GEORGE Huitker and his band, Junk Sculpture, are threatening midnight fireworks and champagne outside the ANU Arts Centre as part of their annual New Year’s Eve party at Teatro Vivaldi, 6.30pm, on December 31. The highlight will be their “Rare Christmas Beatles Show” in the adjacent theatre, after an eight-course dinner in Vivaldi’s. Bookings to enquiries@vivaldirestaurant.com.au or 6257 2718.

LOCAL playwright and Tempo Theatre member Michael Weston tells us he’s just recorded a short radio series for Tempo to be aired on Radio 1RPH just before Christmas. It’s a serialised version of his play “Cyril the Cherub Saves Christmas”.

FILMMAKERS here and elsewhere were relieved at the pre-Christmas news that CGU Insurance had rescued the world’s largest short film festival, Tropfest, with the event now slated for a Valentine’s Day comeback. Canberra filmmakers have been eager competitors over the years, so the apparent demise of such an important outlet had spread gloom through the industry.

ALEX Freeman is a Canberra-raised designer of resin jewellery and homewares, sold under her label Polka Luka, who has recently moved back to Canberra from Melbourne. She has a pop-up exhibition of her latest range, “Island”, at The Front Cafe and Gallery in Lyneham, until December 22.

MY annual tip for Christmas gifts is to head to the Canberra Potters’ Christmas Fair, at Watson Arts Centre, Aspinall Street, daily 10am-4pm, until December 23. Local potters and ceramicists have created a selection of ceramic artworks, jewellery, functional and sculptural items.

THE Australian National Botanic Gardens and Friends of the Gardens are seeking expressions of interest from an artist, craftsperson or designer for the design, fabrication, and installation of a new site-specific Treehouse Gazebo. The Gardens’ intent is to have a gazebo elevated into the trees of “a magical paperbark grove”. Applications to anbg.gov.au close on Friday, January 15.