Tag Archives: 8 LOcks Flat

Wknd Roundup: Fire up your Fun

It’s here and it’s in your neighbourhood. The Ottawa Fringe Festival opens Thursday evening with most venues in and around Sandy Hill from the Arts Court headquarters through St Alban’s on King Eddy. As well as a cavalcade of new shows there is also Free Programming with concerts on the Downtown Rideau stage in Waller Park,  the Courtyard for lounging and local fave Albion Rooms is getting in on the fun with 8 dishes for 8$ each from 8PM-Midnight exclusively for Fringe go’ers.

FringeAs championed by Jian Gomeshi Fringe showcases some of our countries greatest artistic talents, the shows are plentiful and the prices are knock-down cheap – support the artists, support local and get your 10days of Fringe on!

Though with the free concerts, great eats and tremendous shows you’re schedule will be packed for the next 10days there is always time for more right?

Love jazz then check out all the great events going on at the Ottawa Jazz Festival on from 20-30June. Our favourite aspect is the unpredictable Late Night Jamming sessions and we are thrilled that this year they’ve relocated The Albion Rooms. Pop in around 10:30PM and be amazed.

The World Cup rages on and this afternoon is England vs Uruguay. No better place to watch it that at Our England House head-quartered at The Lunenburg Pub on Waller St.  3PM

Thursday night 6PM at Patro – 40 Cobourg St – a public meeting to discuss cycling infrastructure on St Patrick St. The Mayor issued a letter yesterday via Citizens for Safe Cycling proposing that cyclist accept “Super Sharrows”, sidewalk riding and a 3 block (between Cobourg & Beausoleil) ped-cycling mini-path as a solution. We hope this mish-mash “solution” is challenged and attendees advocate for a true solution. We suggest slowing traffic speeds, thus enabling narrowing of car-lanes and addition of permanent protected bike lanes.

Grab your swim kits kids, local Sandy Hill wading pools open this Friday! UPDATE: City website is out of date and Patro wading pool is NOT OPEN Both the brand spanking new pool by the Patro – 40 Cobourg – and the pool in Strathcona Park open June 20th whereas July 2nd is the date for the pool by the Sandy Hill Community Centre.  Happy splashing!

Having advocated for cycling infrastructure on Thursday reward yourself with a Bike Rave and a party at Bank St’s beguiling Glow Fair.

Yep it’s Ottawa’ 1st Bike Rave Friday night 7:30PM starting at 200 Lees Bike Coop.  The bike rave is a critical mass-style group ride with portable music that includes dance party stops and ends at the Bank Street GlowFair Party. Costumes and glow sticks are highly encouraged.

Summer Solstice 8locksSaturday from 7PM it is the Summer Solstice Cycle Soiree at 8 Locks Flat (191 Colonel By – the beach resto along the canal between Corktown Bridge and Laurier St). In conjunction with Citizens for Safe Cycling there are prizes every 15mins and a free gift for all cyclists at 8:55PM.  Thanks for supporting cycling through the cold depths of winter 8Locks and thanks for having the best licensed bike-friendly sunset views in Ottawa!

 

Wknd Round Up: A-May-Zing Fun

Wolves B&WEvent of the week is outdoor production Wolves>Boys the award winning play (Outstanding Creation of the Year 2012 Rideau Prix) at MacDonald Cartier Park in Lowertown.  The coming-of-age play from May Can Theatre (i.e. Cory Thibert & Tony Adams) is Saturday night and already in my calendar. See more below.

Free admission as always tonight from 5-8PM at the National Gallery, then hit the Byward Night Market and head over to St Alban’s for a bellyful of creative soup!

Thursday May 29th, is Spring Soup – the latest instalment of the quick-fire dragon-den competition in which community entrepreneurs make a 5min presentation and you vote who wins the door money!  The latest session is at St Albans’ and the theme is Building Block. Prize depends on attendance but is generally around $1000. Presenters were chosen based on benefit to community, creativity, achievability and other factors. 5 min presentation & 5min Q&A. 6:30PM 10$ + free soup!

Friday music by the canal anyone? 8 Locks Flat (the beach) has Tara H0ll0way on the patio from 7PM FREE.  Continuing the musical theme of the evening – head over to The Mercury Lounge

Ark Analogue mercury LoungeFriday’s musical event of the night is surely DJ Lance Baptiste hosts Ark Analog at Mercury Lounge 10PM. It’s Amanda Putz recommended folks – enjoy.

Appropriately, given that the Fringe Festival had it’s 2014 launch the day before, critically-acclaimed Fringe hit Roller Derby Saved My Soul rolls back in to Arts Court Theatre for one night only on Friday. Nancy Kenny‘s revamped one-woman play in it’s national tour to nine is equally the subject of an upcoming documentary “On the Fringe” that Kenny is currently filming. Roller Derby Saved my Soul, 2 Daly Ave 7:30PM $15-25

Saturday bike over to City Hall for the 4th annual edition of Capital Velo Fest. The bike rodeo kicks off at 4pm and the beautiful night bike ride is scheduled to start at 8PM. FREE 4-11PM

WolvesSaturday night grab a blanked at head to McDonald Gardens!! May Can Theatre performs Wolves>Boys outside at MacDonald Gardens Park (the dog park just off Rideau St & Cobourg) in Lowertown.  It’s a play about friendship, its outdoors, it’s local, it’s Pay-What-You-Can and it’s from May Can Theatre. If you don’t know this local talent – well you should especially as one half of this two-man team, Tony Adams, has probably served you many a latte at TAN Coffee. Play starts at 20:45 & it’s gonna be awesome – so go!

Saturday music? James Leclaire with The Cable 22’s, Still Winter Hill & Shawn Donnelly for some Ottawa Folk at The Lunenburg. While back at St Alban’s it’s Kelp20: Kelp Records 20th anniversary bash with Hilotrons, Jim Bryson and more.

Sunday why not check out the neighbourhoods latest happening venue The Loft Board Game Lounge -with hundreds of games great food and drink this is a place to chill letting the good times roll alongside the dice.

Sun is shining and need to get out? Head back to the beach, aka 8 Locks Flat for more sweet tunes by the canal with Sunday music – a tremendous destination for walkers and cyclists that is welcoming to all ages.