NFSA

I have mentioned before that I love this place. The atmosphere is fantastic, the staff everywhere love being there and will do what they can to make you comfortable AND the movies are awesome.
The Summer screenings (unfortunately now over) took place in the courtyard, all the deckchairs are lined up and you are welcomed into a casual outdoor atmosphere with a big screen in front of you.

Get there early enough and you can get one of the comfy deckchairs near the front.

We usually got there at about 7:30 and would have a drink from the bar and sit and chat as we watched it get slowly darker, watching the people roll in and getting comfortable. When it rained for Indiana Jones, we were taken into the theatre which is the nicest theatre I have ever seen and were given 2 for one passes on account of the rain. This was much more than needed to be done but much appreciated all the same. Beetlejuice was the next one I saw, which was an experience in that, I havent seen the movie since I was a child and cant remember it being that creepy, but seeing the bats flying overhead from Lake Burley Griffin and watching the film gave it an atmosphere that could never be achieved in other places. The last one we saw was a screening compliments of the American Embassy of Viva Las Vegas, which was evidence that the king still lives and proof he couldnt act but it was the most fun I had had in a long time. But if you get a chance next year and you enjoy the themes, go and check out the courtyard sessions. Be aware though, you will need to buy your tickets in advance from the Arc because they do sell out.

Before I forget, I walked into the Arc a while back to buy tickets and I saw a black and white film screening in the theatrette, I asked if I could go and see and it was ads and television reels from australian television from the 1930's till the 1960's. I sat there for a whole hour laughing at the sexist jokes that ran throughout but it was an entertaining, educational and fun thing I found by accident.

What will you find?

CBB

Gus's and Essen

I finished work early yesterday and had some time to kill so I decided to go get a bite to eat and read a book while I waited. I decided on Gus's Cafe London circuit for the herbivore breakfast (at 3pm) and a cup of tea which set me back about $20. As much as I like Gus's the service and the meal were far from impressive, my pouched eggs were overcooked and the tomatoes were undercooked. the mushrooms though, were a highlight of the entire meal. I didnt get a spoon for my tea and not once did the staff smile or seem to interested other than in their own conversation. The roadworks on London Circuit are really affecting all the stores and cafes nearby but if you are quiet, it should give the opportunity to provide a better service to the customers you do have. In all, I finished the chapter I was up to, paid and headed next door to Essen where I was greeted in a friendly manner, the girls asked what I was reading, if Id had a nice day and suggested a nice tea for me. Tea will cost you $4.90 at Essen but I get four or five cups out of it so I prefer it. Honey and hot milk for my vanilla tea and I was comfortable with my book while it rained. I was there for a few hours before I realised I had to go, but if you want a nice place to go, dont be so conventional and sit at Gus's because its what you know - go to Essen, you'll find it much more enjoyable.
You never know, you might find me there sometime.

CBB

Lighthouse Belconnen

Being born and raised in Canberra, you tend to hear the rumours about the places to avoid and the places that have caused the most trouble over the past couple of years. One such place used to be the Lighthouse in Belconnen which was appropriately nicknamed the "fighthouse"long ago. These days though, if you are looking for a nice, casual place to hang out with friends, I'd say go on a Tuesday night and join is with a steak for Tuesday night Trivia.
Because of its increasing popularity, especially among the UC students, you may need to book a table in advance, but if you're willing head down and take your chances with a usual seat by the windows. Most common meals of the night are steak with chips and your choice of gravy, mushroom, pepper or dianne sauce or schnitzel with the same options. Very much pub food but still very popular because I love to opportunity to get a very rare steak without it coming overcooked. Trivia begins at 8 and goes well into the night but with rounds from general knowledge to sports there will be something everyone can answer. (we do exceptionally well in the films, characters and TV section). Drinks aren't pricey - we get jugs and share it between whoever comes and prepare yourself for the eating competition after round 3 which will make many people very very sick. I remember one time I tried to eat 3 subway cookies faster than anyone else and I cant even smell them now without getting sick. I have also seen grown men shove hotdogs into their mouths without a slight hint of a gag reflex and last week...... a tin of sardines...
the mens were out of order for a while after that.
In all - lighthouse trivia is a fun way to spend the night, head down with some friends, see if you can win some bar vouchers, have a casual pub dinner and dont drink and drive.
If you see us, dont hesitate to come and say hi.

CBB

80 Emu Bank
Belconnen ACT 2617
(02) 6253 0390

Canberran game developers

Electronic game development isn't something that people think of when they picture Canberra, the quiet city home to tribes of public servants and university students. I would say that hardly anybody knows that Canberra plays host to a couple of successful internationally recognised games developers.

Micro Forte

This company was created by the now-CEO John de Margheriti in the 1980s and developed a series of games for EA. It branched out with other titles, garnering international critical and popular success with Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel. It was a buggy and unforgiving isometric tactical game in the Fallout universe. It put players into the role of a squad of initiates in the Brotherhood of Steel. Players outfit their squad before the mission, complete primary and optional objectives, and advance their squad members in rank.

I loved the game -- Micro Forte captured the feel of the Fallout setting perfectly, from the wasteland setting itself to the arrogant Brotherhood characters. The game itself, while being a little buggy, allowed all options for completion, from stealth to frontal assault, and didn't skimp on the difficulty, which is a major failing (in my humble opinion) with today's games.

You can buy Fallout Tactics in stores, occasionally, but the best place to find it is Good Old Games, a website dedicated to preserving the classic games of the golden age of game development.

It should be mentioned that John de Margheriti didn't just found a games company, he also founded one of Australia's first and most respected game development training organisations: the Academy of Interactive Entertainment. Students can gain certificates in 3D animation and software development, and there are campuses in Melbourne and Canberra.

Please join me in a round of applause for one of Canberra's local heroes, if not one of Australian national treasures, John de Margheriti. I haven't covered anywhere near all of his acheivements, which are many and varied, and despite all of his success he remains a driven worker and a genuinely nice guy.

2K Australia

Chances are if you've been anywhere near gaming for the past few years you will recognise this developer. Based in Braddon, 2K Australia (formerly Irrational Games) was formed with offices in Boston, and spread to another office in Canberra after the release of System Shock 2. Yes, that studio.

Anyway, after a couple of well-received games (including the superheroing time-travelling Freedom Force vs the Third Reich and Tribes: Vengeance), they found massive success with Bioshock in 2007, and after some inter-studio wrangling the lightning struck twice with Bioshock 2 in 2010. They're currently working on Bioshock Infinite, which is looking very sexy indeed from the trailer and screenshots.



So well done to both of these Micro Forte and  -- they truly show how great Canberran companies can be, both independently and as part of a larger group, and I reckon they're definitely one of Canberra's best bits.

Yours truly,

The Everyman

Locanda Italian Steakhouse, under Rydges Canberra

Locanda has the (questionable?) honour of being located in the old Bobby McGee's restaurant under Rydges Lakeside on London Circuit. Rydges recently (read: in the last couple of years) undertook the enormous task of renovating their entire lobby and restaurant area, and it really shows in the cool, minimalistic decor and the soothing neutral colours. The moment you step in here, you start to relax.

Locanda has a wide selection of wine and spirits, and the restaurant manager knows them all. We asked him to make a selection of both red and white wine for the table and he exclled himself with a crisp white and a soft red that complemented the courses to a tee.

First up was the rabbit and veal ravioli, drizzled in a delicious sauce and wrapped in homemade pasta. I'm told that the junior chefs come into the foyer of the restaurant, also the lobby of the hotel, at roughly 3pm each day to make all the pasta fresh for the night's dining. Well done indeed, as the pasta was perfectly cooked, the rabbit and veal delicious and the sauce worthy of a good plate-cleaning.

We enjoyed delicious lamb cutlets next with roast vegetables. I'll be honest, one cutlet was slightly underdone and one slightly overdone to my taste, but that would be finding the smallest holes in what was to date one of the best main meals that I have ever eaten.

Lastly, a lemon sorbet with a berry sauce that brought a delicious strong end to our meal. Despite the best efforts of a few of our diners, bowls were picked clean within moments, and we all had satisfied smiles.

Overall, the atmosphere and the service were wonderful. We got there a little earlier than the rush, and as such I did notice a drop-off in service about halfway through the meal, but this was fairly obviously simply the waitress needing to service other tables as well. Special mention to the restaurant manager for his impeccable taste in wine and to the chef for an amazing meal that I will not soon forget.

The verdict: Locanda is a very expensive restaurant, but that is definitely softened by the quality of the food, the drinks and the service. An absolute must-do for everyone.

Yours truly,

The Everyman

Dendy Cinemas Premium Lounge

I love to go watch movies and Dendy supplies some of the best films that you wont get anywhere else, the only problem they have there is the staff - or lack thereof.
There are so few people working there that they seem to constantly be distracted, rushed and you can tell that their attitude towards you is false because of it. I went to the Premium Lounge the other night and the entire place was a mess, it looked like all the shelves had been pulled out and left on the benches, and even though I could tell there were more staff than the two girls on the tills, we didnt get greeted at the door or even approached until we waited in the queue to order food. While these two girls did everything they could to make us feel comfortable - like I said before, they seemed to rushed and distracted to make us feel that welcome. In the end, the movie started late AND it ended up being that the cinema wasnt even sold out. I cant imagine what that experience would have been like if it had.
In the end, regarding food, service and value for money
the Premium Lounge is definetely not worth it.

http://www.dendy.com.au/
6221 8900

CBB

Wagamama

Everyone in Canberra knows Wagamama. Situated in one of the busiest locations in Civic next to Sammys and Babar, Wagamama specialises in a fantastic blend of Asian and Australian Cuisine. Most of what the offer is influenced off Japanese cuisine with a huge range of noodles cooked in many different ways. When I go I tend to find myself ordering Chilli Chicken Ramen or the Laksa which is pretty good but still, I have to review another place that I love for Laksa. Anyway, with flavours of soy, chilli and ginger, if you want some food in a casual setting and a convenient location - this is the place to choose.
The prices here aren't too bad for what you get, I find that people rarely manage to finish what they have on their plates but the other day when we werent too hungry but had to get food because we had to work that night, we decided to get about 5 entrees, which all cost under $10 - which was far more than enough food. Duck Dumplings (gyoza), chicken pandan, cooked soybeans in chilli and garlic (edamame), soy cooked green veges and some jasmine rice, was a huge meal even though we didnt initially intend on eating that much.
Also, there is a waiter there named Daniel, while some staff can be questionable in their services, this waiter was cheerful, helpful and generally interested in giving a good service. Point is - 5 stars to Daniel he made my evening.

CBB

http://www.wagamama.com.au/

125 Bunda Street
Canberra ACT 2600
(02) 6248 7955