A cracker of a game - ICC Cricket World Cup
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As a city quickly growing into itself and forging forward, Canberra is attracting some world class sporting events. Come for the match and stay on to soak up the excitement of this vibrant flourishing city.
Manuka oval will come alive to the sound of leather on willow this March. Soak up the atmosphere at this historic oval and revel in the sunshine, night lights, crowd, banter and cricket culture.
Matches:
Three matches were scheduled for the capital:
Wednesday 18 February 2015 between Bangladesh and Afghanistan
Bangladesh won by 105 runs
Tuesday 24 February 2015 - West Indies V Zimbabwe Day/Night
The West Indies won by 73 runs
Action still to come......
Tuesday 3 March 2015 - South Africa V Ireland Day/Night
Ireland has become a serious player in world cricket and rest assured any team who do not take them seriously, do so at the own peril. After a four-wicket win over the West Indies on 15 February the stage is set for a super tight game. South Africa may have won the last three encounters but will this be enough against a new improved Ireland?
Fab fact #1: The Manuka oval's scoreboard, the Jack Fingleton Scoreboard, was originally located at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. When the MCG installed a new electronic scoreboard in the early 1980s it was relocated to Manuka oval. It was named after Jack Fingleton, an Australian opening batsman and Canberra writer, who died around the time of installation.
Culture and Creativity combine
Enlighten 2015 and the Enlighten Night Noodle Markets
See Canberra in a new light at the 2015 Enlighten festival. Enlighten is set to breathe light, colour and movement into Canberra after dark for another outstanding year. This year 12 national institutions will host a fantastic line-up of free and ticketed events providing live performances, fascinating tours, blockbuster exhibitions, exclusive dining events and family entertainment – all set against a backdrop of stunning architectural projections, which will shine a light on some of Australia’s most iconic attractions.
Icons to get the enlighten treatment include National Portrait Gallery, National Library of Australia, Questacon, Parliament House, Old Parliament House and National Gallery of Australia. Brand new this year is the Enlighten Night Noodle Markets which will provide an arrary of Asian treats such as dumplings, pad Thai and gyoza. The festival runs from 27 February to 7 March.
Five minutes with….Melissa Breen Australia's current 100 metre women's record holder
Canberra born and bred, Melissa Breen is currently the fastest woman over 100 metres in the country. Mel broke the Australian record for the women's 100 metre sprint, when she clocked 11.11 seconds at the ACT Championships a year ago. As we watch her star rise, she shares with us her shining places in her hometown of Canberra.
Q1. What is your favourite place in Canberra?
A. My favourite place in Canberra at the moment is the Kingston Foreshore. I love to go there to eat. It has a really nice vibe and it reminds me of Melbourne. It has a really classy, relaxed vibe.
Q2. What is your favourite Canberra icon?
A. I can't go past the Australian War Memorial and the view you get looking back towards Old Parliament House and the new Parliament House. It's just so iconic and the immaculate grasslands around the memorial are just beautiful.
Q3. What did you like to do in Canberra as a kid?
A. I was born on the south side of Canberra and as a kid we used to like to go for bike rides around Lake Tuggeranong every Saturday. We were an active family and it would be me, my brother and Mum and Dad. We would stop at every playground on the way so it would take a few hours to get around.
Q4. Where is your favourite place to eat in Canberra?
A. Ottoman Cuisine in Barton is my favourite place to eat. I have been there at least 10 times. It is classy and beautiful and set alone so it doesn't feel cluttered. Last time I was there was a wedding on and I thought what a beautiful setting to have a reception and the garden is perfect for wedding pictures.
Q5. Where would you take someone visiting Canberra from out of town?
A. I would take them to the National Aboretum. You just get a great, different perspective of Canberra from there. There are some really beautiful open spaces and on a clear day the views of Canberra are amazing.
Canberra’s top beer gardens
Time for a bevvie in the sun
Before heading to Manuka for the match you might want to try out some of the capital’s premier watering holes. Here are some of the town's top beer gardens.
Fab fact #2: Tilley’s Devine Café Gallery in Lyneham is considered a Canberra icon. It was also the first outdoor venue in Australia to become licensed.
Hopscotch – city, inner north
Vibe: Friendly, hip and happening
This spacious, casual but inviting eatery arrived on the scene mid-2014 and with its huge outdoor area may in fact have earned the auspicious title of Canberra’s biggest beer garden. It quickly established itself as the neighbourhood local and is a happening place on a warm weekend. Hopscotch is also renowned for their Argentine wood-fried grill.
University House at ANU - Acton
Vibe: stylish, relaxed, and spacious
The Australian National University is home to Fellows Bar and Café a huge outdoors space that is within walking distance of the city. Enjoy a drink during happy hour while the sun filters through the many trees. The food is inexpensive but basic and includes seafood, pies, quiches and sandwiches.
A. Baker – NewActon
Vibe: inner city, relaxed, funky
Spend an evening amongst the trees in this NewActon courtyard with the inner city buzz faintly echoing in your ears. In summer A. Baker’s offers summer sessions in the courtyard with live music and DJ’s every Friday. Grab a deck chair and soak it in.
Public – Manuka
Vibe: Warm, social, inviting
This is a hotel known for its quality pub grub but where you can also get a decent plonk if you are serious about your wine. On a summer evening in the beer garden the young and beautiful stand side by side with the suburbs more mature residents – all comers welcome.
Mint Garden Bar – Braddon
Vibe: classy, ambient, foodie
The Mint Garden Bar is a great place to relax and unwind. Set in one of Canberra’s oldest buildings the outside bar is surrounded by beautiful heritage gardens. The bar serves some of the best bar food around with canapés made by the multi award-winning Sage restaurant. Choose from a range of classic cocktails spiced with fresh herbs grown in the garden itself.
Fairy floss, food, farming and fun
“Great vibe every year, something for everyone; best event in Canberra really.” 5 out of 5 stars Chantelle Topley (Facebook)
Fab fact #3: The Show was given “Royal” status in 1979.
The ActewAGL Royal Canberra Show is the ACT’s biggest annual all-ages event. This year the event will showcase 5000 livestock and have over 150 attractions, 450 trade displays and 1500 competitors. There will be something for everyone including family fun, farming, fashion and food to name a few.
In important show news a panel of well qualified connoisseurs, children, have judged this year’s best overall show bag as the SpongeBob Squarepants bag and the best confectionary bag as the Giant Wicked Fizz. Make sure you get in fast.
The show takes place on the last weekend of February and runs for three days at Exhibition Park.
Canberra Cravings – New eateries on the scene
Fab fact #5: Canberra was once reputed to have more restaurants and cafés per head than any other city in the world. (Paris came second.) . While that is now in dispute– Adelaide and Perth both now claim to have more restaurants per capita than any other Australian city – there’s no shortage of fine dining.
Capitol Bar and Grill – NewActon
One of the most glamorous restaurants to open in Canberra last year was the Capitol Bar and Grill in the revamped QT Hotel. The brainchild of acclaimed Australian restaurateur Robert Marchetti, it has an Italian theme while offering some retro favourites such as prawn cocktails and vol au vents.
Eighty/Twenty - Braddon
The philosophy around this new eatery is to eat well 80 per cent of the time, indulge 20 per cent and make the whole experience 100 per cent satisfyingly good. This is the place for a Paleo breakfast. While the cafe focuses on nutrition with salads, smoothies, raw dishes and plenty of sugar- and gluten-free options you can still indulge in a great coffee or fine wine.
Plaka - Dickson
Named after the old historical neighbourhood of Athens, Plaka is a reinvention of its old self rather than a brand new thing on the Canberra culinary scene. The Miras family, who ran Plaka for 40 years in Mawson, are still in the driving seat and the menu of classic Greek dishes and hearty serves to share are back.
So you've been to the cricket, dined like kings and felt out the vibe and now the kid’s want to know ….What now?
Australian Institute of sport
Fab fact #6: The AIS was officially opened by the Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser on 26 January (Australia Day), 1981.
Why not treat yourself to a behind the scenes tour of Australia’s premier elite sporting precinct, including Sportex the interactive sports exhibition. If you’re lucky you may catch some of Australia’s top athletes in training. Every tour is guided by an elite athlete so the kids can ask plenty of questions and give you a rest.