November 13 2024 | CanberraDigest

Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: I have your weekly roundup of Canberra's foodie news, plus a doco about Narrabundah's peafowl

⛅️ Weather: 25° and showers. 80% chance of rain.

This is a previous issue of Canberra Digest. Get Canberra news, events, culture and more sent to your inbox every morning. Subscribe for free.

🍴 Eats Around Canberra

Here's the weekly roundup of foodie news in Canberra:

New Rooftop Bar: A new rooftop bar has opened on the top floor of the Mercure Hotel in Belconnen. Bar 59 is now open every Thursday and Friday and offers appetisers, cocktails, beers, wines and more. It's accessible via the elevator to the left of 59 Cameron Avenue.

Lim Peh's Wonton Noodles: Lim Peh's was a very popular noodle spot located in Verity Lane. They've moved to Woden and have officially opened. They've got all the old faves as well as some new snacks. Details here.

Good Food Awards: Twenty-two Canberra restaurants have been included in the SMH 2025 Good Food Guide. Seven of those were awarded a hat, with Pilot keeping its two hats. You can see the full list of Canberra restaurants here.

Sommelier of the Year: Caitlin Baker, general manager at Such and Such has been awarded Sommelier of the Year at the Good Food Awards. Last year, the restaurant was also awarded Best New Restaurant.

Canberra Spirits Festival: This weekend the Canberra Spirits Festival is happening at UC. Try whisky, gin, tequila, rum and more from Australia and around the world. Details here.

Ken Behrens: There's a new cafe named after the COVID era Ken Behrens meme. Ken Behren's Cafe and Burgers has opened in City West. They're serving up burgers, $8 bacon and egg rolls, wings, and coffee. Details here.

Chefs Eat Canberra: Paperchain is hosting a book event with the author of Chefs Eat Canberra, Chris Hanson, tomorrow evening. The book features over 300 pages of recipes and stories from the top restaurants in Canberra. Details here.

Catbird's Thanksgiving Buffet: Catbird cafe in Campbell was created by Southern Californian pastry chef Taylor Wright. So it's no surprise Catbird is hosting an all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving Buffet. I'll have more details on dates and pricing soon.

🦚 Narrabundah’s Lucky Fowl

Lucky Fowl, a documentary premiering as part of the Canberra Short Film Festival, showcases Narrabundah's beloved but sometimes controversial peafowl. The film was created by local filmmaker Nathan Collett. It will be shown tonight (Canberra Showcase) and on Sunday (Documentary vol. 2 Showcase). Details here.

Peafowl have lived in Narrabundah since the 1980s. Where did they come from? There are a few theories, but the ACT Government believes the birds were set free when the old Mugga Lane Zoo in Symonston closed. However, many residents think the birds were around earlier than the '80s and that they were just as likely pets released by a Narrabundah resident.

In 2018, the ACT Government considered a "management plan," which essentially meant removing the birds. However, after seeking feedback from the community, 57% of submissions supported keeping them. Even Andrew Barr signed a petition to save the peafowl. Ultimately, the plan was scrapped, and Narrabundah's peafowl population continues to thrive.

Further Afield: 🛍️ The Last Collector Markets

I'm not sure why the markets will be ending, but this weekend is the last edition of the Collector Markets. Collector is a small town on the Federal Highway, about 40 minutes from Canberra. The area is home to the popular "Some Cafe" and Collector Wines, whose cellar door is unfortunately closed for renovations. Lerida Estate and Lake George Winery are also close by. Details here.

This Weekend: 🎶 Record Hunting

If you're looking to add to your record collection, this is the weekend to do it (I have no idea how all these events ended up on the same weekend!):

Canberra Polo Record Fair: The last record fair of the year at the Polish Club is happening this Sunday from 9am. Entry to the fair is by gold coin donation. Details here.

Capital Brewing Record Fair: My Vinyl Revolution will be at Capital Brewing (Dairy Road) this Sunday from 11:30am. Entry is free. Details here.

Dickson Community Markets: Kooln'Krazy Records will be at the Dickson Community Markets this Saturday from 10am to 3pm. The markets are outside the Library and Woolworths.

For the Record: I wrote about the For the Record Market happening at The Baso in yesterday's issue. It's on this Friday evening. Details here.

Queer Canberra: 🏳️‍🌈 Queers Past Podcast Launch Party

She Shapes History run popular tours in Canberra that explore how women have shaped Australia's capital city.

Sita and Zev from She Shapes History are launching a new podcast, Queers Past, which will uncover Canberra's incredible and often overlooked queer history. The eight-episode season covers everything from the city's 1930s lesbian hostels to the birthplace of Australia's first LGBTQIA+ activist group. Details here.

To celebrate the podcast's launch, there is a free launch party happening at Stepping Stone in Dickson this Sunday. Details here.

Tidbits:

Yarralumla Public Housing: A 30-dwelling public housing development in Yarralumla has been approved. The development will replace the old Solander Court Complex which has been sitting abandoned for over four years. There had been pushback on the proposal from some Yarralumla residents.

ACT Rental Laws: A report released by the renters' lobby has found that the ACT's rental laws have resulted in smaller rent increases compared to anywhere else in Australia. ACT is the only jurisdiction with caps on rent increases. You can read the full report here.

Fast Food News: A development application has been lodged for a new Hungry Jack’s restaurant in the Gold Creek precinct. In other fast food news, a rebuilt KFC has opened in Tuggeranong after the restaurant was destroyed in a fire in 2023.