Tuesday 27th May

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Hello Canberra,

📆 Today: Arts Around Canberra + Canberra by Bike.

🌦️ Weather: 12° and showers.

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🥧 Canberra's Original Food Truck Is Up for Sale

When I watched an ABC clip of Canberrans lamenting the city's meagre dining options in the 1970s, I was reminded just how far we've come. Wind the clock back even further—into the 1940s—and Wilkie's Pie Cart, a 1939 Chevrolet van owned by Tom Wilkinson, was one of only two mobile food outlets in town (the other was the bow-tied "Posh Pie Man"). Wilkie's parked outside Parliament House and government offices, with parliamentarians and office workers queuing for hot pies while a switchboard operator announced the cart's arrival. It operated from 1939 until the early 1970s.

The original Chevy was thought lost until 1990 when it was discovered rusting away on a property near Murrumbateman. A community-led restoration by the Council of ACT Motor Clubs, Copland College students and an ACT Heritage Grant brought it back to life. Now, that lovingly restored slice of Canberra history is up for sale. Read the full backstory in the club's detailed history sheet PDF, and check the Council of ACT Motor Clubs website if you're interested in buying this unique piece of Canberra history.

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🎨 Arts Around Canberra

This week's arts wrap:

Cézanne to Giacometti: The National Gallery’s next major exhibition, Cézanne to Giacometti: Highlights from Museum Berggruen / Neue Nationalgalerie, opens this Saturday. Details here.

In Bloom: A collection of the beautiful, bold and botanical opens at the Portrait Gallery this Saturday. Featuring more than 50 portraits from the collection, as well as new acquisitions and selected loans, In Bloom explores the beauty and symbolism of flowers. It's free! Details here.

Persian Music Night: The Persian Art Centre of Canberra presents a vibrant live performance of timeless Afghan and Iranian melodies reimagined with fresh arrangements. Details here.

The 12 Hour Hub-athon: This Saturday, local theatre collective ACT Hub will be holding their 2025 12 Hour Hub-athon. The event raises important funds for the organisation and features 12 hours of non-stop play readings performed at the Old Causeway Hall. You can watch in person at the Hub or online. Details here.

The Lost Sea: An elegy to the artist's late father and to the Aral Sea—a vast inland sea in Uzbekistan that has almost completely dried up due to Soviet mismanagement in the 1960s. Using imagery from photographs taken while visiting 20 years ago, Hall's paintings speak to a sense of absence and the impossibility of return, both environmentally and temporally. The Lost Sea opens at Platform by Canberra Contemporary this Thursday evening. Details here.

Baroque, Brazil and Beyond: Sharon and Slava Grigoryan and Jane Rutter will perform Baroque, South American and contemporary music in a concert that spans cultures, generations and genres. Details here.

Grainger Gallery: Two new exhibitions opened at the Grainger Gallery last week. Slaymakers by Johnny Romeo features neon-drenched pop art, and Marcel Hoogstad Hay's Convergent Realities showcases stunning mirrored glass sculptures. Details here.

Gladys the Musical: Comedy musical Gladys is coming to The Q for just one night. There are only a handful of tickets remaining. Details here.

Reconciliation Week: The National Portrait Gallery is holding free highlights tours exploring inspirational Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on display at the gallery. Tours run daily from today until June 3. Details here.

Fluorescent Array: Showing in the Civic Art Bureau window gallery in June is Fluorescent Array by Chris Carmody—eight paintings on board from his ongoing preoccupation with the "inconclusive meaning" of the fading and wear of found materials. Details here.

Belco Sounds: Open to young people (18–30) who live, work or study in Bruce or Belconnen, Belco Sounds is an evening of live music, community and connection. It's part of the Connect Up 2517 research project to strengthen social connection, and it's happening at the new Kiln café at Belco Arts. Details here.

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Something to do: 🚲 Canberra By Bike

Canberra By Bike runs regular slow, social rides around the capital—perfect for locals looking to do more cycling. The rides are slow-paced, social, and open to all abilities. Upcoming events include an Embassy District tour, a night ride for Prince's Birthday, and a hot donut ride by Lake Burley Griffin. Details here.

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Coming Up: 🎶 Kate Ceberano

Kate Ceberano, flanked by two powerhouse musicians—Harts and Kathleen Holloran—will be performing iconic Australian songs that have shaped her 40 years on the road. She's performing at the Canberra Theatre on June 8. Details here.

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Kids: 🌊 World Oceans Day

Questacon will be celebrating World Oceans Day on June 8. Use a virtual reality headset to dive into the Great Barrier Reef, and join The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Reef Guardian School Program for an activity where you can learn how to identify different turtle species. Details here.

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Looking Ahead: 🎸 Grinspoon

It's been 30 years since the Lismore band broke onto the scene after winning the first Triple J Unearthed competition. They're celebrating the anniversary with an Australian tour, including a stop in Canberra. Grinspoon will be playing at the UC Refectory in December. Details here.

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Classifieds

🍲 Dinner Delivered: Dinner Ladies makes ready-to-heat homely meals delivered to your door. Stack your freezer with their crowd-pleasers, and any time you need it, you're just a hot step away from a belly full of comfort. New customers can use code 'CANBERRADIGEST20' to get $20 off their first order. Details here.

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