Friday, April 1
Author Gloria Steinem
It’s no joke: author and activist Gloria Steinem is speaking on feminism, anti-racism and the inter-generational fight for equality (be interesting if she addresses some third wave feminist concerns) at the 2016 Progress Summit, a three-day politics conference for mostly left-leaning sorts, organized by The Broadbent Institute, 9:15 a.m., Delta Ottawa. Other speakers include MP Catherine McKenna, British journalist Owen Jones and columnist Andrew Cohen. Tickets: $175-$375. www.broadbentinstitute.ca
Family lore collectors may want to attend the two-day, Gene-O-Rama genealogical conference, starting with a talk on the future of family history research at 8 p.m, Ottawa Education Centre, 1645 Woodroffe Ave. The program continues Saturday at 9 a.m. with tips on hidden sources of information, social history, and more. www.ogsottawa.on.ca
Country star Garth Brooks is in town for not one, not two, but four shows.
Speaking of big names, country singer and very-popular guy Garth Brooks starts off his now four-concert booking in Ottawa tonight with his first album in 13 years, joined on stage by his wife Trisha Yearwood, with a show at 7:30 p.m. The gig initially sold out, prompting him to add anotheron Saturday, then one Sunday night, then another unday afternoon. HOWEVER, we now have learnt there are tickets available on the floor and in sections 114-118/104-108 for all shows. Our question is: If you have to spend at least three days in Ottawa and are country royalty, where do you stay? canadiantire.ca /capitaltickets.ca
Indie rock duo Twenty One Pilots sold out their original venue, Algonquin Commons Theatre, so they have been moved to TD Place, but the show remains all-ages and there are were still tickets to buy at last check, thought these may be going quickly. Some have claimed the group have written the anthem for our time, the catchy, nostalgic, genre-combining song Stressed Out, that details the angst of “adulting,” 8 p.m., TD Place. Tickets: $29.50-$34.50. capitaltickets.ca
For only $5, go see one of the best and most fun songwriters Canada has created, New Brunswick’s Lisa Leblanc who sings with a wry and slightly absurd but utterly authentic style, 8 to 11 p.m., Jock Turcot University Centre. (This is the closing show of the Poutine Fest, so there will be cheese curds to be had on the uOttawa campus.) app.beavertix.com/fr/billetterie/achat-de-billet/1057/1664
Ottawa Family Cinema is screening The Young Messiah, a look at the life of a seven-year-old Jesus before he became the icon of millions and suitable for all ages, 7 p.m., Notre Dame, 710 Broadview Ave., 9:15 p.m. Children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult. The organization is a not-for-profit, providing the movie-going experience to familes in an affordable way with all the trappings of a real theatre. Tickets range from $3 to $7. www.familycinema.ca
Aerial Antics will perform at this edition of Nature Nocturne.
But there will be people flying about with the greatest of ease at the latest edition of Nature Nocturne, themed “under the ice,” where a whole world exists that, we are told, will be revealed by Aerial Acrobatics on silks — alongside the usual club atmosphere in the museum, 8 p.m., Canadian Museum of Nature. (Is it just me, or as these themes beginning to be a bit 50s prom-ish? And is that wrong?) Tickets: $25, 19+ only. nature.ca
We hope this is not an April Fool’s joke, for guitar god Uli Jon Roth of The Scorpions — who has played with everyone, everywhere, in every genre and invented the sky guitar — iws playing the very small venue, The Brass Monkey, and tickets are only $25. So it’s a good chance to get up and personal to some skilled shredding, and starts early enough for the budding player. He is on tour with other guitarists Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson, Jeff Beck) and Andy Timmons (Danger Danger), 7 p.m., 250A Greenbank Rd. www.ticketzone.com
At the opposite end of the music spectrum (though surprisingly the ticket price starts even lower), the Victoria Symphony Orchestra is performing tonight only at the National Arts Centre, part of its 75th anniversary tour, with pianist Stewart Goodyear and conductor Tania Miller. The program is a suitably celebratory one, including Oesterle’s Entr’actes, Grieg’s youthful Piano Concerto, Copland’s Appalachian Spring and Stravinsky’s The Firebird, 8 p.m., NAC. Tickets: from $13. nac-cna.ca
Somewhere in between the last two other musical offerings is soulful indie pop-rock singer songwriter Brock Zeman, 8 p.m., The Black Sheep Inn, 753 Riverside Dr., Wakefield. Tickets: $12 in advance. www.theblacksheepinn.com
Photos: What to do this week
Wondering what to do this week? We have ideas.
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Saturday, April 2
Kinki will be serving corn tortillas with a choice of pulled beef with scallions avocado and shipotle hollandaise or confit chicken, with chipotle garlic sauce, homemade slaw, cilantro and cheese at Taco Fest.
Ottawa’s third Taco Fest brings all things delectable and wrapped under one roof (with some DJs providing background noise) with food truck operators and restaurant chefs alike both showing off their skills, 5 to 10 p.m., Shaw Centre. The event is 19+. Tickets: $10, with food prices from $2-$5. http://bit.ly/1LFwjQ8
The Ottawa Wedding Show spring edition is on April 2 to 3.
Food there will also be at the Ottawa Wedding Show, albeit cake mostly, alongside bridal dress boutiques and products to try, on all weekend at the EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Dr. Admission: $15. $25/couple, $42/four, plus, a ticket to this show also allows access to the Originals Spring Craft Show on at the same location all weekend. ottawaweddingshow.com
There’s another Spring Craft Show on in the west end, with the Ottawa Artisans Guild taking over the Lester B. Pearson High School, 2072 Jasmine Cres., and in the east end at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Both run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and have free admission.
The Ottawa Antique and Vintage Market is on all weekend, with everything from almost ancient and elegant to the funky retro, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow, Carleton University Fieldhouse, at Bronson and Sunnyside avenues. Tickets: $10. www.ottawaantiqueandvintagemarket.ca
Any women interested in being a police officer are invited to a women-only recruiting event and PREP test workshop, also known as a chance to see if you might have the physical fitness to meet the requirements, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Algonquin College, Building ), 1385 Woodroffe Ave. Wear gym clothes (and bring a PARMED X if you are 40 years of age or older). Registration online is required at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FKRXBPC.
Dress for Success, the non-profit offering outfits so they can pursue employment dressed appropriately, is having a sale of seasonal and overstock items, this morning only, 9 a.m. to noon, 1339 Wellington St. W. All proceeds will go to towards their operations. Bring cash, credit cards and bags to tart away your new treasures. ottawa.dressforusccess.org
Gardeners are being sought at different type of recruitment event at the Experimental Farm, where volunteers will be needed to keep the many different types of plants, beds and trees happy during the growing season. The Friends of the Farm are having an orientation session, 10 a.m., Bldg. 72, Arboretum, at the east exit off Prince of Wales roundabout. www.friendsofthefarm.ca
Other gardening sorts (or those with a lone crab apple tree that mystifies them — no personal interest at all, really) might get some helpful tips from a fruit tree pruning workshop in North Gower, where hands-on experience will be had in a privately-owned orchard with various fruiting trees, and even grape vines, 1 to 4 p.m. Cost: $45. www.pinesweptservices.com
Spring.Bike.Ottawa celebrates all things biking for all levels, with a variety of events, from a talk on the NCC pathway plan, to a 16-minute documentary on teaching cycling to immigrants in the Netherlands, legal issues, networking and swag to buy)and cookies to eat). All -ages welcome, 12:30 p.m., McNabb Community Centre, 180 Percy St. Tickets: Free, but register at bikeottawa.ca
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/springbikeottawa-2016-edition-tickets-22498031217?aff=es2
The kids can get rid of some beans at the very popular kick IT dance club, designed for those aged four to ten years old to show off their moves or learn some from the in-house dance crew, 2 p.m., Centrepointe Theatres. Cost: $5, and there is a coffee bar set up for the adults. Did we mention this is popular? Buy tickets early as it sells out. centrepointetheatres.ca
Then drop them at home and enjoy some laughs at the 12th annual Comedy Night for Parkinson’s, also at Centrepointe Theatres. The show, organized with Yuk Yuk’s, features Nick Beaton, Darryl Orr, and host Greg Shroder, and starts with a silent auction at 6;30 p.m. Show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets: $35. centrepointetheatres.ca
And the adults can get the weekend revved up with some deep but happy house from Holland’s Bakermat (his real name is Lodewijk Fluttert, we kid you not), who combines his early love for jazz and soul and techno to make a mix of pure joy — perfect for ushign in spring on the dance floor? 10 p.m., Barrymore’s. Tickets: $20-$40. dnalive.com
The Trailer Park Boys are back, live, and performing comedy where they belong — a bar. Mr. Lahey and Randy will be hosted by Caveman Sam Losco at the Bourbon Room, with local talents Sean Carson, Logan Groves, and Mitch Foré, 7;30 p.m., 400A Dalhousie St. Tickets: $25 in advance, $45/met and greet. www.ticketscene.ca
Sunday, April 3
The World War Women exhibit closes today, but not beforeholding a special event.
It’s the last day of the World War Women exhibit and the Canadian War Museum is having a special human library event, where “books” — or women with war experience, including one who defied the Taliban — will be on hand to give 20-minute presentations, on all weekend from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1 Vimy Pl. Cost: Free with admission. warmuseum.ca
If it is raining (we know it is good for the spring flowers, but can’t it rain at night?), keep the children occupied at a free show from popular puppet theatre Rag & Bone‘s continuation of their Snippets series, where their cast of characters bring storybooks to life in a performance suitable for all ages, 1:30 p.m., Shenkman Arts Centre. www.ragandbone.ca
Ikebana will be on display at the Canadian Museum of Nature.
Another free event, Parisian-born burgeoning superstar pianist Xiaoyu Liu, who won the 2012 OSM/Standard Life Competition, performs with three other musicians in the lobby of the National Arts Centre, alongside a talk by NAC Music director Alexander Shelley, 2 p.m., Tickets: Free. nac-cna.ca
The beauty of Japanese flower arranging, also known as Ikebana, is on display in a special, annual exhibit at the Canadian Museum of Nature this weekend with arrangements created by the Ottawa chapter of Ikebana International,, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 240 McLeod St. Cost: included with admission. nature.ca
It’s the last chance to catch screenings at the three-day Irish Film Festival, beginning with a ciné-concert commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Easter rebellion (2 p.m.), then lightening the mood with two comedies: You’re Ugly Too (5 p.m.), about a convict released from jail to care for his young niece after her mother dies and the light-hearted conflict that ensues, and Standby (8 p.m.), about jilted man, stuck in a dead-end job at the airport who runs into an childhood flame as she waits for a plane. All at Arts Court, 2 Daly Ave. Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at the door. irishfilmfestivalottawa.ca
Speaking of the Irish in North America (and Boston specifically), American superstar comedian Bill Burr will unfurl his angry, ridiculous rants in a stand-up show at TD Place tonight. (Please note, there is language in the embedded video above.) He sold out three shows at the NAC last time he played there, and now has a new Netflix animated comedy show, F is for Family. Tickets: $25.50-$55.50. www.tdplace.ca
And speaking of angry and humour , there’s metalcore and comedy to enjoy on this day of rest and brunch, with Hamilton-based group Anniversary, formed with members from Straight Reads The Line and Skynet, alongside Gemini-Award winning comedian Jason Rouse whose publicity material describes as a more evil and much smarter Jim Carrey, 7 p.m., Cafe Deckuf. Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 at the door. www.ticketscene.ca
Monday, April 4
It’s 400 years since William Shakespeare’s death but his words live on in how we speak, and how we act, and the Bytowne Cinema is joining in on the worldwide celebrations, screening movies based on his works (scepticism about authorship set aside) over 14 weeks. Tonight, see the raucous 1973 Zeffirelli version of The Taming of the Shrew, filmed in Rome and starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, 8:50 p.m. Tickets: $8-$12. (Amusingly, a play by Edward Albee opens this week in Ottawa whose film version also starred the then-married couple, Burton and Taylor, and both scripts involve a battle of wills between a married couple about whether the moon is up, or down.) www.bytowne.ca
For more exuberant decadence, superstar organist Cameron Carpenter is in town with his self-designed, digital International touring Organ, punk attitude and sparkly shoes. Carpenter, who is Juilliard trained, has been wowing audiences and critics in the most cosmopolitan cities, with a goal to make the organ glamorous again. He has a new CD out, covering pieces written specifically for the organ, translated classical and pop works to a grandiose scale, 8 p.m., National Arts Centre. Tickets: from $25. nac-cna.ca
Tuesday, April 5
There will be headlamps and overalls on stage The Men of the Deeps choir, real Cape Breton coal miners, perform songs from their 50-year repertoire of East-Coast traditional songs at Centrepointe Theatres. they’ve been performing since 1966, travelling as far as China to perform working-class songs, and this year are travelling with a new double CD of songs, taking from their full catalogue of recordings, including from their original 1967 recording, and their poignant rendition of Rita MacNeil’s Home I’ll Be, 8 p.m., Centrepointe Theatres. $51.25-$56.25. centrepointetheatres.com
Wednesday, April 6
The acclaimed play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf is a play that makes marriage seem just a terrible, emotional war.
The Tony Award-winning, timeless play by Edward Albee, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, about the brutal peculiarities of marriage, be they new or full of decades of slights, has a preview performance tonight before opening tomorrow, 7:30 p.m., The Gladstone Theatre. In it, as in the 1966 movie starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, an older couple invite newlyweds to their house after a faculty party, and alcohol helps release the internal conflicts of each relationship, with a surprise twist. Tickets: $18 tonight, $20-$34 through the run. thegladstone.ca
Gardening guru Ed Lawrence and media personality Carol Anne Meehan are among those attending the Debra Dynes House benefit event, to help the non-profit assisting low-income and working poor children in the community with a range of services and programs. the event includes food from Algonquin College Culinary students, beer and wine tasting by Beau’s Beer and Smokie Ridge Vineyards, silent and live auction and performance by OrKidstra, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., City Hall. Tickets: $50. debradynes.ncf.ca
Australian songwriter Hein Cooper (Their answer to Justin Bieber?) is on tour with his debut full-length album, a dream-synth, pop-folk (sometimes dance) album recorded in Montreal with a producer who has worked with Arcade Fire and The National, after being discovered in a small bar by the manager of Half Moon Run. There’s finger picking, soaring vocals. multi-layered instrumentation and enjoyable synth loops in this collection of agreeably-varied songs. Want a new laidback and smooth summer album? This may be it. He performs with Montreal’s Foreign Diplomats, in English, Minotaure, 2 Kent St., Gatineau. Tickets: $8. lepointedevente.com
Thursday, April 7
The NAC can be the meeting spot for all the friend and family in town tonight, with these two shows.
Starting first, local quirky pop singer Jeremy Fisher is the next songwriter to have their tunes jazzified by local impresario and musician Petr Cancura in his Crossroads series, 7 p.m., NAC Fourth Stage. The performances, previously featuring Lynn Miles and Ian Tamblyn, has the songwriter performing their songs with new downbeats and pauses, as the hand-picked backing band finds some space to riff. Tickets: $35. nac-cna.ca
The witch gets her revenge in the tragic love story in the ballet La Sylphide.
Then the National Ballet of Canada performs its acclaimed production of La Sylphide, one of the oldest surviving ballets and ancient tragic tales, about a Scottish man (hence the kilts in the photo) who is bewitched by an beautiful, mythological apparition on his wedding day, 8 p.m., NAC. There are witches and magic and high passion of the lovelorn and the beloved, Tickets: from $25. nac-cna.ca
Friday, April 8
The ever-thoughtful and charismatic folk-roots songstress Oh Susanna (aka Suzie Ungerleider) is performing again in Ottawa and but promises her “civi servant” fans that, at the end of a long week, seeing her concert will still let them be in bed by 11 p.m