Well, here we are – back for another year.
It’s at this time we start to wonder what 2015 will mean for Canberra. It’s certainly off to a flyer, with international events commencing this week.
Canberra is officially cool, with a swathe of respected magazines and organisations marvelling at the fantastic lifestyle enjoyed by all of us here. But what for the city we know and love. Here are a few predictions of what the next twelve months may come to offer.
The World comes to Canberra
There is a heap of stuff happening in terms of international events for the next few months. Sport is a big winner, with the first Asian Cup football match between the Republic of Korea and Oman kicking off on Saturday 10 January at Canberra Stadium. There will be a total of nine games here, including a Quarter Final on Friday 23 January.
The Cricket is here as well, with the annual PM’s XI match this year bringing the ‘Old Enemy’, England, to Manuka Oval next Wednesday (13 January – grab your tickets here). Also, there will be the Big Bash Final on Wednesday 28 January (tickets) and there is a stack of matches for the Cricket world Cup across February.
Finally, don’t forget the arts! Canberra is very fortunate to host the works of acclaimed American artist James Turrell. For those unfamiliar, Turrell uses light as his primary medium and creates unusual sensory experiences that will leave you wonderfully dazed and confused.
Food trends for the year
It’s hard to know where Canberra cuisine is headed – certainly we are at something of a cross-roads, as ‘convenience’ food reaches saturation point and paleo looks like getting kicked to its self-satisfying curb.
Keep an eye out for pickled foods. There will be plenty on offer as accompaniments or simply arranged on tasting boards. A great way to keep food available across the year, this will give chefs plenty to play with. We expect some pretty exciting combinations with exotic imports from all over the world kicking hard against the local-food movement.
The ‘Next Big Thing’
Braddon, once the industrial playground decorated by hipsters, is now well-and-truly the gastronomic focus of Canberra. With every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, so we expect early adopters to move to a whole new suburb and start another scene as they leave the big players and apartment blocks behind.
Could it be Dickson? It’s a part of Canberra that already has a counterculture feeling, with plenty of laneways and upstairs venues available for the next swathe of cool and clever operators. Also, like Braddon, there is an insufferable lack of parking that should make the transfer seamless.
Canberra continues to shine
Canberra’s amazing lifestyle has long been a secret kept far from the prying eyes of bigger cities. Now, with the OECD, The New York Times and Gourmet Traveller all proclaiming Canberra the place to be in 2014, it’s time to build on this success.
As we continue to change from being a city of politicians to a capital of culture and cuisine, 2015 looks like an exciting time for Canberra. Jump in and make sure you’re very much a part of it!
