FCT #11: the phoenix

Ah, The Phoenix. A genuine Canberra institution. And as Slim points out, one of the few places in town that hasn't benefited from the smoking ban. But the stench of 16 years worth of beer and bad plumbing isn't enough to keep the Canberrans away. 

I have so many memories of The Phoeno, all embalmed in teenage nostalgia. Oh how we drank! Oh how we danced! Oh how we loved (a good drama)! It must have been a baby of a venue back then but I have no memory of its birth. It's one of those places that seems always to have been there.

I've been back regularly since my return to the Can and not much has changed. In fact I'd be willing to bet that some of the regulars are still regular, just slightly more weatherbeaten. Last night was a special return though - my first real Phoenix gig and the first gig I've ever braved on my own. A Favourite Canberra Thing coupled with a Favourite Clairey Thing - bravery! I've always wanted to sidle into a show on my own. Hang back with a beer in hand and feel at home, alone among the masses. Many male friends do it regularly, so what's the big deal? Why is it so intimidating? Last night I gave intimidation a swift kick in the nuts and got on with it.

How could I not? 

Mikelangelo was playing. And I luuuuurrrrrrve Mikelangelo. A man who, in his own words, sings like a nightingale and moves like a bull.  

So in I sidled.

Boys in three piece suits, girls with feathers in their hair, great hair, knee-hi's, trucker caps and tight tees. Oldies, newies. Cool kids, middle-aged dorks. A guy with a remarkably high pot belly, and a bottle of milk, who later engaged in the strangest dancing I've seen in a long time. Not many people noticeably on their own, but one or two boys perhaps.

The gig was awesome. The cabaret-western-surf genre bending just worked. The cowboy shirts were pure polyester. The band were consummate professionals. Saint Clare was stunning and sequined and got into some amazing go go dancing. Mikel gave me (and okay, half the rest of the audience) the eye. Swoon.

It was a damn fine night.

FCT #5: flint dining room + bar

Okay. So I am supposed to be writing an assignment right now... not writing about food... again. But I thought I'd capture another tick on the list before it fades from memory like a wisp of pink fairy floss.

On Sunday night I was lucky enough to be shouted dinner at Flint Dining Room & Bar in New Acton. It's a pretty sweet new restaurant on the Canberra scene. In fact, New Acton is a pretty sweet new locale on the Canberra scene. My suitor and I spent most of the night trying to pick what existed there before, which I do a lot nowadays. Hmmmm. I know that hasn't always been there. But what was there before? Oh, that's right, a dodgy demountable full of science nerds.

It turns out that what was there before was the Hotel Acton, which was built in 1927 and spent the next 80-odd years sliding slowly into disrepair before having the bejeezuz redeveloped out of it. Actually, from what we could see the redevelopment has been done sensitively - thank goodness. Fancy apartments have been built across the front and sides, but the horseshoe of original hotel buildings remains, along with some gorgeous old trees. It gives the central courtyard a secluded and intimate feel, and that's where the majority of the eateries and drinkeries are situated.

I wouldn't be surprised if the transformation of this part of the city has been more contentious than my 15 google-minutes suggest. There's some serious wank up on the NewActon website after all. I don't think 'bohemian nights' attract the kind of price tag that our night did. And exactly what 'languid antipastos' entail... ? Well, we may never know. But the place definitely has a laid-back vibe, and the central courtyard space is a lovely destination on a warm night.

Flint itself feels good. Live jazz, super-friendly waitstaff, relaxed punters. The food has a meaty focus with interesting bits n bobs such as garlic snails in pastry, pig trotter and sweetbread carpaccio, and 'duo of rabbit'. Needless to say, old wussbag here did not partake. My inner bogan was intent on the steak frites, which was naughty, tender and tasty. (Just like me - haw haw.) S went with the more sophisticated 'barramundi meuniere', which came with a rich butter, tomato and caper sauce and some good rustic chunks of potato. The veggie sides looked great but we were so overwhelmed by the variety of the menu that we didn't get there.

Did we do dessert? Hell yeah. Lemon, berry and mascarpone millefeuille for me. House compressed watermelon for S. This is where the fairy floss comes in. It was the pinkest dessert I've ever clapped eyes on. Chunks of condensed watermelon, matched with a rose sorbet, Turkish delight and pashmak. A six year old fairy princess would have been delighted. Mouthfuls of yoghurt pannacotta and sesame and pistachio 'soil' provided a counterpoint to the pink. It was very pretty but soooooo sweeeeeet!

All in all, a great night. There was even unexpected entertainment in the form of a resident possum who has clearly hoed into the house bread one too many times and is as affectionate as your nana after a couple of sherries. S displayed some swift reflexes as he literally scooped our furry friend off the table. If only I'd remembered my camera!   

I won't be patronising Flint regularly on my student (non)income, but it would be fun to visit again for a pizza and movie night. Apparently outdoor movie screenings run throughout the year and one of the cute waiters promised he'd fill my hot water bottle for me. 

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Flint Dining Room & Bar
2/15 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra City
T: 02 6162 3350

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