[ 1 June, 2013; 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. ] All right thinking people agree kites are cool.

ArtsACT is giving notice of a kite flying day by Lake Ginninderra:

Kites will fill the skies on Saturday 1 June at Belconnen Arts Centre’s WIND AIR WATER – CENTENARY KITES at LAKE GINNINDERRA. Join Belconnen Arts Centre to celebrate the kites, colours and the cultures from around the [...]

The Centenary of Canberra has inspired a classic martini cocktail – and to localise it even more, it has a Northside and Southside twist.
The Centenary martini – the Centini – is the creation of Schmooze founder Phillip Jones, and has the enthusiastic backing of noted Martini lover Robyn Archer, the Centenary of Canberra’s Creative Director. [...]

The Centenary Team have let it be known that Skywhale might be slipping the surly bonds of earth tomorrow morning.
Or it might not depending on the weather which isn’t looking good.
Check the Centenary website from 5am for confirmation.
[Photo by Deref]

We’ve had some photos in from this morning’s flight of the Skywhale over Canberra.
Hannah sent in the above with this:
The Skywhale launch this morning was really great. People were whooping and clapping as it took off, and Robyn Archer got us to “hip hip horray” it.
And Deref sent in a bunch:

Here’s the full slideshow:

Got some [...]

The Liberals Jeremy Hanson is working up his outrage at the true cost of Skywhale.
In a Public Accounts Committee hearing today, it was revealed the true costs to the ACT for the Skywhale for the Centenary of Canberra will be $300,000. ACT Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson asked today why again it is only after questioning [...]

The Canberra Raiders have unveiled their Centenary of Canberra jersey.
The Canberra Raiders will be joining in on Canberra’s Centenary Celebrations, when they wear a special Centenary Jersey against the Broncos on June 10 (Monday) at Canberra Stadium.
The jersey was officially launched today at the top of the iconic Canberra landmark Telstra Tower, with Raiders [...]

Tara from In the Taratory has sent in these pictures of the weekend’s Morris 100 extravaganza.
Got images of Canberra you want to share with the world? Email them in to images@the-riotact.com .
Here’s the slideshow:

Southgate Amateur Radio News has a hamtastic report on a centenary call sign:
2013 is Canberra’s centenary year. To commemorate the event the Canberra Region Amateur Radio Club is sponsoring the special event callsign VI100ACT, which will be active until the end of December.
Canberra is unique in Australia: and not because it is where we send [...]

After listing Canberra’s top 100 most “liked” things, Canberra Centenary have just produced a handy resource for companies and events that nobody likes.
You can now print out a poster provided by the centenary and claim you/your business/your band/your cat/your drug habit is the 101st favourite thing in Canberra, with all the authority of the centenary [...]

Have you ever been in a city celebrating its 100th birthday before?
I know I haven’t.
So if you don’t have plans to get down to the lake to join in the fun you really need to take long hard look at yourself.
Yes you could sit alone in a dark room watching torture porn or shooting zombies.
Or [...]

[ 9 March, 2013 to 11 March, 2013. ]

Paul McDermott is one proud ex-Canberran who isn’t afraid to do his bit to stick up for the city.

“I never think stereotypical criticism is a bad thing—it’s what comedians thrive on,” Paul said. “I find it all comical, almost like fighting fish in a tank, but I have exploited it over the years. Canberra cops [...]

[ 12 March, 2013; 11:00 am to 1:30 pm. ]

ActewAGL have sent out word that they’re putting on a do on City Walk for the exact birthday of Canberra on 12 March:

ActewAGL, Principal Partner of the Centenary of Canberra, invites Canberrans to join in raising a toast for Canberra’s birthday at a free barbecue outside the ActewAGL Assist store on City Walk in [...]

As part of the Centenary, a site – portraitofanation.com.au – has been set up that includes a page for every suburb and street in Canberra.  It invites residents of Canberra, or relatives of those for who the suburb or street is named – to research the history of that person and submit it online.  You [...]

Stamps! Stamps for the Centenary!
The nation is celebrating 100 years since the birth of the national capital, Canberra, and Australia Post is marking this historic occasion with the release of one domestic base-rate (60c) stamp and one international-rate ($2.35) stamp.
Australia’s Parliament House and the National Portrait Gallery are featured on the stamps with [...]

With Canberra’s big day coming up on this Monday’s public holiday (11 March) the volunteers have been presented with their t-shirts at the Legislative Assembly.
Pictured are Jenni Regan, Claire Lewis and Tess Cole-Adams.
If anyone’s keen to volunteer it’s not too late. You should contact Centenary of Canberra volunteer coordinator Julie Sunley on 02 6207 6782 [...]

The Centenary team are putting the word out that you can leave the car at home as you join in the lakeside festivities for Canberra’s big day:
Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Shane Rattenbury, today announced that ACTION will operate all buses free of charge,and will provide additional services to help Canberrans travel on [...]

The Centenary folk are getting word out that after 120,000 Like Canberra votes your chance to get in the action runs out this Thursday:
The Like Canberra website has recorded more than 120,200 votes by more than 10,000 voters keen to ensure that their favourite Canberra place, activity or experience is included in the top 100 [...]

This year’s Royal Canberra Show has taken on a centenary theme this year to take part in Canberra’s birthday celebrations.
To me the Canberra Show is all about eating fairy floss and buying a showbag full of ancient lollies and Phantom comics, but to some people it’s about seeing farm animals doing… farm animally things.
Well farm [...]

[ 1 March, 2013 to 31 March, 2013. ]

Facebook has word on a program of parties planned at local shops around Canberra in March for the centenary:

On 12 March 2013, Parties at the Shops events will be held all over Canberra to celebrate the city’s 100th birthday. Come and party with your neighbours!
Description
We’re pretty sure that Canberra must be the only city in [...]

The Centenary of Canberra folk are making a last call for registrations for the Masters Games over Easter:
An open invitation has been issued to all masters athletes aged 30 and over to register for the landmark Australian Masters Athletics National Track and Field Championships, being held in Canberra over Easter.
The Championships are proudly supported by [...]

This in from the Centenary team:
The Canberra Centenary message is everywhere – even in the bedroom.
The Centenary team was happy to agree to a proposal by Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT to place the Centenary logo on boxes of condoms they will distribute, including on National Condom Day (14 February) in Petrie Plaza. [...]

[ 1 March, 2013 to 24 March, 2013. ] So it’s not the Spiegel Tent we’re getting, which explains some disquiet. It’s a Spiegel Garden. It might be in a tent too.

The Centenary team are letting it be known that the delayed program is now out.

Gosh! Robyn Archer in concert!

The programme – which runs from March 1st to 24th – includes such famous [...]

[ 11 March, 2013; ]

The Centenary Team have announced what’s going down around Lake Burley Griffin on Canberra Day:

“Starting from midday on the south side of the lake there will be Canberra… in So Many Words – you can help build and come and play in the words all around the lake. There’s stuff for kids at Regatta Point, [...]

One of the big attractions in the Centenary 100 celebrations, for me anyway, was the Famous Spiegeltent having a season in the Parliamentary Rose Gardens. I was kinda hoping there’d be a range of good quality music, cabaret and performances to watch, the same as Spiegeltent seasons have had in Melbourne and Sydney in the [...]

The Centenary folks are giving notice that the times tickets to their Bubbly Bars are now available:
“I’ve tasted the tapas and the Centenary bubbly, and believe me at $15 for four tastes and a glass this is a fantastic bargain,” Robyn said.
“But basically this is more about being able to say you were there, to [...]

The Chief Minister is letting everyone know that ACTION are putting on a free “Centenary Loop” bus:
ACT Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher, today launched ACTION’s Centenary loop bus, which will provide free daily transport to a range of the city’s top attractions throughout 2013.
“In celebration of Canberra’s Centenary, ACTION’s Route 100 offers locals and visitors a [...]

Myles Peterson (ex of the Canberra Times, sacked by the Pirate Party from his unpaid media role) has popped up in the Daily Telegraph fuelling every ignorant bogan’s wildest stereotype of Canberra.
Cashing in on the torrents of taxpayer cash flowing on to Canberra’s gold-paved streets, local retailers and supermarkets charge prices found only in [...]

Canberra FM radio (think Mix 106 and FM 104) have announced they’re launching a digital only Centenary radio station Canberra 100:
The station has been designed to celebrate Canberra’s milestone year and along with the very best in commercial free music the station will highlight the events that are running to celebrate the centenary along with [...]

Jeremy Lasek has issued a media release (and made a comment on this website) to let people know that the Like Canberra website is both wildly popular and also improved.
In response to feedback, the Like Canberra website has an enhanced design that makes it easier to navigate and vote. There is also a new feature [...]

The Centenary of Canberra team are letting us know that they’re doing a great job:
With independent ACT events such as the New Year celebrations, and events included in the Centenary program such as Summernats, all showing a boost in numbers, 2013 already looks like being a bumper year for the national capital.
“It’s clear that people [...]

The “Like Canberra” website is looking for votes having proudly taken in the public’s nominations.
[The tiled interface is a particular mess, because the world loves Windows 8 right? (er...)]
I was intrigued by the “Only in Canberra” tile. And what a cornucopia of bollocks it is!
Is this really the best we can do?
Highlights for mine [...]

Jorian’s blog post (which was published in the Canberra Times as an opinion piece) about Canberra’s centenary celebrations lacking in local fun is spot on.
I would have preferred Robyn Archer’s travel budget went towards an account at Barlen’s for Jorian.
The longest bubbly bar did sound appealing, until I read “..frequent short sittings, so military precision [...]