Thursday 21st November

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Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: Festive Finds + Poorly Drawn Pet Portraits

⛅️ Weather: 27° and partly cloudy.

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Something to do: ✂️ Print Your Own Holiday Cards

The Megalo print studio in Kingston is running the perfect workshop for Christmas: Print your own Holiday Cards. You will carve your own lino block to print your own cards onto high-quality printing paper. No experience is required. Details here.

Megalo is also running a Print Your Own Reusable Wrapping Paper workshop. Details here.

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📚 Canberra Reads

Open Book: Lifeline Canberra is hosting its second Open Book event: Candid Conversations with political commentators Mark Kenny (ANU), Karen Middleton (The Guardian), and Greg Jennett (ABC), moderated by Greg Turnbull. They'll delve into the backstories, intrigue, and conspiracies behind recent elections—exploring the winners, the losers, and what to expect in the 2025 federal election. Details here.

Late Night Shopping: The National Library Bookshop is holding a late-night Christmas shopping event. Sale tables will be set up in the foyer with discounts of up to 50%. There will also be an author talk and book signing from noted fantasy fiction author Isobelle Carmody with the local launch for her new Canberra-based book Comes the Night. Details here.

Max Dupain: Join Helen Ennis and journalist Alex Sloan in conversation as they discuss Ennis's latest book, Max Dupain. It’s the first-ever biography of Max Dupain, widely regarded as the most influential Australian photographer of the 20th century. Details here.

Charles Todd's Magnificent Obsession: David Dufty will be in conversation with Lish Fejer, discussing his latest book: Charles Todd's Magnificent Obsession: The Epic Race to Connect Australia to the World. Details here.

Woden Library Grand Reopening: There are several events for adults and kids happening this week and next as part of the reopening of Woden Library. Details here.

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🎄 Festive Finds Gift Guide

The City Renewal Authority has released a gift guide featuring retailers in the city and Braddon. Details here.

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🛍️ Weekend Markets

Tis the season for markets...

Undercurrent: The design market is happening from Friday to Sunday this weekend. This year the market has moved from the Portrait Gallery to The Vault in Dairy Road. Details here.

The Museum Market Day: Over 50 local and regional stalls will be at the National Museum for the Market Day. It's happening this Saturday and Sunday. Details here.

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This Weekend: 🐾 Christmas Paws Party

This Sunday, ring in the holiday season early with the Christmas Paws Party in Haig Park. There will be free treats and goodies for all festive pooches and humans can make a custom ornament featuring a photo of their dog. Details here.

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🐶 Poorly Drawn Pet Portraits

RSPCA’s popular annual fundraiser, Poorly Drawn Pet Portraits, invites you to have your beloved pet (poorly) drawn in exchange for a donation to the RSPCA. They're currently seeking buddy artists with very little talent, to donate three hours of their time to create these charmingly imperfect portraits. Learn more on their Facebook page. Details here.

For those eager to get a poorly drawn portrait of their pet, stay tuned—I'll have details soon on how to take part.

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Last Chance: Museum VR Experiences

For the last two years, the National Museum has been running the Antarctica Experience and Beyond the Milky Way Experience VR screenings. The virtual reality adventures will be finishing this weekend. Details here.

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Tidbits:

Woden Pool Development: Geocon has lodged plans for a 286-unit development on the Woden Pool and Ice Rink site. The application includes a 25-metre indoor pool and cafe. The ACT Government reiterated that the Woden Ice Skating rink needs to stay open until the new ice rink in Tuggeranong is opened.

Hot Weekend: South-eastern Australia will experience its first big heatwave of the season. The temperature in Canberra is expected to hit 33° on Saturday and 34° this Sunday.

No Big Splash Slides: The Big Splash water park will only be opening for short season this year, with none of the water slides operating. The slides are out of action due to major works, including upgrading the filtration systems. The 50m pool and inflatable obstacle course will still be open. The park opens from November 30.