Instragram then you may be aware of my slight addiction to this modern tapas-style 1920s themed bar and restaurant. Having tried most of the items on the menu, past and present due to lack of self control, the one item that is constantly on the cards is Truffle Parmesan Fries. Other favourites include Wagyu Meatballs, Slow Roasted Lamb Neck (sadly, no longer available), and their signature Giggle Juice. 

Lefty's Old Time Music Hall/ Caxton Street, Brisbane 

The most fun you'll have in a bar on Caxton Street, if not in Brisbane. Walking through the front door transports you to a western saloon complete with large taxidermy and a constant stream of country music (mostly live). Their specialty drink of freshly juiced apples with your spirit of choice can be seen in most punters hands all night, every night (often with a complimentary bag of popcorn). If you're not averse to a bit of country music this venue is definitely worth your time.

Hear


Pure Heroine/Lorde

Surprise, surprise, I too am a lover of Lorde's debut album. I won't join the crowd of many to review this album but it would be lying if I didn't include Pure Heroine in this list. This album filled my ears for weeks on end and I eagerly await her new releases. 

Days are Gone/Haim

Again, adding Days are Gone to my favourite albums of 2013 isn't radical. I only discovered this towards the end of the year but have already had plenty of time to fall in love with their sound. The combination of many genres makes this music so perfect and enjoyable; pop, folk, funk, disco, grunge and many more are all reason I love this album and trio of musicians. 

Circus In The Sky/Bliss n Eso

No matter the objections, my adoration for Australian hip-hip is endless. Bliss n Eso are one of many amazing Australian groups flourishing at the moment. This album was definitely a high point of my music for me this year. Containing originals, collaborations and reworks of great Australian tunes. 

Stray
California Design 1930 - 1965: Living in a Modern Way/Queensland Art Gallery

This exhibition that highlights one of my favourite design periods is still showing at the Queensland Art Gallery until mid-February. I find some aspects of design in this period incredibly inspiring as they were creating during a period of rapid expansion and fluctuating wealth. If you have time in the next month, I highly recommend this exhibition of beautiful design from the West Coast. 

The Mornington Peninsula/ Victoria, Australia

When this blog first started I was temporarily living in Melbourne. One of my favourite past times (as unemployment made shopping depressing) was to visit the towns along the picturesque Mornington Peninsula of Victoria. With a plethora of gardens and wineries there is a lot of entertainment available as pitstops along the coast. If you click the link above you can see a more in-depth post about my adventures there with blog regular, Honor. 

That completes just some of my favourites for the year that was 2013. I hope to discover many more places and hear many amazing albums in the year to come. Expect more regular favourite posts this year. 

Happy (belated) New Year!

Erin xx

Who is the Peony?

I woke up this morning and thought "Humph... my new shoes haven't arrived - what on earth am I going to blog about today?" However, this is the perfect excuse for me to introduce myself to you properly. 

My name is Erin and my favourite flower is a Peony (hence our blog's name). I'm a Brisbane (Australia) girl through and through but am spending the summer in Melbourne with my parents, hoping to return to my home town when the season is over. Recently graduated with a degree in Creative Industries, I have a passion for arts, music, and events management, and writing about the arts, fashion, music, and entertainment. 

There are a few things that may have come across in posts already but I'll give you a run down on my style. I wear what I like. "What I like" covers a ridiculous amount of bases.  Be it stylish, comfortable, practical, or "cool", what I like changes on a day to day basis and therefore so does my typical outfit. As much as I would love to dress in vintage atire all the time, the allure of recent fashions and clothes falling under the umbrella of "hippie" is too great. I love the thrill of finding a bargain at a thrift store equally as much as dishing out a small fortune for an immaculately kept one-off from the 1950s. I can't seem to refrain from whipping out my credit-card digits for a sneaky ASOS buy (who can resist the free shipping, seriously?) or a post-Christmas shoe sale. Nor can I hide the fact that I own 8+ pairs of fisherman/harem/dyed pants and live in them during the summer. I love frilly skirts, floral patterns, denim-on-denim, and combat boots. I also, on occasion, have dreams of wearing vintage Chanel suits to a job I am yet to attain. 

My major at university was music, my other passion. Finding and spreading the word of new kids on the music scene and introducing people to genres they wouldn't find in their normal hearing range is something I want to be involved with forever; especially music from Brisbane and Australia. 

So please, lend me your eyes twice a week and read about my post-uni, self-styled, music loving life.

Erin xx