Friday, March 27
The Golden Egg hunt is back at the Canadian Museum of History, with 12 hidden around the Children’s Museum with lucky finders receiving chocolate as reward, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., included with admission all weekend. historymuseum.ca
The Home and Garden show offers one-on-one time with leading experts, many local exhibitors, hot design ideas and more, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., EY Centre. Admission: $13, $11/seniors/youth. ottawahomeshow.com
It’s World Theatre Day, so celebrate at the rollicking fun that is the annual Ottawa Theatre Challenge, where local groups compete for the rubber chicken award in almost-improv performances around mystery items, 7:30 p.m., NAC Fourth Stage. Tickets: from $20, in support of the Actors’ Fund of Canada. fools.ca
Stock up for summer drinking at the Music and Beyond fundraising wine auction with Toronto auctioneer Stephen Ranger, 6 p.m., Jean Pigott Place. Admission: $25, credited towards any purchases. Catalogue at musicandbeyond.ca
The Awesome Arts Festival is a free celebration of spoken word poems, drumming, animation, theatres and more created by intergenerational Lowertown residents, aged 5 to 85 years, with performances by dance crew Bboyizm, beat-boxer Julia Dales, Rag & Bone puppet theatre and others, 6 to 9 p.m., Patro d’Ottawa, 40 Cobourg Ave. masconline.ca
No experience is necessary at the game-making workshop on Friday.
No experience is necessary for the indie gamemaker workshop — though participants must bring their own laptop, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., HUB Ottawa, 71 Bank St. Fee: $45, $30 for HUB members, women particularly welcome. facebook.com
See Oscar-nominated short film Me and My Moulton (7 p.m.), and Nuisible (9 p.m.), on the last day of the Outaouais Film Festival (OFF) and Ottawa International Short Film Festival, Cinéma 9,
Amateur and experts are welcome at Gene-o-Rama, the Ontario Genealogical Society’s mini-seminar on hunting down family history, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. all weekend, 1645 Woodroffe Ave. Cost: $37-$45. ogsottawa.on.ca
Photos: What to do this week
Wondering what to do this week? We have ideas.
Related
Concerts: Who is playing where March 26 to April 2
Art exhibits: shows on March 26 to April 2
Saturday, March 28
First responders get into the Geek Market for free. (Comic book super heroes still have to pay.)
There are over 100 exhibitors at this edition of the Geek Market, with something for every flavour of fan — including a live cosplay chess match, scavenger hunt, gaming and fun for kids, in 40,000 square feet of shopping, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Nepean Sportsplex. (The costume contest starts at 3 p.m. — check weapons rules here.) Tickets: $20, weekend pass $30, free for all first-responders, military personnel, correction officers and children 12 and under. geekmarket.ca
See The Lego Movie in 3D with Ottawa Family Cinema, 2 p.m., Notre Dame High School auditorium, 710 Broadview Ave. Cost: $9 at the door, but free for members. Typical movie snacks start at $1.50. familycinema.ca
Help local dog rescue organizations with the whole family by seeing First Dog, a story about a young boy’s adventure trying to return the President’s lost dog,1 p.m., Mayfair Theatre. Tickets: $5, $2.50 for children under 7. mayfairtheatre.ca
Travel the Orient Express via food at a 1920s-themed, eight-course dinner to benefit the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario, 6 p.m., Ivy on William, 42 William St., Smiths Falls. Tickets: $65. Vintage costume encouraged, but not required. rmeo.org
Plan a trip to see the Sphinx, cruise Alaska or hike the Great Wall of China at the Travel and Vacation show.
Or plan a real trip anywhere at the Travel and Vacation Show, including seminars and celebrity chef cooking demos, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Shaw Centre. Admission: $10, free for Seniors today. travelandvacationshow.ca
Teens are welcome at Tone Cluster’s anti-bullying concert where real stories and song will be shared (discretion recommended), with guest director Scott Leithead of Edmonton’s Kokopelli Choir Association, emcee Jeremy Dias of Jer’s Vision, and help from area school choirs, 7:30 p.m., École secondaire publique de la Salle, 501 Old St. Patrick St. Tickets: $18 in advance, $10/students, free for accompanied children under 12. www.tonecluster.ca
Souljazz Orchestra brings tropical rhythms with jazz-soul riffs to Babylon, 10 p.m., 317 Bank St. Tickets: $15 at the door. souljazzorchestra.com
In Almonte, Oh Susanna performs with Danny Albert and Max Donaldson as part of the Folkus Series, 8 p.m., Almonte Old Town Hall auditorium, 14 Bridge St. Tickets: $32.75, $16.89/students. folkusalmonte.com
Sunday, March 29
Iron chef wrangler Alton Brown is at the NAC on March 29.
Alton Brown, the superstar celebrity chef with all the science, is at the National Arts Centre with his The Edible Inevitable Tour, a show that combined comedy, music, talk-show format with extreme food experimentation — ponchos will be provided for the first few rows, 7;30 p.m. Tickets: from $49. nac-cna.ca
Have a high-end sugar bush experience with the Bytown Chefs collective cooking, starting with a shuttle from Albion Rooms to Proulx Sugar Bush for yummy cabane-à-sucre inspired three-course meal, Beer from Beau’s, wine from The Grange of Prince Edward and maple whisky cocktails, among wagon rides, maple taffy and a bonfire, 3 to 10 p.m. Tickets: $99.04. Info: eventbrite.ca
Reserve your makeover at the Outaouais Women’s Show, also with fashion show, beauty exhibitors and speakers on topics ranging from finances to health care, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hilton Lac-Leamy. salonfemme.ca
Enjoy the Pee Dance, Lice Twice and GO TO BED by children’s performers Hey Buster (themselves parents who understand the pain of bed time) as they launch their new CD at an interactive family event at the Mayfair Theatre, 3 p.m., 1974 Bank St. Tickets: $10 at the door, free for children under 2. heybuster.ca
The Great Mountain is a play for children aged 6 to 13 about a girl who can hear the spirits of nature – including a mountain in distress, based on a First Nations story, shows at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., NAC. Tickets: from $18. nac-cna.ca
Monday, March 30
Ottawa’s popular country-alt singer Slo’Tom goes electronic as Slonovox Ott, 9 p.m., Manx Pub, 370 Elgin St. Tickets: Pay-what-you-can. manxpub.com
It’s the last day for the Workshop Studio and Boutique’s spring trunk sale, featuring spring items from Canadian designers at 30 to 90% off, 6 to 9 p.m., 242 1/2 Dalhousie St. facebook.com
Do you have a cottage reno that has gone horribly wrong? A new TV series, Reno my Reno, is looking for cottagers within a three-hour drive of Ottawa in need of major help from experts this coming April. Visit mountainroadcasting.ca for more information.
If so, you may need this seminar on Managing Anxiety in Challenging Times with Marion Bella, sponsored by REACH, a charity that seeks equality for people with disabilities, 11:30 a.m. Pre-register and get information at reach.ca
Tuesday, March 31
Know a corner of Ottawa that should be lit? The National Capital Commission invites ideas for the Capital Illumination Plan, including nighttime lighting, infrastructure and public art, 6 to 9 p.m., Capital Urbanism Lab, 40 Elgin St. RSVP at www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca
Comedian Gerry Dee, star and creator of the sitcom Mr. D, performs his comedic show, 8 p.m., National Arts Centre. Tickets: from $53. gerrydee.com
Wednesday, April 1
Foil the cold and make a spring bulb planter, perfect for Passover or Easter meal decor, at Flowers Talk Tivoli, 6:30 p.m., 282 Richmond Rd. Cost: $25 + supplies. flowerstalk.ca
Colin Dorward’s new exhibit, Maiolica for Marjory, explores ceramics as a new way to inject art into every day life, PDA Projects, 361-4 Elgin St. until April 30. pdaprojects.com
It’s National We Day, when thousands of teenagers are encouraged to be philanthropic at a star-studded event, with appearances by musicians Scott Helman, Shawn Desman, JRDN, Andee, Neverest and more, 9:15 a.m., Canadian Tire Centre, 1000 Palladium Dr. Info: www.weday.com
Thursday, April 2
Wu-Tang clan members Ghostface Killah, GZA and Cappadonna headline a rap and hip-hop extravaganza at Ritual, 10 p.m., Ritual, 137 Besserer St. Tickets: $40-$65. spectrasonic.com
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge pose for a photograph with their first child, Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge.
Meanwhile, the Monarchist League is hosting its second royal baby shower for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are expecting this month. The royal couple will not be in attendance but there will be typical shower games, 6 to 9 p.m., HMCS Bytown Wardroom, 78 Lisgar St. Tickets: $19.01. Pre-registration is recommended due to popularity at monarchists-ottawa.com
And even heavier, Canadian metal band Anvil is on stage after A Darker Day, Vyc Vypyr and Aenigma, 6:30 p.m., Mavericks, 221 Rideau St. Tickets: $20. mavericksbar.com
Friday, April 3
About 1,000 people of all walks of life are expected to pop in and our of the five-hour Gregorian chants performance on Good Friday.
Take time for Good Friday contemplation enveloped in the sound of Chorus Ecclesiae’s Gregorian chants for meditation, in the ethereal, darkened nave of the Canadian Martyrs Catholic Church, 7 p.m. to midnight, 100 Main St. All are welcome to come in at any point during the performance — or stay for the full five hours — to enjoy a moment of peace. Tickets: Free. canadianmartyrs.org
There are two places to hear Bach’s Johannes-Passion: Christ Church Cathedral choirs and orchestra perform at 3 p.m., 414 Sparks St. Tickets: $20-$40; Choeur classique de l’Outaouais performs at 7:30 p.m., Saint-Françoise-d’Assise Church, 1062 Wellington St. W., voluntary contributions welcome.
Saturday, April 4
Join in an all-day easter egg hunt and other fun activities for all ages at the Billings Estate.
Enjoy Easter at the Billings Estate with egg hunts on all day, special activities reflecting traditions from across the world (what is egg-jarping?), egg-rolling, egg-races, perfume making, candy and periodic visits from the Easter Bunny, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 2100 Cabot St. Cost: $6/person, $16/family. ottawa.ca/museums
North Gower Farmers Easter Market is on from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with free admission and parking and a draw for an Easter gift basket full of local vendors’ items, Alfred Taylor Center, 2300 Community Way. ngfarmersmarket.com
The Bring on Spring Craft Show won’t involve be-gone-snow dances (or maybe it will), but does feature curated local vendors, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Hintonburg Public House, 1020 Wellington St. W. facebook.com
Ashley MacIsaac plays the Neat Café in Burnstown on April 4.
Fiddling enfant terrible Ashley MacIsaac (and would-be politician?) performs at the struggling Neat Food, 8 p.m., 1715 Calabogie Rd., Burnstown. Tickets: $65. neatfood.com
A screen grab from The Unorthodox Defense by Noam Rabinovitch, being screened at the I’M A FILMMAKA event.
I’M A FILMMAKA is a screening of eight brand new super 8 and 16mm short films created by members of the Independent Filmmakers Co-operative of Ottawa, followed by a reception, 7 p.m., Arts Court. Tickets: $12. ifco.ca
Or worship Dr. Frank N. Furter, if there are tickets left for the almost-sold-out run of the stage production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., The Gladstone Theatre. Tickets: $35, $30/senior, $25/student. (Trivia: This is the 40th anniversary year of the movie.) thegladstone.ca
Having an event? Send the information to kendemann@ottawacitizen.com by 8 a.m. Monday, two weeks before the event begins. Photos are welcome.