The Weekend Edit

Posted on 11 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.

The Love Local Markets at The Plot

Bring the whole family to The Plot at 12 Beltana Road, Pialligo on Sunday 13 December for Pialligo Estate’s Love Local Markets.

Spend the day perusing fresh food, drink and lifestyle stalls from various regional businesses while enjoying the relaxed vibe and knowing that every time you open your wallet, you’re supporting a family trade, local business owners and regional communities.

With free kids activities, a Moxom + Whitney workshop, Bison Christmas workshop, Christmas High Tea & more; there will be plenty to see and do!

You’ll also have the chance to check out the newly opened Pialligo Market Grocer, as well as the Farm Shop Café, as well as interior designer and homewares shops, Wren & Rabbit Interiors and Pink Flamingo Interiors, and Bisonhome.

Please note this is a free event, however we require registration for COVID safety compliance. Click here to register your attendance.

Happening Sunday 13 December from 9 am – 5 pm at The Plot, 12 Beltana Rd, Pialligo.

Underground Spirits’ Urban Distillery Experience at Regatta Point

Canberra’s own Underground Spirits is now offering Canberra’s first ever lakeside gin experience this summer.

Underground Spirits is offering two unique Urban Distillery Experiences at Regatta Point’s Canberra and Region Visitors Centre.

The Spirit of Canberra – Underground Experience is an immersive experience sharing Underground Spirits’ history, the history of gin, production processes and botanicals, plus an exploration of the G&T and how to perfect it.

Underground Spirits Mixed Up! Tasting & Cocktail Masterclass is a longer session whereby guests join a mixologist for a cocktail making demo and tasting. Both experiences include sample tastings and drinks.

Underground Spirits’ Urban Distillery Experiences operate at the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre at Regatta Point, Thursday – Sunday each week, with various session times available.

Pre-booking is essential. Check session times and dates for availability. These are small group experiences, places are limited.

Happening until 31 January across various dates.

See undergroundspirits.com.au for more information and to book.

Jazz Up Late at Verity Lane Market

Feel good jazz at Verity Lane Market. Tight arrangements and groovy pockets.

Due to COVID-19 capacity restrictions Jazz Up Late will be run twice. Each event will go for fifty-five minutes.

Happening Saturday 12 December from 8.30–9.25 and 10–10.55 pm at Verity Lane Market, Verity Lane, City.

See cimf.org.au/luminous-christmas-events/12/12/2020/jazz-up-late-the-pocket-trio for more information.

Sunset Cinema Canberra

Canberra’s favourite outdoor cinema is back! From the lush surrounds of the Botanic Gardens, enjoy the sun going down and the stars coming out as Sunset cinema brings you the ultimate Australian summer experience.

Sunset Cinema is perfect for getting back outdoors and in this time of social distancing the event is tailored for your safety, whilst maintaining the signature Sunset vibe you know and love.

Along with government approval, Sunset Cinema brings their knowledge and experience to create a fun and COVID safe event for Canberrans. Whether you’re treating the kids, catching up with girls or taking someone on a date to remember, there’s something to delight everyone this season.

This summer will be a real showstopper with fresh new releases The Prom, Trolls World Tour and The Witches. There is also a feast of festive movies, watch timeless classics Love Actually and Home Alone to get your Christmas spirit jingling.

Your welcome to pack a picnic hamper or satisfy your taste buds at the yummy food trucks.

Enjoy the warm evening air with a refreshing drink from the licensed bar and stock up on all your essential movie snacks like fresh, hot popcorn.

Happening 10 December – 14 February at The Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross Street, Acton.

See sunsetcinema.com.au/canberra for more information.

The Pop Inn at Haig Park (with live music)

The Pop Inn. Credit: Eldad Photography.

Join The Pop Inn team on Saturday 12 December in Haig Park (at the end of Lonsdale Street) for some fine wine and good times.

Goldseeker (led by Jess Green) and DJ Mr Michael will be providing the perfect soundtrack while you sip and lounge all afternoon. Nearby, the Haig Park Paw Party: Santa Paws Edition will be happening from 1-3 pm!

To maintain a COVID Safe environment for staff and patrons, additional processes and procedures will be in place:

– Please see staff to provide your first name and contact number before taking a seat.
– If you find yourself queueing, please ensure you remain 1.5m from others.
– Please stay home if you are unwell.
– Pop Inn staff will explain any other measures as necessary.

Happening Saturday 12 December from 1–3 pm at Haig Park, Braddon.

See Facebook 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.

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.

CBR Gals Network Turns Two

The CBR Gals Network, one of Canberra’s not for profit organisations for women, will host a special local small business sampling event on the GoBoat fleet on Saturday 12 December.

Entering its second year since its inception, The CBR Gals Network will host its most innovative event yet—harnessing the electric-powered GoBoat fleet to propel 70 women and 18 local (and mostly individual proprietor) brands across Lake Burley Griffin for two hours.

In this intimate and empowering event, attendees will have the opportunity to sample locally sourced nibbles and libations, and network with other like-minded women who also seek out local opportunities to connect with their community.

Places are limited. The ticket price is $40, and includes nibbles, local wines, and networking opportunities, with further fun to be had at The Dock after disembarkment.

Happening Saturday 12 December from 12.30-3 pm at GoBoat Canberra.

For ticketing and more information visit cbrgals.com/event/gals-turn-two

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.

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.

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.