Another BCC Library...

I recently wrote a post about my visit to the Grange City Council Library. There is another Northside library which has been a favourite of mine for quite a few years and not just for borrowing books! And that is Chermside Library.

There were even parking spots for seniors near the library steps...and seniors in this case meant 55+!

It was one of the first libraries to open on a Sunday and I have spent many a Sunday afternoon there, browsing the shelves or sitting in a comfortable chair looking through quilting mags while I sip a cappuccino. Yes, this library had a coffee shop!
After I retired I started going to Sisters of Stitch; a group who meet fortnightly in a meeting room in this library.

I once wrote a post about a visitor who came to Sisters of Stitch. Bob had taken up tapestry when he retired and he stitched his own designs.

This 90 year old charmed us,and we all loved his work especially his Tewkesbury Cathedral tapestry which had won a first prize in show.
I've been to an author talk in this library as well.

William McInnes

Then early this year I found out that the library was going to be demolished and a new 'you beaut' multi level building would replace it. There would be 2 levels of car parking, the library and also Council Offices/Business centre. This is all predicted to take 18 months. The library closed on July 19. Until the new library and Business Centre is built, there is a temporary Chermside library in some council offices on Gympie Rd,just past Chermside Shopping Centre. 

The temporary Chermside Library is inside this council offices building

Luckily Sisters of Stitch were allocated a meeting room in this temporary library accommodation. I've only made it to 1 SoS afternoon so far, and the new meeting room was fine, but I've heard that finding a park has become a bit of a problem. 

Yesterday I went to check out what was happening at the redevelopment site on Hamilton Rd...

The library building is well and truly gone now...and there is a huge hole. 

 While I was there, trucks kept leaving the site filled with dirt.

Very dusty!

The Chermside Pool Complex is still operating so the roadway is there for patrons to access the car park. 

Here is an artist's impression of what the finished Library/Business centre will look like by the end of 2016.

Just hope the cafe comes back! :-)

And it was free too!

Years ago when I worked part time, I used to attend the free lunchtime concerts in the Brisbane City Hall. A little while ago, I realised that I have been retired for 3 years and although I have had time to go to these concerts, I had not been to one!
So I have been checking the program online and have been to 3 in the last month or so...
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Beatles tour of Australia there was a concert by a local Beatles' tribute band, the Beatlegs.
( Excuse the poor quality of the photos...used my phone)

 The MC introduced the concert...

No photos till after the concert...that's the rule!

Here's a photo from the Beatlegs website. A friend told me that her cousin Paul (real name) , plays Paul in the group...he is right handed but plays the bass guitar left handed just like the 'real' Paul.

Another concert I went to, featured a terrific percussion group called Percussimo.

 Then there was the Elton John tribute concert featuring local entertainer, Greg Andrew...another enjoyable concert!

 Greg really did sound like Sir Elton...both in voice and piano playing

Brisbane City Council also sponsors author talks at local libraries...and these talks are also entertaining and free! DH has read and enjoyed 2 books by local author Matthew Condon, so we went along to Ashgrove library one evening to attend his talk. Matthew has been writing books about the 'corruption in high places' involving police and politicians...and he also focusses on the fact that many honest police officers and their families had their careers and lives ruined by the 'bad apples'...his books are allowing them to have a voice.

Matthew's book Jacks and Jokers which is a sequel to Three Crooked Kings

The hour and half went too quickly...he is an extremely interesting man.

So that's just a small part of the free entertainment provided by the Brisbane City Council...now I have a friend who loves the council's GOLD Program...(Growing Old and Living Dangerously)...but would I have time? lol