Wednesday 4th December

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Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: Lots of Christmas Markets + Poorly drawn pet portraits.

🌦️ Weather: 27°. A possible shower (40% chance).

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🎄 Christmas Markets this Weekend

So many Christmas markets this weekend...

Pearce Crafters Christmas Sparkle Market: The Christmas Sparkle Market is a fabulous way to buy thoughtful, handcrafted gifts and other items made by local crafters and artisans. It's happening this weekend at the Pearce Community Centre. Details here.

Festive Lane Markets: The Festive Lane Markets will run in City Walk from Friday to Sunday this weekend. There will be a range of stalls offering handmade crafts and unique gifts, as well as delicious food and drinks. Details here.

Xmas Market at Fitters Workshop: CBR Woman will be running a Christmas Market at the Fitters Workshop (Kingston Foreshore) this weekend. The markets are a celebration of Canberra's creative and entrepreneurial women, with vendors selling gifts, jewellery, fashion, sweet treats, hot food, home goods, and more. Details here.

Canberra Potters Christmas Fair: Pick up a unique handmade gift at the Canberra Potters Christmas Fair, where local potters and ceramicists showcase a curated selection of ceramic art and pottery. It's open daily from December 6 to 15 at the Watson Arts Centre. There's a VIP shopping night this Thursday, which includes a glass of bubbles and the opportunity to meet the makers. Details here.

The RSPCA markets, which I wrote about in yesterday's issue, are also happening this Friday. The Christmas Haig Park Village Markets are also running every Sunday in December.

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😾 Get a Poorly Drawn Pet Portrait

The RSPCA and local not-so-talented "artists" will be creating poorly drawn pet portraits as a fundraiser today. To take part, you'll need to donate $25 to the RSPCA and then post a pic of your pet. Details will be on RSPCA's Facebook Page from around 8am today. Details here.

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📚 Canberra Reads:

Some literary happenings:

In Conversation with Cat Sparks: Award-winning Canberra author Cat Sparks will speak with Isobelle Carmody about her latest book Comes the Night, set in the future of Canberra and about her own novel Lotus Blue, set in the far future of Australia. Details here.

David Sedaris: The critically acclaimed author, humourist and master of satire returns to Canberra in February. Join David Sedaris for an evening filled with storytelling, observations, unpublished tales, audience Q&As and book signings. Details here.

A Woolly Tale: Inspired by the true story of a merino sheep who was lost for five years in the bush near Canberra, A Woolly Tale is a delightful new fictional tale for children by Jackie Hosking. Details here.

David Conley Book Launch: Local children's author David Conley will be launching his new book That Book About Life Before Dinosaurs at The Book Cow in Kingston. Details here.

Late Night Book Shopping: The National Library will be open late tomorrow evening for a special shopping event. Details here.

And Paperchain in Manuka will be open till 8pm every Monday-Saturday before Christmas.

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Looking Ahead: 🚗 Summernats 37

The event that divides opinions is back this January. Held over four days, Summernats is a unique celebration for the modified car community. Details here.

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🎸 Live Music This Weekend

Alt-pop outfit Apricot Ink are throwing a hometown EP release show at Gang Gang to kick off their summer tour. Indie alt-rockers Cloning will hit Canberra for the very first time on Thursday. At Smith's Alternative, the youthful 10-piece contemporary jazz ensemble Mosaic from Sydney will be performing and on Sunday, there will be a free summer music street party.

Thursday

• Cloning (indie) @ Live at the Polo
• Nathan Roche (indie) @ Shadows
• Mick Thomas' Roving Commission (rock/folk) @ Smith’s Alternative

Friday

• Mosaic (Jazz) @ Smith’s Alternative
• Big Reef (alt-pop) @ Irish Club
• XACTO (pop/alternative) @ Shadows
• Jim Moginie @ Smith’s Alternative
• Now and Then (covers) @ Burns Club
• Taliesin (metal) @ The Baso
• Johnny Reynolds Band (blues/rock) @ Dickson Taphouse

Saturday

• Apricot Ink (indie/pop) @ Gang Gang
• Owen Campbell and Shaun Kirk (blues/rock) @ Shadows
• Flavours (reggae/hip-hop) @ Dissent
• Lounge Baby @ Ainslie Football Club

Sunday

• Jack Biilmann (blues/roots) @ Gang Gang
• Paverty Bushband (folk) @ Irish Club
• Lounge Baby @ Irish Club
• Ben Drysdale (indie/folk) @ The Old Canberra Inn
• PACHANGA (street party) @ Smith’s Alternative
• Jack Davies (folk) @ Smith’s Alternative
• Dept of Rock Final @ Smith’s Alternative
• NeonHoney (alternative) @ Dickson Taphouse

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Tidbits:

Gas Capture: The ACT Government's partnership with LGI Limited is expanding Mugga Lane's landfill gas-to-energy project, with Stage 1 upgrades completed last month. The facility now has two new generators and a 20MW grid connection, enough to power up to 10,800 homes annually. Stage 2 is underway, adding 12MW of battery storage. Since the project began in 2020, over 141 million cubic metres of biogas have been captured across the Mugga Lane and West Belconnen sites, generating 142 GWh of renewable energy.

Bare Shelves in Woolies: You may have noticed bare shelves in Woolworths stores recently. Warehouse workers have been striking over pay and conditions at major distribution centres, leading to stock issues.