Tag Archives: National Gallery of Canada

Seasonal Fun @planetcoffeeott @gallerydotca @artscourt @daslokal & more

Tis indeed the silly season with loads of sparkly gear and nights out.  Here are a few events in and around the Ward that promise good times that won’t leave you too worn out.

Sing-a-long Sundays @planetcoffeeott Every Sunday 4-7PM from now til Xmas you can grab a cup of joe and belt out your favourite festive airs. Come to this local people place and join in the fun or for a giggle critique the warbling. Sing-a-longs rock – thanks for hosting Planet C!

photoParliament Hill Festive Lights Thursday Dec 3rd 7PM is the illumination ceremony on the Hill. Fun kicks off with a Peace Tower carillon concert at 6:30pm and there is free Beavertails and hot chocolate too.

Natl Gallery Tree Lighting Thursday Dec 4th 7PM. Don’t forget this is the evening the Gallery is free so art is accessible for all – so come early and enjoy.

Mayor’s Annual Xmas Celebration Saturday Dec 6th 2-6PM. Don’t forget a non-perishable donation for the Ottawa Food Bank as you take in this fun 14th annual event at City Hall. Enjoy the Rink of Dreams, meeting Mrs & Santa Claus,  get crafty and take in live performances. And leave your car at home – all OC Transpo routes to & from City Hall from 1:30-6:30 are free for kids 11 and under accompanied by an adult.

#NorthDal Holiday Shopping Night Tuesday Dec 9th Get out and shop #local this season on Dalhousie St.  If you like giving than consider that when you shop at a chain store less than 15$ stays in the community. When you shop at a local retailer 45$ stays #local.  Once you’re done consider a Gluhwein at Das Lokal!

HalaladaysBanner_EventKosher Jokes for the Halaladays Feeling left out of the festive season? Well no event list is complete without Arts Court so fear not Jewish and Muslim community as it’s the return of the 4th annual joke fest that unites all communities. Laugh on Dec 10th at Arts Court.

Inclusive Holiday sees Menorah Lighting in front of Ottawa City Hall for first time ever on December 16th.  Well done Ottawa. More of this please.

Wknd RoundUp: Canada D-Eh!

It’s the sort-of long weekend folks. I expect most people will take a 4day weekend and roll straight from Friday through Canada Day on Tuesday and well done on you!

HypnoticEvent of the weekend!! Saturday Jazz fest only has the mind-blowing horn blowing Hypnotic Brass Ensemble 

First up: there are FOUR more days of Ottawa Fringe Festival  in the hood headquartered at Arts Court. The choice is expansive with many excellent shows selling out. I can’t recommend it more and am personally gutted to see the end in sight – but there is still time for more PHEW. I’ve had countless hours of entertainment this year and will miss the explosion of international and local talent as well as the free concerts and conviviality of the Waller Park beer tent when it wraps. If you do nothing else this weekend take a trip to the Fringe.

The Ottawa Jazz Festival continues their eclectic class act til 30June. Catch a show then take in the Late Night Jamming sessions at The Albion Rooms starting at 10:30PM.

Thursday evening: Sandy Hill Heritage Study from 6-8:30PM at the Sandy Hill Community Centre 250 Somerset St E.  Free entrance 5-8 at the National Gallery & the Byward Night Market is open for all your fresh produce shopping needs til 9PM.

Thursday night: Claude Munson host the open mic at Cafe Nostalgica. Free concert 9PM at Waller Park in the Ottawa Fringe Beer tent including Crissi Cochrane & Three Little Birds. Over at Ottawa’s only Jail/Bar Mugshots 75 Nicholas St  its all going off til 2AM withs Rehab Pizza Party w/ Cadence Weapon & Silkken Laumann.

Friday – still time for Fringe or check out the line up for great tunes alongside top brews with The Dirty Sheep, Sounds of Stories, Tales from the BackSeat and Novalatte all at the local Lunenburg Pub on Waller St.

Beautiful Saturday grab your bike and catch a brew and the sunset at 8LocksFlat on the Canal just off Colonel By side bike path. Best sunsets in Ottawa.

Saturday it’s the Arts Court favourite Art Battle Regional Ottawa Finals at the Ottawa Convention Centre (55 Colonel By Drive). Paint Brush at the ready, 20mins on the clock, you decide who wins! Starts at 7PM

Event of the weekend!! If you’ve never seen the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble then rush over to the Confederation Park for 10:30PM Saturday night to be properly enthralled. The 8-piece hailing from Chicago will not disappoint. It’s made up of the 8 sons of Jazz Trumpeter Phil Cochran and with only horns and a drum-set it will set your night on fire guaranteed. First time I saw these guys was an impromptu street gig on Portobello Market in 2009 – so word to the wise they frequently set up busker style (of course Ottawa City might fine them!) to get the vibe of the City.

 

Saturday night final chance to get your Fringe on and don’t miss the closing free night of concerts on the Downtown Rideau Stage in Waller Park featuring Ottawa favourite Silkken Laumann at 10PM.

For Sunday through Tuesday we recommend checking out OttawaStart for all the Canada Day festivities.

 

 

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.