HERE’S something to curl your centenary toes… “CC’s” deep throats are croaking that, while the ink isn’t yet dry on the contract, there’s a good chance American singer Paul Simon will be performing at the then-opened National Arboretum in March.

Look and wonder…

HERE is the full might of our licensing laws in action at an inner-city lawn bowling club. Think “back of the bicycle shed” and you’re off to a flying start in understanding what the idiotic screen beside the green is all about.
Club members, under the grinding competitive pressure of the bowling bias and needing the relief of nicotine, are required – by law – to repair behind the screen and not be seen.
Not because the unnatural act of smoking is so confronting to faint-hearted bowlers, but because the ACT licensing laws require that anyone smoking on a club’s premises shall not be entertained. We’re not talking wide-screen footy finals here. But all sport is included and woe betide anyone caught peeping around the green screen with a fag in hand.

Grant’s new venture

LOOKS like renowned chef Grant Kells, owner of Flint and partner in Flint in the Vines, is working on a new venture. “CC” made a well-meaning call to Flint in the Vines last week to see if there are still plans to reopen the NewActon restaurant that sadly burnt down last year (the website says Flint Dining Room & Bar will reopen soon with an exciting new dining experience) only to be told we couldn’t be put in contact with Grant and that he’s now working on something else. Could that be what’s going on in the former Pelagic site in Bailey’s Arcade? “CC” certainly hopes so.

Jamila’s on line

FORMER Canberra girl Jamila Rizvi (pictured) assures “CC” she doesn’t have any regrets switching from politics to media. In May Jamila was appointed to managing editor of hugely popular women’s website Mamamia, based in Sydney, after almost three years working for Early Childhood and Childcare Minister Kate Ellis.
“There is no doubt that taking up this new role is the best decision I’ve ever made,” she told “CC”. “I definitely miss the wonderful Labor Government staff… but I can’t say I have sighed longingly to the late nights in Parliament too often!”
The highlight of her new career so far?
“I don’t think much could beat my first day when the Prime Minister and my former boss, Minister Kate Ellis, both dropped by to live blog with our audience about child care!” Talk about old and new worlds colliding.

Annette’s roast

THE former Member for Canberra Annette Ellis far from retired at the last election – among her many community roles, she is patron of the Australia-Thailand Association (Canberra). That’s her pictured with Royal Thai Embassy first secretary Kitirat Panupong, for whom she recently hosted a home-cooked, Aussie-style roast lunch to farewell him from his Canberra posting. Guest Aurea Sethaphanich took the photo.

Ingrid’s big deal

LOCAL author Ingrid Jonach (pictured) has signed an international book deal for her first novel, “When the World was Flat (and we were in love)”. The novel for young adults tells the story of 16-year-old Lillie Hart and the mysterious Tom Windsor-Smith, who arrives in her small Nebraskan town. Tom and Lillie have been in love before — in a different dimension, and there is a powerful enemy who is determined they will never be together again, in this dimension or the next.
Publisher Strange Chemistry has signed world English rights in the one-book deal.
The 29-year-old writer has previously written children’s books “A Lot of Things”, “The Frank Frankie” and its sequel “Frankie goes to France”.
It’s a big year for Jonach, who as well as working at the Department of Regional Australia, is busy planning her November wedding to fiance Craig Barnard.
“I am now looking forward to becoming a night owl with an editor in the UK, an agent in the US and little-ol’-me in Australia,” she says.

The hottest food

THE Artisan restaurant, in Narrabundah, is the only Canberra restaurant listed in “The Australian” newspaper’s Hottest 50 Restaurants of 2012. Not bad going for a restaurant open only less than two years.
Our dining reviewer Wendy Johnson gave the restaurant its first review in 2010. Since then, there’s been no stopping owners, chefs David Black and Sam McGeechan.
Grazing at Gundaroo also made the list.