Six things to do this weekend (that aren’t sitting on the couch)
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What’s on in Canberra this weekend? Well, not much.
Things are changing rapidly in Canberra as we work together to keep our community safe. But while we remain in lockdown, that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun at home on the weekend.
To help you beat the lockdown blues we’ve found six things to do this weekend that aren’t sitting on the couch.
Join a workout class
This Saturday 28 August, Local Health Performance Centre, Eighty8 have teamed up with YMCA to keep Canberra moving. The free event will run for an hour and be a mix of HIIT and Pilates training by qualified Eighty8 coaches. Designed to support and improve mental health, get locals active and send an important message that we are all in it together, the session format is designed to suit all training levels. In addition to live streaming the workout, local DJ Reinhold will be streaming to boost your weekend energy!
On Sunday 29 August the Canberra Dance Collective (CDC) is hosting The Living Room Project, a day of online workshops for dancers around Australia, featuring some of the nation’s best teachers and choreographers. Included in the impressive line-up of teachers is household names Mitch Wynter; Australian dancer and choreographer with Cirque Du Soleil and Dream Dance Company along with Robbie Kmetoni, winner of SYTYCD Australia Season 3.
You can also check out this list of local businesses bringing their classes to the home so you can work out in comfort (and with minimal embarrassment).
Go for a walk
The ACT Government has encouraged everyone to stay within their local area—even when exercising—so take these 19+ ideas for Canberra walks as inspiration to find new walks in your backyard. You’ll never know what you’ll find and it’s a great way to get your body moving.
Visit the Museum or Gallery (virtually)
While their doors may be closed, the National Museum of Australia has virtually opened its exhibitions to the public! Explore the stunning collection via YouTube and watch Q&A sessions with curators and staff to see a side of the collections you’ve never seen. Fun at-home activities for children and families everywhere are also available via the website.
Art lovers can still access the collections from the National Gallery of Australia from the safety of home with a selection of virtual offerings available to people of all ages. From digital displays of exhibitions, including Know My Name Part One, to Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery London talks and tours available on demand, there’s something for everyone online.
Host a virtual dinner party
While the takeaway gods have blessed us with this lockdown with more than 200 hospitality businesses offering delicious takeaway options, cooking is a great way to kill some time. To make it even more fun, host a virtual dinner party and invite your friends and family to join in over Zoom. Need some cooking inspo? Try this recipe for beef and carrot dumplings with chilli black vinegar sauce or if you have a spare loaf of plain old white bread make caramelised onion and gruyère tart. Comfort food more your thing? You’ll find five faves here—and for wow factor you can’t go past this Baked Potato and Brie. For dessert you can make a bread and butter pudding that’s just as good as mum’s or creamy honeycomb ice cream topped with fresh coffee—a perfect sweet finish.
If cooking isn’t your forte, try this niftily entitled ‘Deconstructed Nachos Bake’ that can be thrown together in under ten minutes. Truly.
Have a virtual cocktail hour
A virtual dinner party isn’t complete without the Martini Whisperer’s Quarantini. Invented especially for HerCanberra during our 2020 lockdown, it’s an essential to kick the night off. For a relaxed evening with your bubble buddy try this recipe for the best sangria ever or put a twist on a classic and make rosé sangria with nectarine, blood orange and raspberries.
If you have a few extra minutes up your sleeve, try your hand at making blackberry and thyme fizz for a pretty and delicious drink.
For the chocoholics out there, a boozy spiced dark hot chocolate is the best way to end the night.
Have a concert at home
On Saturday 28 August, acclaimed singer, songwriter and teacher Lisa Richards is hosting an intimate solo show for brand new songs from her house in Canberra just for you.
For $20 you get to vote on the songs you want to see included on the next Lisa Richards release and see your name emblazoned in the credits of the new album as ‘A & R Executives @ Fierce and Bright Productions’. Who doesn’t want to be involved in a lockdown record label without the financial risks?!
For more information visit lisarichardsmusic.com/event.
Have a younger audience at home? Hold your own in-house silent disco. Just pop some headphones on their heads and let them dance all over the house to their favorite tunes (and you won’t have to listen to Let It Go for the 300th time).
