Trawling through old posts on RA, I can see some good advice, but maybe it is out of date and shops may also be closed up now.
As a sedentary public servant, I figure low impact bike riding is a good way to get in some cardio after work.  So I am looking for help from the collective on [...]

Has anyone any idea about what happened to the chicken shop in Cooleman Court called Chicken Galore?  The shop was boarded up when I last popped by without any explanation as to if it was reopening, relocating or what.
Anyone know?  Or can anyone recommended a similar business somewhere in close proximity to Weston Creek?
Thanks Rioters.

This morning. Hot Cross Buns at Coles Belconnen.
Wonder if I could smuggles those into the Hoyts cinema?

Well It’s time to go shopping for drinks for new years (a bit late I know) and I was hoping to find some of this wonderful mastic flavored Greek liquor called Mastica.
I don’t suppose anyone would have a clue as to where to find it, a European grocery perhaps?
Do we have any specialist [...]

Hi! I’m after a nose piercing next week and was wondering where the best place to get it done would be? Any suggestions/experiences are appreciated!
At the moment I’m considering Redpath? Someone else told me to go to Hairhouse Warehouse but I’m not sure.
Also anyone with a nose piercing what should I expect??
Also I’m under 18, [...]

I don’t think many people would even know it is Christmas in Tuggeranong.
The Hype Dome has few decorations.
Walking through there you would be forgiven for thinking it was just another day.
And, every other business in Greenway appears to have forgotten it is Christmas.
What is wrong with businesses in Tuggeranong joining forces, [...]

Thanks to Tootza for sending in confirmation the long awaited Zara is coming to the top floor of the Canberra Centre.
The agile Zara will give the other retailers nearby a run for their money:
It is claimed that Zara needs just two weeks to develop a new product and get it to stores, compared to [...]

Ben_Dover has sent this in:
Saw this sign for a garage sale in Cook.
Mark “I can arm wrestles old men” Latham has gone down in the world, obviously.
Got an image of Canberra you want to share with the world? Email it in to images@the-riotact.com .

Decided to have lunch with my wife yesterday to finalise some Xmas shopping for our kids. So off to Big W we go looking for a Furby for our daughter. We head to the toy department expecting a huge display of these ‘Furbies’ but to no avail. For those of you that [...]

The beer drinking man has long faced a conundrum.
The best mass produced beer in Australia is, as any fule kno, Coopers Pale.
On the other hand the cheapest beer is from Aldi.
Until today, oh joyous day, when I found Coopers Pale going in Aldi for $42 a case.
Tonight’s going to be a good night.

[ 16 December, 2012; 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. ]

Get your tight jeans and thick rimmed glasses out; the New Acton Suitcase Rummage is back!

This in from New Acton:

Suitcase Rummage started in Brisbane with a couple of people wanting people without pretension and markets without a mardi gras of racks and banners. Coupled with NewActon, they’re encouraging Canberrans to fill some suitcases with [...]

Supabarn are letting it be known that they’re all grown up tomorrow when they turn 21:
Supabarn is a Canberra based company with stores in both Canberra and Sydney. Supabarn is proud to be Canberra’s largest private employer and a regular supporter of our community and all things Canberra.
We would like to thank all of Canberra [...]

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has raised its concerns over Woolies taking over the Hawker shops:
The ACCC’s preliminary view is that the proposed acquisition may result in a substantial lessening of competition in the local supermarket market.
The ACCC considers that the proposed acquisition would remove the unique offering of the Hawker Supa IGA [...]

So the new extensions to the Tuggeranong Hyperdome are open.  
I took a good look around today and soon realised that its a lot of the same old same old, re-arranging the chairs so to speak.
Yep, there are a few new tennants in Big W, JB Hi Fi and one or two others, but the rest are mainly old tennants [...]

Lip Magazine has a month to go on their Pozible campaign to print their next edition and with a lot of Canberra women involved are worthy of your consideration:
Lip Magazine is an alternative, independent magazine for young women. Launched in 2003, the magazine has undergone a string of changes over the years, and in [...]

This year, Belconnen Fresh Food Markets will contribute to The Salvation Army Christmas appeal by hosting a Christmas tree in the centre of the marketplace from Saturday 1 December until Sunday 23 December 2012.
We urge local Canberran’s to dig deep and donate in December to families who struggle to make ends meet at one of [...]

Sensis has some bad news about their survey of business confidence in the ACT:
The ACT has recorded the largest fall in business confidence among small and medium businesses of any state or territory over the past quarter, with confidence now below the national average.
The November Sensis Business Index results show confidence levels among ACT [...]

What does the hive think about the best shops to buy PC bits and pieces in Canberra?
I know best prices can be found on the web but I want to talk to someone about my purchases.
I’ve had a bit of hit and miss at JBs.
Any views on Officeworks ?

Mayor Rattenbury is asking Chapman residents to express their views on upgrades to the local shopping centre:
“Following consultation, the Government will release a draft design of the Chapman Shops upgrades. It will address issues such as public safety and security, parking, street furniture, signage, stormwater, lighting, landscaping improvements and accessibility.
“We will display this draft design [...]

The Chief Health Officer is warning that regardless of what you think about Peter Slipper’s text messages you don’t want to be hanging onto some batches of mussels:
On 2 November 2012, a national recall was announced for mussels that may be contaminated with a naturally occurring biotoxin called paralytic shellfish toxin. Shellfish may accumulate this [...]

Hive mind – where do you recommend buying a new laptop and extended international warranty package?

[ 7 December, 2012; 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm. ]

Ethical and eco-friendly gifts, food, music and a starry summer evening at the Canberra Environment Centre.

Stalls, Music, Wine and Food

Avoid the crush and the shopping centres, have some dinner, listen to some live music, and do your christmas shopping:

– Organic, Free Range, Fair Trade and Local Food Produce
– Solar Panels, Rainwater tanks and Compost Bins/Worm [...]

Do you want to buy beautiful and inexpensive Christmas cards, and help your favourite charity at the same time?
The Charity Card Shop opens at the City Uniting Church, Pilgrim House, Northbourne Ave, Civic on Monday, 29 October 2012. It will be open from 10 –3.30, Monday to Friday until Thursday, 13 December 2012.
Hundreds of cards [...]

My husband and I are returning to Canberra after three years away and we’ll be renting in Harrison. I’ve never lived in Gungahlin before and I’m sort of familiar with the town centre but not the rest of the area.
I can’t see any Harrison shops on Google Earth but maybe it’s an old picture. Does [...]

In what looks like another nail in the coffin of competitors to the big two supermarket chains — as well as validation of community concerns expressed during the mishandled draft Hawker Master Plan process — Woolworth has made an offer for the Hawker IGA.
There are a lot of interesting things about this, not least [...]

I was chatting with a Woden Woolies employee the other morning after we both saw a ‘criminal genius’ trying to shop lift a UDL (puting it in his pocket right in front of me whilst said employee was watching him in the mirror – he put it back and left the shop). 
The employee told me that that [...]

In a story in the Herald yesterday morning, an Ikea spokesman said there was potential to build a store in Canberra as part of an Australia-wide expansion.
Ikea in Canberra: hit or s***?

Many thanks to Dave who has pointed out that Google Maps StreetView includes the interior of Lyneham’s Book Lore second hand bookstore.
The strange properties of L-Space as exhibited by second hand bookstores was well noted by Terry Pratchett but it’s nice to see demonstrated.
Give it a go, walk right in…
View Larger Map

The Liberals have promised to think lots about what to do in South East Tuggeranong if elected:
ACT Opposition Leader Zed Seselja and ACT Deputy Opposition Leader Brendan Smyth announced today that if elected, a Canberra Liberals Government will conduct a comprehensive audit of existing community facilities in South East Tuggeranong, and upgrade Calwell oval.
“It is [...]

Simon Corbell is not letting the caretaker convention get between himself and his ministerial letterhead.
Today he’s unveiled a master plan for the vexed Erindale group centre complete with a transport hub:
Shoppers and workers at the Erindale group centre are set to benefit from an extra 1200 car spaces, a new bus station, better walking and [...]

Bear in mind that the Liberal road for electoral success runs through Tuggeranong when you consider their latest policy of improvements to Erindale:
ACT Opposition Leader Zed Seselja and ACT Shadow Urban Services Minister Alistair Coe announced today that if elected, a Canberra Liberals Government will immediately improve the look of Gartside Street in Erindale [...]

ACT Fire & Rescue is responding with multiple units to Belconnen Mall following reports of a fire.
All levels of the centre are currently being evacuated.
Update to follow.
10:55am Sunday 9 September 2012
—
Firefighters have located the smoke and the presence of an electrical smell on level two of Belconnen Mall.
There has been no sign of any fire [...]