October 2

Hello Canberra,

📅 Today: It’s Thursday, 2 October. In today's issue, I've got details on Professor Brian Cox is Coming to Canberra, the Great Big Bulb Dig at Floriade and this week's serve of foodie news.

⛅️ Weather: 15° and a possible shower. A 50% chance of rain, most likely in the late morning and afternoon.

Looking Ahead: 🔭 Professor Brian Cox is Coming to Canberra

After performing his smash-hit show Horizons to nearly half a million people worldwide, Professor Brian Cox is back with his new world tour Emergence—a celebration of the intricacy of the universe and an exploration of the laws of nature that shape it. From the largest structures in the known universe—the rivers and flows of galaxies that trace the cosmic web—to Earth’s interlinked ecosystems and the structure of the human brain, from black holes to snowflakes, he reveals a world of dazzling complexity underpinned by magnificent simplicity. Brian Cox will bring his live show to EPIC in May. Details here.

Coming Up: 🪏 The Great Big Bulb Dig

What happens to the bulbs when Floriade is over? Since 2022, Floriade has run the Great Big Bulb Dig, where the public is invited to come along and bag some bulbs. To take part, you need to buy a 2025 Great Big Bulb Dig bag for $20, which serves as your entry ticket. Bags can be purchased on the day, and there’s no limit—the more bags you buy, the more bulbs you can dig up. All money raised goes to YWCA Canberra. Make sure you replant the bulbs as soon as you get home so they can keep growing and store energy for flowering again next year. Details here.

Looking Ahead: 🎙️ Chat 10 Looks 3 Live in Canberra

It’s become something of an annual tradition—Leigh Sales and Annabel Crabb from the Chat 10 Looks 3 podcast are once again hosting their end-of-year Christmas show in Canberra. “Sales will start compiling her ‘Best of 2025’ lists sometime in October, and Crabb will bank on cry-writing The 12 Days of Christmas at about 2pm on show day.” Details here.

🍜 Canberra Eats

This week's serving of foodie news:

Pilot is Turning Seven: One of Canberra’s best restaurants, Pilot, is turning seven! They’ll be celebrating this Sunday with Momos, Mimosas and Samosas, highlighting favourites from Finland, India, Nepal, and Australia. Service will be casual and à la carte, with a range of cocktails, wines, and bites available. Details here.

Brew and Crust: A new café has opened in Manuka. Brew and Crust, from the team behind Manuka Steakhouse, is serving up brunch favourites during the day and wood-fired pizzas and pastas in the evening. Details here.

Moo Moo Coming to Gungahlin: Moo Moo on Lonsdale Street in Braddon has been serving its popular frozen yoghurt for just over a year. Good news for those in Gungahlin—the store will soon open a second location at Gungahlin Marketplace.

New Menu at Otis: Kingston fine-dining favourite Otis has released its first new menu under the new owners. Fans of the restaurant will be pleased to hear that the Otis Pepper Steak has been retained. Details here.

Stripey Sundae: Gold Creek ice cream store Stripey Sundae has reopened in a new location right across the road from its original home. They are known for making everything from scratch in small batches. Details here.

Wakefields x Punt Road: For one night, Wakefield’s in Ainslie will transform into a Yarra Valley cellar door. Enjoy a menu featuring oysters, confit duck croquettes, bug roll, and cheese boards, all paired with wines from Punt Road. Details here.

Rosé Saturdays: Every Saturday in October, Leyla Bar in Barton is celebrating a different rosé paired with bites made to match. Details here.

Friday Night Drinks at Old Parliament House: After-work drinks return this Friday at Old Parliament House. From 4pm till late, enjoy beers from Capital Brewing alongside a selection of wines and other refreshing beverages. Details here.

One Good Meal: Peonee: Tucked away in Campbell, Peonee is intimate and friendly—just one chef and one front-of-house running the show when I visited last week. The modern Australian set menu was excellent value, with highlights including beef tartare with cassava crackers and cured egg yolk, perfectly cooked swordfish with caramelised fennel, and a simple but delicious blood orange cake with salted milk ice cream to finish. And don’t miss their house-made sourdough—it’s fantastic. Details here.

Canberra’s dining scene is brimming with new spots and hidden gems, so I want to highlight some of the standout meals. Got a favourite I should try? I’d love your suggestions.

Something to do:

A very random selection of interesting things to do:

Introduction to Radio Broadcasting: Have you ever tuned in to the radio and thought, “I’d love to try that”? Artsound FM is hosting a four-week radio broadcasting course where you’ll get hands-on in-studio training from Artsound’s presenters. Details here.

Play Beach Volleyball: Hit the sand during the warm spring and summer nights as part of ACT Beach Leagues. The competition is for everyone from beginners to the experienced. You can play in pairs or mixed fours. And if you don’t have a team, ACT Volleyball will help match you with one. Games are played at the Lyneham Beach Facility. Details here.

Getting Serious with Textas: Belco Arts free Infuse Workshops are all about tapping into your own sense of creative play, with experimentation, exploration and a healthy dose of fun. Their next workshop is Getting Serious with Textas—line, dot, space, colour, layer and repeat! Details here.

Jyubako: Make a beautiful Japanese stacking box in this one-day course from Koitoya, making use of a Japanese hand plane. It’s well-suited for beginners, and you’ll get to take home a beautiful piece. Details here.

Classifieds

Super Bowl LX 2026: Get ready for the biggest game of the 2026 year at Onyx Sports Lounge! We're showing the Super Bowl LX live and loud from 9:30am on Monday, 9 February 2026. We've got a special menu just for the game, so make sure you book your spot now!

✨Time Out Just For You - Stress Reset – Half-Day Meditation Retreat: Hawker (11 Oct) Take a morning just for you. Step away from the noise and discover (or refresh) simple, yet very effective, science-backed meditation practices - that calm your nervous system, ease stress, and restore clarity. Led by an experienced local facilitator. Ready to reset? Just $69. Get info & tickets now

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Classifieds support Canberra Digest.

Cause: ⛲️ Charity Open Garden

The ACT branch of the Children’s Medical Research Institute (the Jeans for Genes people) is hosting a Charity Open Garden. Visit the stunning Serendipity garden in Kambah, created by Yvonne and Gerhard Horoschun over the past 40 years. All proceeds will support the work of the world-renowned scientists at the Institute. Details here.