[First filed: Jul 29, 2010 @ 12:19]

Here we go campers, your chance to shine in the local knowledge stakes.

What’s worth seeing and doing around Canberra this weekend?

Just leave your suggestions in the comments.

[First filed: Jul 20, 2010 @ 14:48]

So here’s the deal. Every election, both Territory or Federal, we ask readers to post questions they’d like to see candidates answer.

We choose the ten we think are the most interesting.

The candidates are then sent them and can reply, or not. If they do reply we publish their responses in full which they won’t get out of any other media.

The process tends to favour candidates capable of independent thought. This is, in our view, a good thing(TM).

So in the comments below post the questions you’d like to see put to the candidates and we’ll get the ball rolling.

UPDATE: At noon today we find out who the candidates are, so this is your last chance to get in some questions!

Further update: The AEC has now advised us thusly:

As the draws for the positions on the ballot papers have only just taken place in the Eastern ststes and we have to wait for the western state, I am informed that the list of all candidates woill be on the AEC’s website at aec.gov.au from tomorrow Saturday after 09:00AM.

So we’ll be finalising questions tomorrow, keep them coming.

Has anyone else noticed the very strange advertisement from a Moroccan journalist at the bottom of page 6 in today’s Canberra Times?

It seems to be a congratulations notice addressed to the Moroccan ambassador to Australia, on the occasion of the anniversary of the King of Morocco’s enthronement, from a Moroccan journalist, and it ends “…heartfelt congratulations for this glorious and happy Thorne day.”

Is this ad a code for something else? Does it appear in other newspapers today? Will there be others placed by other Moroccan journalists? And what’s a Thorne day?

Very strange indeed!

I was out and about at a north side social club last night for some trivia fun, my group also decided to enjoy a counter meal or two, after digesting what the menu had to offer and glancing at the price list I was intrigued by the fact the pricing had two options one for members and one for non member, with a markup of up to $3 for the non member.

I was more humored than alarmed, just wanting to know if this is common in other social clubs around Canberra?

Hi,

I’m new to ACT and thinking about joining the ANU gym. I am more interested in the group fitness classes than using the equipment itself…(i found other posts about the gym itself not the classes.)

Please give me some reviews on the instructors for droup fitness at ANU…

I am planning to do all lesmills - body combat, body balance , body balance and body pump….

Yoga and pilates as well….(I will alternate between these…)

Are the instructors good? classes too crowded?

Currently i follow Zumba, bodybalance and circuit in melbourne…..

[First filed: Jul 28, 2010 @ 15:20]

From covers, Irish folk to upbeat dance music on Saturday nights. It is a great place to visit and meet your friends. King O’Malley’s was just awarded the “BEST LIVE ENTERTAINMENT VENUE’ by the Australian Hotels Association. This follows the 104.7 Griffin Award 2010 for ‘CANBERRA’S Best Pub”

King O’Malley’s is a great supporter of local community Events and the “Canberra HQ for Movember”. It is the venue for the official Movember Gala Party each year. Managing director Peter Barclay would like to see as many Canberra businesses , organizations and just groups of friends to get behind Movember 2010 to make it the best ever. It’s easy to support and a lot of fun it doesn’t matter whether you are TransAct or just a group of mates …just form a team and register at www.movember.com and have some fun! By growing a mo for the month you can become a walking billboard for Men’s health including depression and prostate cancer.

King O’Malleys has become the place to meet in Canberra, by sticking closely to the time honoured formula of what it is people want from a pub.

It doesn’t have poker machines, the music is at a volume allowing conversation, you don’t have to sign up as a member to come inside, smokers can sit outside, non smokers can choose where they want to sit.

The bar is also celebrating its recent wins at the AHA Awards where it took out “Best Live Entertainment Venue”, while publican Peter Barclay was awarded “Member of the Year” for outstanding service to the industry, community and the Association by an individual.

Where other bars try and buy ambience in a kit from Dublin the decoration has grown organically and historically. In the case of the penny farthing hanging on the ceiling, it was rescued from the Dickson Tradies’ efforts to purge itself of all character.

Unusually in Canberra it’s not hidden in corner, it’s right out there on City Walk and at first glance it is obviously a pub.

In the very name King O’Malley’s sinks its roots into the community.

The knockabout American hellfire preacher King O’Malley was an icon of Australian Federation era politics. Canberra was only built in the location we know because King O’Malley fell in love with it and supported the site in the face of bitter criticism (you think it’s cold this winter just be glad we’re not in Deniliquin).

Even better for a pub he was a fierce opponent of alcohol and had campaigned in South Australia against attractive bar maids.

The pub celebrates this past with vignettes from O’Malley’s life on the walls, as well as a historic collection of portraits and photographs.

In more established cities history lives and breathes over centuries through this sort of thing and it’s great that it’s taking root in Canberra.

The ties to the community are more than just historic. King O’Malley’s invests heavily in supporting charity drives, putting many of the 25 staff through university, and in supporting local bands with over $1 million flowing to musicians over the last ten years.

When you want to meet a friend for a drink or a quick feed in Civic what’s the obvious choice?

King O’Malley’s.

The Chronicle is many things:

– The largest circulation publication in Canberra
– The best way to identify rented houses by uncollected Chronicles killing the lawn
– The only news outlet that cares about Community Council meetings
– A community lifeline for the elderly

I’m sure there are others.

But the Canberra Times stable mate has never managed to get online, until now.

Now, like an angry teenager with an axe to grind the Chronicle, with its teams of journalists and editors, has a Facebook page where they can put up their stories.

The Canberra Times is leading with John Thistleton’s supposition that:

A huge groundswell of anger is brewing among residents of Canberra’s inner suburbs over unit developments.

Which is curious, because as a long term inner northican I look at the developments with some hope that they might one day lead to prices low enough that I too may buy.

So maybe it’s land owners of Canberra’s inner suburbs getting grumpy?

Personally I find the character of the area suffers more when an ex-govvie share shouse is knocked down to build a multi-storey mcmansion than a block of apartments.

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WIN have confirmed to us that Lachlan Kennedy is now the acting Chief of Staff for WIN News.

We’re currently chasing down why this would be the case and what’s up with the controversial and colourful news director, Jorian Gardner.

More on this as it comes to hand. We’ve requested comment from all the players.

Superb local artist ex de medici (Midnight Oil portrait in the NPG) has an exhibition on show at the War Memorial from 3 September, about a stint with soldiers in the Solomon Islands.

An item in the Australian says that, even though a major celebrity in the art world, she refuses to be photographed, or reveal her old name.

Does anyone know why she won’t be photographed, or she doesn’t like her old name for feminist/political reasons, or just because it’s ornery? (nb Yahoo Serious’s abandoned name is Craig Pead). Or is it because bikies are after her? (she is a tattooist as well)

Ozmackem has sent in this wintry wonder.

Got an image of Canberra you want to share with the world? Email it to images@the-riotact.com

Does anyone have any suggestions on the best cafes/restaurants to go to in Canberra that serve breakfast?

I took the family to Silo in Kingston the other week and whilst the food was ok, it was very noisy not to mention expensive! $50 for eggs on toast and coffee for two.

I could have bought the whole chicken for that i’m sure.

Something is brewing at the Tent Embassy and it has to do with souvenirs.

On a recent visit I noticed that the area around the mosaic at the Tent Embassy is now decked out with tables selling all manner of Australiana souvenirs. There is new handmade signage directing people to the items on sale and that the proceeds go to the Tent Embassy, including for the purchase of firewood for the sacred fire. Several “donation” boxes are in place for people to pop their money into.

However, I have been informed, that the people behind the souvenirs – which include Aboriginal-themed paintings and other craft items – are not connected with the Tent Embassy in any way, and that they have only set up shop there in the last couple of weeks, and that although they have set up a caravan and tents at the Embassy, and are staying there, they do not have approval for this from either the Tent Embassy community or the NCA.

(The look – and the authenticity – of the place is not enhanced by the fact that the new signage for all the goods on sale is replete with spelling errors – with words such as “table”, “sacred” and “please” all misspelt – which must be confusing for overseas visitors! The suggestion was also made to me that the souvenirs are far from genuine – and had been purchased elsewhere at a much lower price.)

This is a very interesting development in the aftermath of the closure of the Old Parliament House shop at the start of July. Is this a case of someone cashing in on the lack of commercial facilities at Old Parliament House, especially the provision of souvenirs and other Australiana items to visitors from abroad and school students – who of course visit OPH in droves?

ED: While we’re on the subject of the Tent Embassy Hank had this to say:

I just came back from a meeting and noticed some of the occupants at the tent embassy at Old Parliament house had some pet dogs that were fighting one another. Although I have no problems with them I was curious to the rules on keeping pets there?

Small footy clubs have long had a tradition of propping up players’ games fees with part-time work in the local pub or club. So perhaps that’s what’s going on at Garema Place’s Magpies City Club.

Regardless the reason, who ever is back there in the kitchen, it ain’t a cook.

Garlic bread: passable but strangely lacking anything resembling garlic.

Salt’n'pepper squid: so much salt the squid was unrecognisable. Had to be scraped off to be edible.

Salad: drowned in a dressing where only the copious oil could be tasted.

(more…)

[First filed: Jul 29, 2010 @ 10:42]

“alloneword” has sent in the above from Drake Brockman Drive with the following note:

Saw this yesterday on my way to work, remembered to bring my camera this morning. I think it really shows what is wrong with a lot of the roadworks in Canberra.

Got an image of Canberra to share with the world? Email it to images@the-riotact.com

UPDATE: Another one has now been spotted in Bonner: