Friday 4th July

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Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: This weekend in Canberra + Free pizza.

⛅️ Weather: 13° and partly cloudy. An overnight low of -3°.

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👉 This Weekend in Canberra

Celebrate Christmas in July on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, enjoy a family-friendly open day at the Portrait Gallery, and catch a Raiders double header—all happening this weekend.

Get the full rundown of weekend events.

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Eats: 🍕 Free Pizza

Chef Hem—named one of the world’s top 100 pizza chefs in 2023—is opening Sliceria in Civic. The new spot will serve Roman-style pizza by the slice and opens this Monday. To celebrate, he’s giving away 150 free slices each day on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week. One slice per person, first-in best-dressed. You’ll find the little pizza shop in City West on Marcus Clarke Street. Details here.

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The NAIDOC Week Illumination

NAIDOC Week begins on Sunday. For three nights from Sunday, Parliament House will be illuminated with the striking colours and design of Tjala Dreaming (Honey Ant), a 2023 artwork by Michelle Lewis. The piece depicts how the tjala (honey ants) tunnel through sandy soil, surrounded by waterholes, trees and shrubs. Details here.

I included more NAIDOC Week events from around Canberra in the June 30 issue.

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🎙️ Talks, Workshops and More

It’s the Vibe!: The National Archives is hosting a free screening of the Australian classic The Castle. Follow the Kerrigan family as they take a stand against eviction, turning to the Constitution in their fight for justice. After the film, take a guided tour of the Voices / Dhuniai: Federation, Democracy and the Constitution gallery to see Australia’s original Constitution, signed by Queen Victoria. Details here.

World Snake Day: Ngunnawal Knowledge Holder Tyronne Bell joins snake handler and conservationist Dr Gavin Smith for an evening of “snake yarning” that trades fear for understanding. Together, they’ll weave cultural lore with urban ecology and show Canberrans how to make space for these vital—yet much-maligned—reptiles in our shared landscape. Details here.

Orbiting Ambition: This event at Questacon brings together Australia’s first female astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, and Hayabusa mission pioneer Professor Junichiro Kawaguchi. They’ll share stories of their journeys to the stars, the sparks that fuelled their careers, and their forward-looking take on where the space industry—and its next generation of explorers—is headed. Details here.

Understanding China: Former diplomat and Australia-China Business Council executive David Morris argues that doom-laden “Cold War 2.0” headlines miss the complex realities of China’s rise. He’ll speak as part of the venue’s Understanding China series, drawing from his book A New Era of Risk. The talk will be followed by an audience Q&A and refreshments. Details here.

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Classifieds

🎷 We Call it Jazz: Step into the soul of New Orleans with We Call It Jazz—a night of smooth vocals, swinging brass and spontaneous improvisation. Feel the rhythm, sip a wine, and let yourself be carried away. Details here.

✈️ Qatar Airways: Use promo code FLIGHTS to save up to 10%* on your next Qatar Airways flight from Australia. Qatar Airways will begin flying from Canberra in December. (* Terms and conditions apply). Details here.

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Tidbits

Big Bash Returns: The Sydney Thunder has announced they’ll return to Canberra for two night matches at Manuka Oval in December. Stars David Warner and Sam Konstas will be major drawcards for fans. I’ll share a link to tickets once they’re available. The T20 international between Australia and India has already sold out.

Ticket Vending Machines: It’s taken a while, but ticket vending machines are now back at all light rail stops and a number of bus interchanges. They can be used to top up MyWay+ cards, check balances, and purchase paper tickets. Details here.

ANU Job Cuts: The ANU has announced another round of job cuts as part of a broader plan to save $250 million. More.

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Canberra Digest will be back on Monday. Have a great weekend.