Dennis_the_menace

1. Were are there good places to people watch during the day and in the evening?
2. What suggestions do you have for places to go and events to see during the evening.
3. Can you suggest some inexpensive to moderate places to eat?

I will be in Canberra November 12-14.

Thank you

longhorn55

When we lived there, we had young children, so we didn't get out much at night. (But I'll be the first to admit that there probably isn't a huge nightlife in Canberra anyway.)
However, we did get to go out to eat (both with and without kids) and we generally headed to Manuka and Kingston since we lived near that area. There are a lot of restaurants there that would fit your "inexpensive to moderate" budget. Also, please note that since you will be there on a Sunday, there is a Sunday surcharge (10% as I recall) at the restaurants, something we don't have here in the States.

Neil_Oz

I agree, Manuka is the best after-dark area. If you like Asian food, Dickson is also good (and Zefirelli's makes very good pizza). The best approach is to just wander around and read the menus posted in the windows. If the weather is warm, Civic (downtown Canberra) is shaking off its traditional torpor and has plenty of outdoor dining options, especially in Garema Place. Kingston is also a reasonable proposition.

Note: There's no actual suburb called 'Manuka' - it's a commercial centre at the junction of Griffith, Forrest and Red Hill, not far to the east of Parliament House, as is Kingston. It's named after a New Zealand native flower but for reasons that escape me the accent is on the fist syllable, sounding like "MAHN'aka". Dickson is 3 km north of Civic.

longhorn55, I make Nov 12-14 Mon-Wed. If so, be aware that some restaurants are closed on Monday nights. There'll be plenty of choice, though.

As regards things to do at night - it usually boils down to restaurants, movies, live music and plays. There's a great new 10-screen "art house" Dendy Cinema complex in the Canberra Centre mall - Bunda Street, City - that even has its own wine and coffee bar. For its size Canberra has a good arts/live entertainment scene. The best idea would be to pick up a copy of the Canberra Times when you arrive and see what's on.

www.canberratourism.com.au may give you some ideas.

longhorn55

Neil--right you are about those dates. That's what I get for trying to do the math in my head instead of looking at the calendar.

Neil_Oz

longhorn55, at least you tried. I'm so mathematically challenged I have no choice but to go to the calendar.

Dennis_the_menace, if you give me a reminder this weekend I'll have the entertainment listings in the local rag to hand - can you give me some idea what you're interested in?

Cheers,
Neil