The Weekend Edit

Posted on 16 November, 2018

Your essential guide to what’s on in Canberra this weekend!

Every Monday for more than seven years, we’ve published This Week in The Can, our comprehensive guide to everything happening around the city this week – but sometimes it’s just too epic to get through!

That’s why each Friday we publish our Weekend Edit… Here are the things you shouldn’t miss!

MAKE IT SNOW AT WESTFIELD

FRIDAY NIGHT DRINKS AT OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE

A Canberra must-do during spring and summer, Friday Night Drinks at Old Parliament House is happening again for summer 2018/19!

With seating across Old Parliament House’s gorgeous Senate Courtyard and its adjoining restaurant Hoi Polloi, Friday Night Drinks is an all-weather event, and the expansive venue means that large groups are welcomed, no matter the size. With its Parliamentary Triangle location, lots of parking and regular public transport access it’s also a perfect meeting place.

Happening every Friday from 4 pm until late at Hoi Polloi, inside Old Parliament House.

See the website for more information.

Energeia

Set at Mount Majura Solar Farm, amid the ACT’s nation-leading renewable energy sector, Australian Dance Party’s ENERGEIA reveals the wasted and untapped power of ourselves and our environment.

An immersive dance and music experience, the performance runs entirely on battery, solar and kinetic (human) power.

ENERGEIA looks closely at current energy transactions and empowers human awareness of renewable and non-renewable cycles. Why are we energy hungry? What are the barriers to efficiency, to Energeia?

Contemporary dance and physical theatre by Stephen Gow, Alana Stenning, Olivia Fyfe, Alison Plevey and guest artist Adam Deusien. Sound Design by Andy McMillian (Doppel), Costume by Charne Esterhuizen (MAAK), Dramaturgy by Karla Conway.

Happening

*NOTE: Please arrive by 7:30pm, show will commence at 7:45pm.
(45min duration)

SANTA’S ENCHANTED GARDEN AT CANBERRA CENTRE

Santa arrives in-centre on Saturday 10 November, taking up residence in his brand-new Enchanted Garden. Father Christmas will be available for photos daily up until Christmas Eve…skip the queue and pre-book your ticket online.

Pre-booking will commence early November.

Level One, Canberra Centre, Bunda Street, City.

See the website for more information.

DESIGN CANBERRA FESTIVAL 2018

DESIGN Canberra is an annual festival which celebrates and promotes Canberra as a global city of design.

Design is in Canberra’s DNA. From the time of Walter and Marion Griffin’s visionary design a century ago, to iconic experimental modernist architecture of the 1950s and 60s, through to contemporary and sustainable design developments today, Canberra has always been a living design laboratory.

Throughout November 2018, over 100 events, exhibitions, talks, tours, markets, artist studios and open homes will be showcased as DESIGN Canberra. The festival is for all interests and ages and most events are free. Last year a record 94,500 people attended the festival.

Happening 5-25 November across various locations.

See the website for more information.

Presented by Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre.

DENDY DAMES: WIDOWS

Dendy Dames offers you a great excuse for a girls night out – a preview screening of Widows, including a drink on arrival and a goody bag for each guest.

From Academy Award®-winning director Steve McQueen (“12 YEARS A SLAVE”) and co-writer and bestselling author Gillian Flynn (“GONE GIRL”), comes a blistering, modern-day thriller set against the backdrop of crime, passion and corruption.

is the story of four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands’ criminal activities.

Set in contemporary Chicago, amidst a time of turmoil, tensions build when Veronica (Oscar® winner Viola Davis), Alice (Elizabeth Debicki), Linda (Michelle Rodriguez) and Belle (Cynthia Erivo) take their fate into their own hands and conspire to forge a future on their own terms.

Happening Friday 16 November from 6.30 pm at Dendy Cinemas, Canberra Centre, Bunda Street.

Buy tickets and find more information here.

KEEP CO WORKSHOP: DRAG MAKEUP WITH ETCETERA ETCETERA

Everyone has a queen inside of them! All you need is a little help to let it out!

Lead by kooky fashion queen Etcetera Etcetera (aka Oliver Levi-Malouf), this three hour workshop will give you a sneak peek into the world of drag makeup and unleash your inner diva! Focusing on eyebrow blocking, contouring, brows and colour theory, this workshop will give you the tools to take your world from drab to fab!

At the end of the workshop, join Etcetera Etetera as we take to the streets of Braddon for YES!Fest CBR – Marriage Equality Anniversary on Lonsdale St from 4pm onwards and watch her perform on stage for the crowds – celebrating queer love, equality and the first anniversary of saying ‘Yes!’ to Marriage Equality.

Happening Saturday 17 November from 1.30 – 4 pm at the Keep Co NewActon.

See Facebook for more information.

UC CAPITALS VS DANDENONG RANGERS

Come and witness the Caps take on the Dandenong Rangers for Round 6 of the WNBL 2018-19 Season this Sunday, November 18 at the National Convention Centre Canberra.

The Caps have just returned from Perth after a gruelling match against the Lynx where we lost to the league leaders by only 6 points. While this knocked the Caps down to third on the ladder, the WNBL claimed that superstar Kelsey Griffin had one of the performances of season, registering 30 points, 18 rebounds and a whopping 10 offensive boards!

The Capitals have created a lot of hype for themselves this season with Kia Nurse winning the WNBL Player of The Month and Paul Goriss taking out Coach of The Month.

Meanwhile, the Rangers have had a tough run in their last four games and will be putting up a tough fight to end their losing streak and to prove themselves as we fast approach the second half of the season.

As always, there will also be plenty of fun and entertainment off-court, with the Bleachers Sports Bar meet and march to the NCCC and the pre-game Go Big Zone, so make sure you’re there to see it all.

Happening from 11:30am on Sunday 18 November at the National Convention Centre.

Find more information via Facebook.

BREAKING THROUGH: 75 YEARS OF WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT

Why did it take so long for women to get elected? And once they were there, what was their experience within the parliament?

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first women elected to Australian Federal Parliament, Breaking Through exhibition at the Museum of Australian Democracy explores the journeys of 11 trailblazers who were the first to hold particular parliamentary positions.

These are stories of resilience, perseverance and ground-breaking achievements.

From 1943 when Dorothy Tangney and Enid Lyons were the first women elected to parliament through to today where woman have held the highest positions in all areas of parliament, including Prime Minister.

Breaking Through exhibition, recognises the significant contribution these women made in Australia’s democracy. Look back on their lives, uncover their motivations and what they view as their greatest achievements.

Told through never before seen portraits, each a unique representation by a young artist, and powerful stories of change-makers breaking through, this exhibition will inspire visitors to think about the role of women in parliament, what it took to get there and whether we’ve come far enough.

Showing until 28 August 2019 from 9 am – 5 pm daily at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

See the website for more information.

KIDS CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES

Democracy. Are you in?

Your voice, your hands and even your feet have the power to be heard. Our freedoms and our way of life have been built on the foundation of democracy. This living system is sustained through the participation of each and all of us. Democracy is sustained by you. Australian democracy is a work in progress. Curiously, at a time of stability and unparalleled economic growth, confidence in our political and social institutions is at its lowest point in decades. But giving up on them is not the answer. Our democracy needs us. Are you in?

Open daily at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Find out more at moadoph.gov.au.

ROME: CITY + EMPIRE

Medallion of Constantine the Great minted in Thessalonica, Greece, 335 CE gold © Trustees of the British Museum Media credit line © Trustees of the British Museum, 2018. All rights reserved. Image supplied.

Stories of Rome and its vast empire continue to captivate and intrigue people almost 3000 years after their foundation.

Rome: City and Empire brings to Canberra more than 200 of the British Museum’s most engaging and beautiful Roman objects. They tell the story of how Rome grew from a series of small villages to become a mighty empire.

Explore how the empire was won and held, witness the grandeur of Rome and appreciate the rich diversity of its peoples.

Happening until 3 February from 9 am – 5 pm daily at the National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton.

See the website for more information.

Image via facebook.com/pg/CellarDoorCBR

Cellar Door is a new wine market for Canberra’s wonderful wine scene. Buy wines from local makers every Saturday afternoon in the iconic Nishi Grand Stair, NewActon Precinct.

Grab a souvenir glass, taste the latest drops, and buy at cellar door prices.

Wine stalls rotate each week with complementing stalls like flowers, cheese, chocolate and books. Capital City Soul Club are the resident DJs.

Make a day of it with a film at Palace Electric Cinema and NewActon’s leading food and drink destinations.

Happening Saturday 17 November from 2-5 pm on the Nishi Grand Stair, inside the Nishi Building, Philip Law Street, NewActon.

See Facebook for more details.

HEATH LEDGER: A LIFE IN PICTURES

Heath Ledger. Credit: Karin Catt.

Audiences around the world know and love Heath Ledger as a charismatic movie star who pushed boundaries and created iconic roles. Now they have a chance to discover Heath’s creative process and deep passion for the film industry and the visual arts, in a unique exhibition curated in collaboration with his family.

Explore a selection of film costumes and props, Heath’s own character research journals, celebrity portraits and acting awards and more. A Life in Pictures offers a rare insight into the man behind the camera.

A program of special screenings and talks will complement the exhibition

Happening until 10 Feb 2019, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Acton.

See the website for more information.

BEAUTY RICH AND RARE

An immersive sound and light experience illuminating the natural beauty of Australia through the eyes of Sir Joseph Banks.

Feel the excitement and wonder of Banks and his team of botanists, scientists, and illustrators as they documented Australia’s unique botanical and animal species, astonishing eighteenth-century Europe.

Open daily 10 am – 5 pm until 10 February 2019 at the National Library of Australia.

See the website for more information.

SPILT MILK

A huge line-up of 30 bands feature in the popular Spilt Milk event at Commonwealth Park. Among the performers are Angus & Julia Stone, Peking Duk, RL Grime and The Wombats.

Asian food trucks including Bao Brothers, Chur Burger, Dirty Bird Food Truck and Happy as Larry will fuel the festival goers on the day.

Happening Saturday 17 November at Commonwealth Park.

See the website for more details.

KEEP CO WORKSHOP: SOCIAL SCHOOL

If you’ve been thinking about taking your social media to the next level, but are not sure where to start, this is the workshop for you.

Running a small business and keeping on top of social media is no easy feat. With the digital world moving at a million miles per hour, a strategy that worked wonders last year just might not be as effective today.

In this workshop, you’ll learn social media from the ground up. We’ll teach you everything you need to know to manage successful social media pages that will take your business to the next level.

We’ll share all the juice on the strategies working right now, as well as a bunch of tips and tricks you can use to up your social media game. At the end of the session, you’ll walk away inspired and excited by what’s possible for your small business through the world of social.

Happening Friday 16 November from 6 -8:30 pm at Keep Co CBR NewActon.

See Facebook for more information.

EAT DRINK DESIGN CANBERRA

Award-winning chef Ben Willis has curated a one-night-only design dinner celebration of the best of food and design teamed with seasonal, locally sourced produce and contemporary designers.

The Aubergine Eat Drink DESIGN Canberra dinner includes five courses plus matched wine, presented in their beautifully moody and recently refurbished dining room. Hear from Ben Willis about his vision for the perfect dinner, alongside local designers and makers.

Aubergine has had two Chef Hats for the past seven consecutive years, among many other accolades. In 2018, Aubergine retained it’s 2 SMH Chef Hats, was listed in John Lethlean’s Hot 50 Restaurants and Gourmet Traveller’s top #100 restaurants and was also included in The Financial Review Australia’s Top Restaurants list.

Book early – tickets are strictly limited. $180 per person.

Happening Friday 17 November from 6.30 pm at Aubergine, 18 Barker St, Griffith.

See the website for more information.

KAREN MCCARTNEY: THE ALCHEMY OF THINGS

Explore the homes of 18 global creatives who take an eccentric, whimsical, curated and clever approach to their living space with Karen McCartney.

McCartney will speak about her new book The Alchemy of Things: Transforming Interiors Through Objects.

The book details a series of eighteen fascinating homes that come from a truly creative place, transcending conventional notions of collection and display.

This new beauty taps into a craving for a personal space with rich layers, a little bit of oddity and an irrepressible joie de vivre.

A mix of artists, interior designers, architects, collectors, gallerists, stylists, furniture designers and vintage retailers open the doors to their own homes – many for the first time.

Happening Saturday 17 November from 2.30 – 3.30 pm at the National Gallery of Australia. See the website for more information.

ENRICO TAGLIETTI SYMPOSIUM

Enrico Taglietti. Courtesy of NLA.

Enrico Taglietti’s contribution to architecture is significant: his thoughtful detailing, aesthetics and sense of place have helped to shape Australia’s national capital, home to the most ambitious and most successful example of twentieth-century urban planning in Australia.

This highly anticipated symposium is an opportunity to consolidate research and knowledge to assess the significance of Taglietti’s work and better understand its value for the future. Symposium speakers include international and national architects and designers, architectural historians and scholars, and some of the many people who have been touched by Taglietti’s designs – school children, designer-makers, homeowners and more.

Happening Friday 16 November from 10 am – 5 pm at the National Gallery of Australia.

See the website for more details.