The Weekend Edit

Posted on 4 December, 2020

Things are changing in Canberra as we work together to keep our community safe.

While restrictions are lifting, we strongly encourage you to keep physical distance between each other when you leave the house and be mindful of the current restrictions.

Let’s stay safe and sensible, Canberra, and we’ll get through this together.

Dairy Road Market

Credit: 5 Foot Photography.

Dairy Road Market is bringing together local street food from The Forage, wines by Cellar Door and suitcase markets by Suitcase Rummage across Friday 4 and Sunday 6 December.

Each day will feature a unique lineup of vendors spread throughout the Dairy Road gardens accompanied by live music.

The Dairy Road Market can be enjoyed for 90 minutes at a time. Contact details will be required during registration for contact tracing purposes. The event site will be cleaned and sanitised between each session.

Happening 4 and 6 December at Dairy Road, Fyshwick.

See Facebook for more information.

Dirty Janes Twilight Christmas Shopping Event

Dirty Janes wants to thank Canberra for its support in 2020 with a Twilight Christmas Shopping event this December.

On Friday 4 December, Dirty Janes will be running its Christmas Twilight Shopping Event.

It is partly a fun way to make the demands of pre-Christmas shopping feel a little less onerous and a little more fun.

But it is also a thank you from Dirty Janes’ founder Jane Crowley (pictured above) and her 90 stallholders to all the people in Canberra who have supported the vintage emporium since it opened earlier this year amid the COVID outbreak.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Dress with a touch of vintage
• Food & drink stalls available to purchase from
• Prizes on offer…winners will be grinners
• Expect to see some random acts of kindness
• Superb shopping is on offer, with Christmas gift ideas for everyone who is near and dear to you
• You will have some good old fashioned FUN! We could all use a little more of that to round off 2020, don’t you think?!

Cost: Free, but bookings required at trybooking.com/BMMLV

Happening Friday 4 December from 5 pm-8.30 pm at Dirty Janes Canberra, 80 Collie Street, Fyshwick.

See dirtyjanes.com/whats-on for more information.

Big Taste of Christmas at Farrah’s Liquor Collective

Are you gearing up for an indulgent Christmas after a year we would rather all put behind us? Are you combing the net for recipes and planning an indulgent feast?

If so, what’s on the drinks menu? Matt Farrah is here to help. The man behind Farrah’s Liquor Collective is planning Canberra’s ultimate pre-Christmas tasting experience.

On Saturday 5 December, Matt will be throwing open the doors of his massive Fyshwick warehouse from 9-6 pm for a pre-Christmas tasting featuring over 200 wines, spirits and beers.

Not only will you be able to work out exactly what Prosecco is going to pair best with your seafood entrée, what Riesling will set off your glazed ham main to greatest effect and what dessert wine will wash the pavlova down perfectly, but you can stock up on all of your Christmas season alcohol requirements in one go.

There will also be catering from Eat Your Words between 12-4 pm.

Happening Saturday 5 December from 9 am to 6 pm, with nibbles on offer between 12-4 pm at 8 Townsville Street, Fyshwick.

See farrahsliquorcollective.com for more information.

Canberra Aqua Park

That’s right, Canberra Aqua Park will return for another summer of blow-up obstacle fun in the heart of Canberra on Saturday 28 November.

The 1,600 square metre inflatable obstacle course is located at the Tarcoola Reach swimming area (park at Black Mountain Peninsula).

Canberra Aqua Park will run through the warmer months and we bet it will be a popular spot for getting the kids out of the house over the school holidays, with 50-minute sessions starting from just $20 per person.

But don’t fret—those of you that are young at heart are most definitely welcome to partake in all the fun too as there is no age limit—although there is a minimum age of five.

Happening  Saturday 28 November 2020 – March 2021 at the Tarcoola Reach swimming area adjacent to Black Mountain Peninsula.

See canberraaquapark.com/tickets for more information.

The Coordinate Christmas Lights Trail

2 Robert Lewis Circuit, Gordon.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas on the Coordinate Christmas Light Trail.

Created to give Canberrans the scoop on where is putting on the most epic Christmas displays this December, there are already 15 houses on the Coordinate Christmas Trail map—and counting.

With anyone able to include their house or street on the map (which you can find here), the trail is available to download in lists of houses and streets across North Canberra, South Canberra and Queanbeyan/Jerrabomberra. This gives you an easy ‘trail’ to follow to discover the best displays.

Houses and streets can even upload pictures, so you’ll know what you’re in for. Want to add your house or street to the map? Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.

See mix106.com.au/competition/mix106-3s-christmas-lights-trail for more information.

The Wharf Revue: Good Night and Good Luck

Credit: Rene Vaile.

Don’t miss out on the Wharfies last hurrah!

After 20 years the comedy institution The Wharf Revue bids farewell to the unforgettable trio of Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott. In 2020 they will reunite with their dazzling accomplice Mandy Bishop for one final victory lap.

It’s good night and good luck to the comedy juggernaut that’s been keeping the bastards honest since 2000.

The bad news is that the planet is on fire and our world leaders are barely qualified to run a chook raffle. And the good? The Wharf Revue has fake news, fake hair and real laughs in abundance. No one is safe and no topic too taboo in this night of sketches, songs and side-splitting satire. You’ll laugh! You’ll cry! You’ll want to move to New Zealand!

“Its best material is so hysterical that twice I was brought to tears—an activity usually reserved for funerals, Puccini and hitting my thumb with a hammer.” Sydney Morning Herald.

Happening 1-19 December at Canberra Theatre Centre.

See canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/the-wharf-revue-good-night-good-luck for more information.

Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now

[section] Yvette Coppersmith Nude self portrait, after Rah Fizelle 2016, oil on linen, 91.5 (H) x 66.0 (W) cm, Private collection, © Yvette Coppersmith.

This exhibition is part of a series of ongoing initiative by the National Gallery to increase the representation of artists who identify as women in its artistic program, featuring lesser-known and leading artists such as Margaret Preston, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Destiny Deacon and Julie Rrap, this exhibition tells a new story of Australian art.

Highlights include a floor-to-ceiling presentation of artists’ portraits in a variety of mediums, the work of pioneering performance artists Bonita Ely and Jill Orr and a complete edition of Tracey Moffatt’s first major series of photographs, Something more 1989. Gemma Smith has been commissioned to paint the walls of the galleries.

By bringing together artists from different times, places and cultures, this exhibition proposes another history, upending the assumption that modern and contemporary Australian art is a male-dominated narrative.

Showing until 31 January 2021 at the National Gallery of Australia, Parkes.

See nga.gov.au for more information.

Lightbulb Improv: Christmas Special

Join Lightbulb for lighthearted fun as they deliver a night of Christmas inspired comedy. In the spirit of Christmas, they’ll bring you improvised carols and comedy sketches. It’s a variety show like no other as it’s completely made up on the spot!

Lightbulb Improv is Canberra’s premier improvised comedy ensemble. They’ve performed in comedy festivals and international festivals and love bringing their improvised magic to Smiths Alternative.

It’s been a tough year, so they’re back and keen to bring some Christmas joy! In a lively and daring journey, the players craft stories, games, songs and fearless theatre that frees the mind, delights the intellect and basically distills the meaning of life.

Happening Thursday 3 December from 7–9 pm at Smith’s Alternative, City.

See smithsalternative.com/events/lightbulb-improv for more information.

Local Yoga’s free fundraising yoga classes at Gorman Arts Centre

Local Yoga and Gorman Arts Centre are offering free fundraising yoga classes all through the upcoming summer months.

Classes will be held in the tranquil courtyard gardens of Gorman Arts Centre every Sunday morning at 9 am until March 2021. Classes are provided free of charge to encourage awareness and donations towards Canberra’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service.

If ever there was a year for Canberrans to embrace the physical and mental benefits of modern yoga, it’s been the rollercoaster ride of 2020.

Local Yoga is a brand new Canberra-based initiative committed to socially conscious yoga—not only making yoga more accessible for all Canberrans, but also raising support and awareness for Canberra’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service.

Happening Sundays from 9 am at Gorman Arts Centre, Batman Street, Braddon.

See localyogaproject.com for more information.

Mov’In Car Drive In Cinema

Take part in an extraordinary movie night experience at Mov’In Car Drive In Cinema.

Mixing multi-award international movies with the latest blockbusters, the unmissable movies of the year, fantastic Disney classics, exciting Japanese animations, and horror movie nights.

The drive-in cinema is serving pizza, popcorn, and drinks which are delivered straight to your car.

Also serving “all you can eat pizza” every Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Happening until 21 December at the Questacon Carpark, Parkes.

See movincar.com.au for more information.

Music for Canberra presents A Musical Celebration

After what has been a challenging year for all of us, Music for Canberra is delighted to be back with some fantastic musical programming at our end of year Musical Celebration.

With concerts from the young and talented String Stream Ensembles, James McCusker Orchestra and the Canberra Youth Orchestra these day and night performances will be jam-packed full of music from their Concerto Competition winners and small ensembles, featuring piano accordion player Anton Wurzer and diverse repertoire from Vaughan Williams, Vieuxtemps, Tchaikovsky and more!

Music for Canberra is delighted to be performing at the Llewellyn Hall and can’t wait to fill the concert hall with the stunning sounds of live performance that we have all missed in 2020.

Line up:

1.30 – 3.30 pm – String Stream Ensembles
4.30 – 6 pm – James McCusker Orchestra
7.30 – 9.30 pm – Canberra Youth Orchestra

Happening Saturday 5 December from 1.30–9.30 pm at Llewellyn Hall, ANU School of Music

See musicforcanberra.org.au/whats-on for more information.

Exhibition: Pub Rock

Pub Rock is your backstage pass to 70s and 80s sounds and scenes.

Celebrate the people, places and sounds of Australian pub rock and its enduring impact on our nation’s identity.

Get in amongst the staged portraits, publicity shots and grungy energy of live performance as pioneering acts like The Easybeats, Little Pattie and Johnny O’Keefe share the stage with global players and local favourites. The line-up includes AC/DC, Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel, INXS, Nick Cave, The Bee Gees, Kylie Minogue, Paul Kelly, Yothu Yindi, Marcia Hines and many more.

This vibrant (sometimes sweaty) exhibition of homegrown rock ‘n’ roll, punk and pop features works from the NPG collection alongside images by leading Australian music photographers.

Showing until 12 February 2021 at the National Portrait Gallery.

See portrait.gov.au/exhibitions/pub-rock-2020 for more information.

Material Subjects

Material Subjects is an abstract student-led public art exhibition and lecture series that explores themes of design, sustainability and ritual.

The exhibition is a collaboration between the University of Canberra’s Faculty of Arts and Design and Canberra-based wellness brand Adytum. It sees a collection of student works on display in the semi-permanent library throughout the month of December.

The artworks address the theme of sustainability and how materials deemed as waste can, in fact, be used as a resource.

Many of the works have been produced through domestic waste streams in students’ homes. For example, students have reconfigured plastic milk bottles to use as the plastic within a 3D printer to print their object, and glass bottles have been crushed and cast into new lighting elements.

Accompanying each of the objects is a short fictive response from Ph.D candidate of creative writing, Eve Nucifora, as well as two public lectures.

The first will be hosted the evening of Thursday 3 December by Sam Tomkins and will centre around our relationship to objects that surround us, their life and death and the stories embedded within them.

The second lecture will be hosted by Masters of Architecture Student, Nathan Pauletto, the evening of Thursday 10 December and will focus his thesis theme ‘communicating the incommunicable’.

While each lecture will be open to a limited in-person audience, they will also be available for live streaming online. For more information visit Eventbrite.

Showing until Sunday 20 December at the Adytum Library, G13/27 Lonsdale Street, Braddon.

See facebook.com/UCMaterialSubjects for more information.

Ink in the Lines

Behind every tattoo is a story of remembrance, mateship, identity and healing.

The Australian War Memorials current exhibition Ink in the Lines showcases the symbolic and personal significance of tattoos for members and veterans of the Australian Defence Forces.

The exhibition explores the varied reasons for tattoos, including a sense of belonging, self-expression and honouring those who have been lost.

An emotion, yet incredibly intriguing exhibition that explores alternative art forms and acknowledges the personal commitment of our special forces.

Due to the need to contain the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), visitors need to book free, timed tickets to view our galleries and special exhibitions. A free Galleries and Commemorative Area ticket includes access to our special exhibitions.

Showing until 27 January 2021 at The Australian War Memorial.

See awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions/ink-in-the-lines for more information.

Australian Dreams: Picturing our Built World

For over 200 years, painters, printmakers and photographers have been in a creative conversation with the built environment. Reflecting progress, social ideas, understanding of the world and how we have changed over time, the exhibition Australian Dreams: Picturing our Built World shows how, through images, these artists have documented, interpreted, and celebrated a variety of buildings from the Opera House and Flinders Street Station to the inner city terrace and the humble bush cottage.

Sometimes beautiful, sometimes ugly, these buildings are the backdrops to life. They reflect a sense of identity, hopes and dreams, rendered in bricks and mortar.

Drawing exclusively from the collections of the National Library, the exhibition features photographs, prints, drawings and paintings by Augustus Earle, Conrad Martens, S T Gill, Eugene von Guérard, Lionel Lindsay, Harold Cazneaux, Olive Cotton, Mark Strizic, David Moore, Max Dupain, Jeff Carter, Ruth Maddison, Wolfgang Sievers and John Gollings.

Free entry.

Showing until 31 January 2021 at the National Library of Australia, Parkes.

See nla.gov.au/exhibitions/australian-dreams-picturing-our-built-world for more information.

Feature image: 5 Foot Photography