HOW much is that doggie… what the!!!? Snapper [highlight]Silas Brown[/highlight] was loitering in Fyshwick when he happened across a commercial furniture store with this, ahem, eye-catching display.

We’re not sure if it’s the work of a window dresser or a wag, but it brought a smile.

 

A bird? A plane? No, it’s Singo

SQUILLIONAIRE advertising guru [highlight]John Singleton[/highlight] made his first visit to the Canberra racing world since the ‘80s by landing in the middle of the Black Opal race meeting by chopper.

Singo was here to watch his [highlight]Gai Waterhouse[/highlight]-trained horse Later Gator run third in perfect weather at Thoroughbred Park’s humongous race meet, the Kamberra Wine Company Black Opal Stakes.

Singleton told “CC”: “I don’t race as many horses as people think. I breed them and I sell them.”

Second place Faustus, was also one of Singleton’s horses before he sold it.

And he says if his horses keep running in at least third place in Canberra, he’ll be back.

Also making an appearance at the course was former cricketer [highlight]Mark Waugh[/highlight] and his horse-training wife Kim, who rubbed shoulders with punters in the sold-out Mark Waugh Marquee.

 

Doug’s Prime time ends

AFTER 20 years with Prime TV, the network’s prominent local chief executive [highlight]Doug Edwards[/highlight] will part with the company in June.

A Brumbies board member, Edwards has been made redundant in a management restructure at Prime and his work will be assumed by group CEO Ian Audsley. But is there more to it?

“The Australian” reports: “Prime TV has been nominated as a possible acquisition target if suggested changes to the media ownership laws made in the interim report of the Federal Government’s Convergence Review Committee are adopted.

“That has led to speculation the restructure might be aimed at ‘tidying up’ the group for a potential sale.” As they say in television, stay tuned.

 

No energy for Earth Hour

WITH Earth Hour just around the corner, it’s sad to report that the local media didn’t have the collective energy to muster for Environment Minister [highlight]Simon Corbell[/highlight]’s launch of the local slice of the world’s “biggest voluntary action for the environment” at Tosolini’s in Civic. The call, which also included guest speakers, ActewAGL’s [highlight]Paul Walshe[/highlight] and local Property Council barker [highlight]Catherine Carter[/highlight], was cancelled, says Corbell’s office, because “no media was able to attend”. Funny that, because “CityNews” was and, ironically, at the same coffee den not 45 minutes later, did “CC” spot a “Canberra Times” senior Assembly reporter in a close huddle, sans notebook, with a leading business identity.

Anyway, to take part in Earth Hour, it’s lights out from 8.30pm on March 31.

 

Green and Blue

[highlight]HANNAH Paris[/highlight] stepped out of the local pre-selection cat fight for Greens’ candidates to launch her eco-fashion label Audrey Blue, which uses certified organic and fair trade cotton.

The former economics adviser to Greens leader [highlight]Bob Brown[/highlight] shared the ACT Greens Senate ticket with [highlight]Lin Hatfield Dodds[/highlight] in the 2010 Federal election and aspires to run for the Legislative Assembly at the October election.

Hannah has turned her hand to fashion, describing her clothing range as: “Organic, fair trade, ethical… Audrey Blue creates affordable, eco-friendly, stylish smart casual clothing designed to suit real women’s bodies, their lives and their budgets.”

 

Michelangelo, master chef?

THE National Gallery of Australia has gone mad with alliteration as it announces an “Afternoon of Aperitifs and Antipasti” to accompany the “Renaissance” exhibition, says arts editor [highlight]Helen Musa[/highlight].

Veteran Sydney journalist [highlight]David Dale[/highlight] and his writing collaborator, restaurateur [highlight]Lucio Galletto[/highlight], will explain their theories as to why the Italians – as opposed to Anglo-Saxons – have the secret of human happiness.

Galletto has discovered from some rare documents that Michelangelo was a whiz in the kitchen, especially clever with “tordei”, large-size tortellini, and has embarked on a historical detective novel in which Dale asks, what if the celebrated artist were down and out in marble-rich Carrara and forced to turn his hand to sleuthing?

And like many a super-detective before him, the master in marble may well turn out to be a master chef.

At the NGA, 2.30pm, Sunday, March 18. Bookings to 6240 6528.

 

Treading the boards

A LITTLE bit of The Rocks has come to Canberra with cast-off planks from the Park Hyatt’s old boardwalk being recycled at Kingston Foreshore.

Developer [highlight]Terry Shaw[/highlight], from Englobo Group, says the ACT Government bought the cast-off timber planks when the swanky hotel renovated its wharf. The boardwalk is almost complete and expected to open in only a matter of weeks.