Wednesday 5th March

---

Hello Canberra,

📆 Today:Canberra Day + A Native Plant Sale.

☀️ Weather: 30° and sunny

---

This Weekend: 🏃‍♂️ What's Happening this Canberra Day

Canberra Day is this Monday, and celebrations tend to be fairly low-key. From 7:30 to 11:30 am, Commonwealth Park will host entertainment and the pop-up Little Burley Markets with food and drink. The main event is the Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run, which includes a family-friendly 2.5km walk/run around Commonwealth Park with activities including an obstacle course and bubble zone along the way. Funds raised go to Hands Across Canberra, supporting charities across the ACT Details here.

---

Coming Up: 🍃 A Native Plant Sale + Choosing the Right Plants

The Friends of the Botanic Gardens are holding their always-popular Autumn Native Plant Sale this Saturday. Plan ahead by checking the plant description list to find your perfect plant. Choose from around 1,000 plants, covering nearly 100 native species and cultivars, including groundcovers, grasses, and shrubs. All are grown from cuttings or seeds sourced within the Gardens, and all proceeds help support the Gardens. Details here.

Native Plant Walks: The Botanic Gardens will be hosting free guided walks to help you choose the right native plants for your garden. These run from March 10 to 16. Details here.

---

Something to do: ⛴️ Skyfire Cruise

Skyfire is coming up on March 15. Looking for a unique way to see this year's fireworks show? Love Boats will be running a Skyfire cruise on Lake Burley Griffin. The two-and-a-bit-hour cruise will depart from the Kingston Foreshore and features a fully licensed bar, cocktails, snacks, and platters. Details here.

---

Comedy: 🤣 Rob Beckett

English comedian, presenter, and panel show regular (8 Out of 10 Cats) Rob Beckett is bringing his Giraffe tour to Canberra in October. Details here.

---

📚 Canberra Reads

Some literary events around Canberra:

Sunrise on the Reaping Release Party: Sunrise on the Reaping, the second prequel novel to The Hunger Games trilogy, will be released on March 18. Harry Hartog is holding a midnight release party, giving you the chance to be the first in Australia to get your hands on the new book. There will be plenty of giveaways and fun. Details here.

Meet the Author events: Several Meet the Author events are coming up at ANU in partnership with Harry Hartog. Stan Grant will be in conversation with Mark Kenny about his book Murriyang. Best-selling author and TV historian Bettany Hughes will discuss The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World with Caillan Davenport. Robert Dessaix will discuss his new book, Chameleon: A memoir of art, travel, ideas, and love, with Andrew Leigh. Details here.

She Shapes History: Sita Sargeant, founder of the popular She Shapes Historywalking tours, has written a book! It will be launched at the National Library on April 12. Sita will be in conversation with Kathryn Favelle, where they will discuss amazing women, why history tries to forget them, and what we can do about it. Following the in-conversation session, guests can set off on their own She Shapes History walking adventure. Details here.

Washpool Book Launch & Little Bones: The Book Cow in Kingston is celebrating the launch of bestselling author Lisa Fuller's latest middle-grade adventure, Washpool, tomorrow evening. Details here.

And join author Sandy Bigna next Saturday for her book launch of Little Bones—a unique and lyrical verse novel for middle-grade readers that speaks to our childhood joy of collecting small, intriguing objects and creating connections in the most unlikely places. Details here.

---

Classifieds:

Compass Counselling - Holistic counselling & Energy Psychology services

Michele and Kitty are social workers with additional training in alternative and creative therapy approaches. We offer a variety of counselling services, specialising in supporting clients with chronic illness, life transitions and trauma. We look forward to working with you on your healing journey. Details here.

--

Classifieds support Canberra Digest. Please support our sponsors

---

Tidbits and News

Geocon Buys Northbourne Block: Geocon has purchased the empty block at 220 Northbourne. Listed for sale in 2024 after the previous developer abandoned its plans for a 392-unit build-to-rent development, the site will now see Geocon squeezing in even more units. Their plans are for 550 apartments—with no build-to-rent component. A development application will be submitted soon.

Braddon Development Approved: A six-storey apartment complex in Braddon has been approved. Altoria on Torrens Street will feature 29 two- and three-bedroom apartments. Construction is set to begin in late 2025. See it here.

---

🧑‍🎤 Live Music This Weekend

Highlights this week include a reunion show from 80s indie rockers The Crystal Seton Friday night and the groovy Thunder Fox will be playing at Dissent on Sunday.

Thursday

• DZ Deathrays (punk) @ The Baso

Friday

• The Crystal Set (indie/rock) @ Smith’s Alternative
• Grand Pricks / Burley Griffin (country?) @ Dissent
• Gutful of Noise (metal) @ Pot Belly
• Left to Die (metal) @ The Baso
• Agency Dub Collective @ Irish Club

Saturday

• Snake Oil Preachers (country/punk) @ Dissent
• Day Five (electronic) @ Gang Gang
• Mikelangelo & The Long Lost Friends @ Smith’s Alternative
• Questfest @ The Baso

Sunday

• Thunder Fox (pop/rock) @ Dissent
• Function Boutique @ Shadows
• Shabaka (jazz) @ Gang Gang