It’s to be co-hosted by Mildura chef, restaurateur and telly star Stefano di Pieri. The four-course degustation will come from a team of top local chefs including Ben Willis, from Aubergine; James Mussillon, from Waters Edge and Courgette, and Clément Chauvin from Les Bistronomes.

Throughout the evening, guests will be treated to a selection of performances from CIMF musicians chosen by Peelman.

The $150 tickets (inclusive of food, wine and music) to the festival fundraiser are apparently limited, but the initial misguided tease – guaranteed to appeal to accountants – that “the entire cost of the ticket is tax deductible”, was quickly withdrawn by the chastened organisers.

Love on the straight and narrow

LOOKING for love in all the wrong places? Then maybe “Romance on Rail” might be the thing. The Canberra Railway Museum is dragging out a lurve loco to turn on “a singles event unlike any other” on Saturday, March 28 from Canberra Railway Station in Kingston.

“As the wine flows in a classic railway carriage, the evening is but young for frolics and fun,” the organisers tease.

“Later, silhouetted in the moonlight, you dance your way home, moving as one to the gentle sway of the carriage and your new friends.”

What one does with one’s swaying new friends during an hour-long layover in the romance-challenged wastes of Bungendore railway station may be a test to new love.

Tickets are $98 inclusive of food, drink and swaying. The dress code is ‘20s glamour and mainly targeted at the 25-45 age group.

Transformative transitioning

NOT satisfied with Canberra being the capital city of Australia, Planning Minister Mick Gentleman wants community views on “the big planning issues… as Canberra transitions into a significant major city”.

But the “significant major city transition”, CC suspects, will have something to do with the “transformative tram” that Minister Simon Corbell bangs on about.

Though Mick had our brains in a reef knot this past week trying to work out what a Ca-NUDF is.

From the labyrinth that is Minister Mick’s portfolio, he says that in order to respond to community comments and build upon the work that is being undertaken by the Capital Metro Agency (CMA) and the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate (CMTEDD), the Environment and Planning Directorate (EPD) is undertaking a City and Northbourne Urban Design Framework (Ca-NUDF).

“The Ca-NUDF will guide the strategic opportunities for development, renewal and revitalisation in the city centre and along Northbourne Avenue.” So they’re the ones chopping the trees down?

Wrongly counting sheep

SMARTPHONE apps that promise to track sleep may leave insomniacs so anxious they can’t sleep at all.

So says Dr Siobhan Banks, of the Sleep Health Foundation.

“If you’re one of the 1.2 million Australians with a sleep disorder like insomnia or sleep apnea these monitors might give you false reassurance or worse still, more anxiety about not getting ‘enough’ sleep that can lead to yet more troubles with sleeping,” she says.

And wrist sleep trackers can also give greatly varied results, according to recent studies showing that one leading brand managed to over estimate and under estimate a person’s sleep by more than an hour.

Dr Banks said for people just wanting to get a general idea of their sleep patterns, this won’t be a problem, but the influx of data may not be that helpful for an insomniac who finds themselves compulsively checking their statistics and worrying about their lack of sleep.

Stepping up for charity

GAIL Lubbock, of Escala Shoes in Manuka, took some charitable steps last month by donating a percentage of her February sales to Ovarian Cancer Australia. The charity will receive $1800 from her thoughtful gesture.

Golden wonder

HOT on the heels of the $5500 gold-plated iPhone is this racing bike in 24k gold and adorned with diamonds; yours today for a shade under $AU500,000.

UK firm Goldgenie’s “specialists meticulously applied a lustrous layer of 24k gold to entire structure, from the tip of the drop handlebars to the wheel stays, and every other part in between, including every ridge of the gear chain. The gleaming gold model is offset with sophisticated accents in black in a limited edition soft San Marco suede saddle and SR4 racing tyres.” They’re waiting for your call on (44) 208 804 6200.

Spotted in a local gift shop