Morsels: Dock at Kingston Foreshore; Four Winds crowdfunds; Melbourne Cup lunches

Details revealed: The Dock at Kingston Foreshore
The Dock is the newest pub heading to the Kingston Foreshore. We had a chat with co-owner Jane Collins who reveals that it's going to be a sports-oriented establishment with quite a bit of star power behind it. Brumbies and Wallabies forwards Ben Alexander and Scott Fardy are also partners in the business alongside Collins, her brother Glenn and colleague Brendan Cox. Jane Collins and her family also own the Lighthouse pub in Belconnen and Cox has been a staffer at the pub for several years. So will we see Fardy and Alexander pulling beers behind the bar when they're on a break from rugby duties? "They've both got their RSAs so they're very keen," Collins says with a laugh. The Dock will be on the far end of the foreshore, next door to Local Press and will show live sports and serve a menu themed around seafood. There will also be live music on the weekend. Collins says they are currently hiring staff and hope to open in the first week of December just in time for holiday season post-work drinks. Watch this space – and look out for a couple of familiar faces when you order your beers.

Four Winds crowdfunds
Four Winds Vineyard wants to expand – and wants your help to do it. The winery wants to build an extension to the existing building to increase its capacity for winemaking and has launched a crowdfunding appeal through the website Pozible.com. Four Winds are looking to raise $21,635 by the middle of November. The money will go towards water tanks, building the structure, putting down the concrete pad and other construction work. In a statement, business manager Sarah Collingwood says the family-run vineyard faces extra demand for wines and needs to increase production – they've sold out of sangiovese and expect to sell out of riesling this year and need to expand the winery before next vintage in 2015. Punters can pledge anything from $5, which earns them a spot on a permanent "thank you" board, to $3000 which gets them a private cellar door party for 40 people, three dozen bottles of a special Four Winds crowdfunding red wine. If the full $21,635 isn't raised by deadline, the pledges are cancelled. Go towww.pozible.com/fourwindsvineyard to learn more.

Mandalay bus is back
The Mandalay bus in Braddon is back and open for business now that the weather's warmer and we're all venturing out later at night.

Outdoor wine lunch
This sounds like a different, sunny twist on the traditional wine dinner. The Ainslie IGA and Ainslie Cellars are hosting a leisurely outdoors lunch in the local park on November 15 to celebrate Nick O'Leary's wines which have been winning quite a few awards of late. Travis Cutler, who is chef at the IGA, has designed a three course menu matched to the wines and there'll be a chance to buy some of the limited release wines. It'll be $65 or $220 for a table of four. Saturday, November 15. Call Kate at Ainslie Cellars for bookings on 6230 6622 or email info@ainsliecellars.com.au.

Melbourne Cup lunches
Melbourne Cup day lunches are now on offer around town and Ox Eatery in Kingston is doing a racing menu with charcuterie, rotisserie chicken, slow cooked lamb and desserts. There's also a drinks package for $55 if you're planning on making an afternoon of it. Lunch is $65. Tuesday, November 4, at 12.30pm. Bookings 6218 0041. Meanwhile, Wood and Coal in the Canberra Centre is offering lunch with 10 different canapes, including oysters, lamb souva and milk bun banh mi, with a glass of champagne. $59. Tuesday, November 4, at 12.30pm. Bookings 6162 0055.

Bookplate's new contractor
Back in July, we reported that the much-loved Bookplate cafe at the National Library of Australia would be changing hands after principal Rachel Romney-Brown decided to take a break after 14 years of running the cafe. The cafe contract went out to tender and we've now been told that the successful tenderer is Tracy Keeley, director of Poppy and Maude.