17 October 2019

Eight things to do around Canberra this weekend (18–20 October)

| Zoe Pleasants
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Empire House in Forrest

The Australian Institute of Architects is hosting a bus tour of some of the ACT Architecture Award-winning projects for 2019, including Austin Maynard Architects’ Empire House in Forrest, which took out the top prize. Photo: Derek Swalwell.

This weekend you could be inspired by great architecture, enriched by arousing music or indulge in some guilt-free shopping. The ACT Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects is hosting a bus tour of award-winning projects this Sunday, Kingsborough Village in Kingston is celebrating its new architecture with a Spring Festival this Saturday and Windows to the World continues to provide an opportunity to take a closer look at the architecture of Canberra’s Embassies and High Commissions both days. The National Film and Sound Archive is celebrating 20 years since the release of Powerderfinger’s iconic album Internationalist this Saturday, with Bernard Fanning dropping in to reminisce about the how the album was created and the Canberra Symphony Orchestra is having another of its recital series concerts this Sunday featuring Umberto Clerici on cello playing Beethoven and Rachmaninov. It is the weekend of the Garage Sale Trail with many households and groups across town looking to pass on their pre-loved goods to new homes. And if that’s not enough, Much Ado About Nothing and Westside Story are playing at the Canberra Theatre.

All weekend

Canberra Garage Sale Trail

Where: Various Venues
When: Saturday & Sunday
The annual Australia-wide Garage Sale Trail is on this weekend. In its ninth year, this trail helps keep the gears of the circular economy whirring by encouraging reuse and reducing the amount of stuff going to landfill. Founded by Sydneysiders Andrew Valder and Darryl Nichols, the trail is Australia’s biggest sustainability and community event and in Canberra. Registrations are up 25 per cent on last year. Check out these maps to see where the sales are located in the ACT and Queanbeyan-Palerang region. With over 500 households and groups registered there should be plenty of guilt-free shopping for you to indulge in this weekend. Check out our story about the trail here.

Windows to the World

Where: Various Embassies
When: Saturday & Sunday
Gain exclusive access to some of Canberra’s iconic embassies and high commissions as Windows to the World continues this weekend. Experience different cultures, beautiful gardens and intricate architecture without the price tag of an overseas holiday. This Saturday the Embassies of Switzerland, the Philippines and the United States of America, and the High Commissions of Canada and Malayasia are open, along with the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. This Sunday the Embassies of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Royal Embassy of Saudia Arabia, the High Commission for Pakistan and the Botswana High Commission are open. Tours of Parliament House are also happening on Saturday and Sunday. View the program and book tickets here. Be quick—quite a number of the tours are already sold out.

Friday

Fashionably Late

Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The Portrait Gallery is keeping its doors open late again this Friday for another of its spring soirees. Take a guided tour of the Women in Vogue exhibition, enjoy the tunes spun by Mia Sorlie and Danna and primp, preen and pose with your friends to create a Tableau Vivant or living portrait. Free entry, a ticket for the Vogue exhibition required for the tour.

Saturday

Spring Festival

Where: Kingsborough Village, Parbery Street, Kingston
When: 10:00 am–3:00 pm
Kingsborough Village is a new development close to the Kingston Foreshore. At the heart of this development is a village square with a number of shops, a playground and a community garden. To celebrate the completion of the second last building in the precinct, Kingsborough is hosting a Spring Festival this Saturday with free coffee, craft beer, live music, free yoga sessions and plenty of activities for the kids. Kingston Foreshore Cycles will have E-bikes on display and there will also be a Telsa Model 3 onsite because soon Kingsbourgh will have its own Tesla as a share-car! Check out the program of events and more details here.

Australian Federal Police—40th Anniversary Display

Where: Parliament House Forecourt
When: 10:00 am–12:00 pm
The Australian Federal Police is celebrating its 40th Anniversary this Saturday with a display in the forecourt of Parliament House. There will be current and heritage police vehicles, a heritage display and a few surprises.

Powderfinger’s Internationalist—20th Anniversary Celebration

Where: National Film and Sound Archive
When: 2:00 pm
The National Film and Sound Archive is celebrating Powderfinger’s iconic album Internationalist this Saturday. Recorded over four weeks in 1997 with the help of American producer Nick DiDa, Internationalist was Powderfinger’s third album. It debuted at no. 1 on the ARIA albums charts, was certified 5 x platinum and the track Passenger was ARIA Song of the Year in 1999. Bernard Fanning and Nick DiDa will be at the NFSA this Saturday to reminisce about the creative process behind the album. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for concession. Book here.

Sunday

Australian Institute of Architects 2019 ACT Awards Bus Tour

Where: ACT Chapter, 2A Mugga Way, Red Hill
When: 9:30 am–3:00 pm
The Australian Institute of Architects is hosting a bus tour of some of the ACT Architecture Award-winning projects for 2019. Meet at 9:30 am and visit:

  • ANU Hanna Neumann Building by Clarke Keller and DWP Design Worldwide Partnership which won the W Hayward Morris Award for Interior Architecture, the Enrico Taglietti Award for Education Architecture and the Pamille Berg Award for Art in Architecture
  • Wybalena Grove (1974) by Michael Dysart which won the Sir Roy Grounds Award for Enduring Architecture
  • Yarralumla Shed by Gerard O’Connell which won the Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions), and
  • Empire by Austin Maynard Architects which won the Canberra Medallion and the Gene Willsford Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions).

The tour will stop at the Canberra Centre for lunch. Tickets are $60 for adults, $55 for concession and $50 for members. Book here.

Canberra Symphony Orchestra—Recital Series

Where: Great Hall, University House
When: 2:00 – 3:00 pm
The Canberra Symphony Orchestra’s Recital Series is a relaxed, informal performance featuring a guest soloist in a one-hour concert that showcases the soloist’s instrument, their skill in playing it and their musical preferences. This concert will feature Umberto Clerici on cello and Benjamin Kopp on piano playing Beethoven’s Sonata in C major No. 1 op. 102 and Rachmaninov’s Sonata in G minor op. 19.

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