Joe's Bar, The Art of Aperitivo

Joe’s Bar in the lobby of East Hotel in Kingston has been a popular installation on the Canberra dining scene since it opened its doors in August 2016.

Though it’s only been open a relatively short time, in Canberra as much as anywhere else, the key to survival in the local bar and dining scene seems to be, evolve or die.

With a seemingly endless stream of new establishments opening up every week, restaurant owners can’t afford to allow their venues to become stale, and Joe’s Bar is no exception.

Read more at http://theyumlist.net/en/2017/10/joes-ar-east-hotel-canberra.html 

What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen on Canberra’s roads?

Earlier this month, I was amused to read the story of a man caught driving in Toowoomba with no front seats.

Yes, you read that right. The car was missing both front seats.

Instead, the driver – who later admitted he was disqualified from driving as well – and his brave passenger were perched on rolled-up foam mattresses.

Surely you could at least drop in a stroller, like that clever Bush Mechanics mob?

For example, there used to be regular sightings throughout Canberra of a small car travelling with an alpaca in the back.

Read more at https://the-riotact.com/whats-the-strangest-thing-youve-seen-on-canberras-roads/216603 

Achtung Canberra! The 2017 German Auto Day is happening this Sunday

Want to get up close and personal with a polished-up Porsche, beaming Beamer, magnificent Merc, or a kool Kombi?

If you want to check out some awesome cars and get your wiener fix at the same time, the annual German Auto Day is on again this Sunday 17 September, from 10am to 3pm at Pialligo Estate.

A joint initiative of the local Porsche, BMW, VW and Mercedes-Benz Clubs, in partnership with Pialligo Estate, the event celebrates the feats of German engineering on two wheels and four.

Read more at https://the-riotact.com/achtung-canberra-the-2017-german-auto-day-is-happening-in-canberra-this-sunday/216619

Mr Perkins soup cleanse review

Starting a 3-day vegetable soup cleanse with a large cappuccino and a slice of jam-and-cream sponge roll was arguably not the smartest idea I’ve ever had.

But we had to welcome a new team member at work, and everyone knows the traditional way our tribes welcome new members is by eating baked goods in front of them.

I didn’t want to be cast out of the cave.

When the call went out among The Riot ACT’s contributors, for someone to try out a soup cleanse that was newly available in Canberra, the silence was deafening.

Always curious to try something different (and lured by the offer of a post-cleanse slap-up dinner with The Riot ACT’s co-owner), I bravely put up my hand.

Read more at https://the-riotact.com/mr-perkins-soup-cleanse-review/212572

Beyond taxis, Uber and ride-sharing: are your kids offering or accepting lifts for cash?

Who’s driving your kids home tonight? There’s growing trend among young people, who are turning their backs on taxis and Ubers in favour of lifts from friends organised through social media. But should you be worried?

Anyone who has (mis)spent their youth in Canberra likely knows the cold misery of that long wait at the end of the night for a taxi or an Uber to take you home to your warm bed.

But with all the recent focus on late-night street brawls and coward punches, it’s easy to forget that stepping into that warm car might not offer the safety you expect.

Read more at https://the-riotact.com/beyond-taxis-uber-and-ride-sharing-are-your-kids-offering-or-accepting-lifts-for-cash/211666

What’s missing from the modern car?

I never thought I’d be the kind of person who valued heated seats in their car. They seemed like such an unnecessary indulgence.

But boy, I’ve been appreciating them over these last few weeks of cold weather in our region.

It’s about that time of year in Canberra where we all just get sick to death of being cold all the time, am I right? As I left my office last week at around 6pm (so pitch dark, obviously …), I found myself dreading that first 5-10 minutes of the drive home in that icy-cold car.

You know, when you just have to bear with the cold air, cold seats, cold steering wheel, until all the systems warm up. Of course, it’s MUCH worse in the mornings. Brrrrrr.

Read more at https://the-riotact.com/whats-missing-from-the-modern-car/210238

Jervis Bay is awful and you should all stay away

Taking advantage of the recent long weekend, I set out in search of (slightly) warmer weather and took a short road trip with a partner across to visit Jervis Bay. What a mistake that turned out to be.

The Queen’s Birthday weekend is the first public holiday in Canberra after the really cold weather has set in (and after we’ve all switched on our heaters after Anzac Day).

Therefore, even heading to the coast at this time of year, we expected to find hordes of Canberrans on a similar mission to breathe air that’s a few degrees warmer.

One of the responsibilities – it could be said, the burdens – of being a writer, is that we try things out so you don’t have to.

Which is why I can say with absolute confidence, that having just visited this part of the world, the Jervis Bay area is positively terrible and you should stay right away. You’re welcome.

Read more at https://the-riotact.com/jervis-bay-is-awful-and-you-should-all-stay-away/207138