Friday, April 24
Say goodbye to the diet at the Spring PoutineFest 2015, with over 30 vendors offering curds, gravy and chips on Sparks Street all weekend, starting at 11 a.m., just in time for lunch. www.facebook.com
Now, for the music:
Expect a funky time as Lucas Haneman Express brings blues and reggae to Irene’s Pub, with the Sun Crescent BBQ Stompers, 9 p.m. Tickets: $10. irenespub.ca
Icelandic experimental rock band Sólstafir play a moody show with doom band Ancient VVisdom, Musk Ox and Goetia, doors open at 7 p.m., Mavericks. Tickets: $17 in advance, $20 at the door. blackwidowpromotions.com
Jesse Dangerously, The Fays and The Lindbergh Babies play the Justice for Deepan fundraising concert, to support Ottawa-born Deepan Budlakotif in his fight to gain Canadian citizenship, 8 p.m., Zaphod’s. Tickets: $10. zaphods.ca
Folk rocker Dave Hause plays the House of Targ with Ottawa’s Kalle Mattson and Cory Levesque, 10 p.m., Tickets: $10 in advance. www.houseoftarg.com
Juno nominated contemporary jazz group the Bristles Trio, featuring Andrew Downing, Jim Lewis and David Occhipinti, is at GigSpace, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20. gigspaceottawa.com
Ottawa’s Josh Stark brings his industrial/techno/synth creations — what your mom might call noise; in fact, bring her along — to Possible Worlds, with DJs Kurt Yates and Jason Skilz, 9 p.m., 708G Somerset St. W. Tickets: $5 or PWYW. facebook.com
Photos: What to do this week
Wondering what to do in Ottawa? We've got some ideas.
Related
Concerts: Music explosion at Grassroots Festival, Ontario Scene this week
Art exhibits: From Alex Colville to guild shows this week
Saturday, April 25
Rice Paper Designs is among at the Vibrant Spring Art and Crafts Show.
The Vibrant! Spring Art and Crafts Show features goods from 75 local artisans, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. all weekend, Ottawa Valley Crafts and Collectibles Guild, 395 Wellington St. Admission: $2. ovccshow.com
Tired of artisan shows? There’s a classic flea market with household items, toys, books and more, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., St. Matthias Church, 55 Parkdale Ave. Info: 613-728-3996.
The items at the children’s consignment sale are organized by age and use.
Children’s consignment sale OUTGrow and OUTPlay is having a smaller, spring and summer version at the Fred Barrett Arena, all weekend, before their major blow out on May 1, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Be warned: the queues start early and, while children are welcome, any unattended will be given “espresso and a free kitten.”) Admission: $3 or two items for the Ottawa Food Bank, and consignment items are still welcome. www.facebook.com
The largest model train show in Eastern Canada, the Ottawa Train Expo, with Thomas the Tank Engine, interactive and LEGO set ups to please enthusiasts of all ages, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Clarence-Rockland Arena. Admission: $10, $5 teens, $2 for children. ottawatrainexpo.com
The Latin America film Festival opens with a screening of Panama Canal Stories, following five people from 1913 to 2013 who helped build the famous and important waterway, 7 p.m., River Building Theatre, Carleton University. Tickets: $13. Festival on to May 9. Schedule at www.cfi-icf.ca
Warehouse is a garage and dance party in a 19,000-square-foot maze with lighting installations, bands New Swears and Silken Laumann, food from Belmont Snacks and Liquor and beer from Beau’s, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., Maker Space North, 250 City Centre. Tickets: $10 in advance with strict capacity limit. facebook.com
The 5th Navan fine arts exhibition and sale has offerings from all mediums, from painting to wood working, 10 a.m., Navan Curling Club, 1305 Fairgreen Ave., Navan.
Sunday, April 26
Enjoy some Maple Taffy at the Ottawa Farmers’ Market Maple Festival on Sunday.
The Ottawa Farmers’ Market Maple Festival kicks off with a maple-infused tasting menu, conceived by Chef Simon Bell, followed by iced maple taffy, pancakes and more, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Aberdeen Pavilion. facebook.com
Get ready for summer with a free haircut; you just need to donate six inches of hair for Hair Donation Ottawa, to turn it into wigs given for free to Canadian cancer patients, with monetary donations going to CHEO and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Algonquin College Salon and spa, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Register to get shorn at hairdonationottawa.com
Did you know the cornelian cherry tree flowers early?
Learn about early flowering trees in the Arboretum with a guided tour with experts, author Roman Popadiouk and Robert Glendinning, 2 p.m. Tickets: Free, but donations accepted. friendsofthefarm.ca
Try beginning fingerpicking or drumming at free workshops between performances for all ages at the Ottawa Grassroots Festival, Montgomery Legion Hall. Tickets: free. ottawagrassrootsfestival.com
Monday, April 27
Author Jennifer Kingsley in the bow of the canoe.
Hear tales of paddling the Arctic Wild and matriarchal great apes the bonobos with nature writers Jennifer Kinglsey and Deni Bechard, 6:30 p.m., Christ Church Cathedral, 414 Sparks St. Tickets: $10-$15. writersfestival.org
Be forewarned: after seeing this IMAX movie, everyone is going to want to bring a lemur home as a pet. They’re cute, they’re naturally curious and incredibly funny — and endangered, but they live in Madagascar. Learn more from narrator Morgan Freeman, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Canadian Museum of History movie theatre. historymuseum.ca
The Ottawa Symphony Orchestra performs Giuseppe Verdi’s dramatic Requiem with the Ottawa Choral Society and four celebrated soloists, 8 p.m., National Arts Centre. Tickets: $18.50-$81. nac-cna.ca
Tuesday, April 28
Start the day with strong opinions at Lobbyist gifting, a panel discussion about ethics and conflict of interest with the Lobbying Commissioner Karen Shepherd, Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson, and more, 7:30 a.m., Marriott Hotel. Tickets: $45-$55, includes breakfast. facebook.com
Dancer Santee Smith teaches the free Powwow Boot Camp class.
Get ready to sweat at the Powwow Boot Camp, a vigorous class that combine Iroquois dance forms targeting full-body movement while energizing the spirit, says dancer Santee Smith of the Mohawk Nation, noon, NAC. Tickets: Free, must be 16 years of age and come wearing workout clothes. nac-cna.ca
Blues legend, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and charming performer Buddy Guy returns to Centrepointe Theatres, 8 p.m. Tickets: $86.75. centrepointetheatres.com
For just $5, see raucous Japanese rock band Zoobombs and Glorious Moonrockets, 10 p.m., House of Targ. houseoftarg.com
Wednesday, April 29
A scene from Dennis Goulet’s dystopian film Wakening part of the VideOntario showcase.
VideOntario is a free, curated show of films exploring how their creators are linked to their environment, from North Bay to Creemore, 7:30 p.m., SAW Video, 67 Nicholas St. Some nudity and violence. facebook.com
Being Human explores life, culture, art and science with such diverse speakers as author Lawrence Hill to the Thalidomide Victims Association of Canada, 7 p.m., National Gallery of Canada, part of the Walrus Talks series. Tickets: $12-$30. eventbrite.ca
Thursday, April 30
Just for Laughs comedian Sebastian Maniscalco is annoyed by everything, skewering everything from modern “manners” to people taking “lonelies” with dry wit, 7 p.m., Centrepointe Theatres. Tickets: $37.50. centrepointe.ca
Dance Compagnie ODD performs three pieces at Ontario Scene.
Ottawa dance troupe Compagnie ODD perform three, physically-demanding pieces, including the world premiere of solo work The Eventual De-Expression of Rgs2 with live performance by musician Jesse Stewart, 8 p.m., at the NAC until May 2. Tickets: $25, part of Ontario Scene. nac-cna.ca
Flamenco dancer Juliana Pulford and guitarist Philippe Jean will get your feet tapping at this event in support of the Hopewell eating disorder support centre, Adobe Conference Centre, 343 Preston St. Tickets: $40. eventbrite.ca / hopewell.ca
Can you draw like Alex Colville?
Try your hand at Alex Colville’s famous style at a public event open to all ages and skill levels, to accompany a special exhibit of the artists’s work, 6 p.m., National Gallery of Canada. Admission: Free on Thursdays. gallery.ca
Ottawa bands Roberta Bondar, The Yips, Bonnie Doon and DJ Gina Vanelli play at this free Ontario Scene spotlight event 9 p.m., Saw Gallery. nac-cna.ca
Meanwhile, superstar producer and songwriter Daniel Lanois is joined by Basia Bulat and the NACO for some big sounds, NAC, part of Ontario Scene. Tickets: from $39. nac-cna.ca /Read more about this show here.
Friday, May 1
The Hintonbiurg Happening is a nine-day, art-heavy event along Wellington Street W.
The Hipsters are busy (… maybe not only hipsters) at the Hintonburg Happening, a nine-day event along Wellington St. W. starting with a launch party, art exhibit and sale and concert, 7 to 10 p.m., Tamarack Wellington. Admission: free. See the full schedule of events at hintonburghappening.ca.
The 24th annual Kanata Artists Studio Tour features 15 different artists across various mediums, at their studios all weekend, starting 5 to 8 p.m. Download the map at www.KanataArtists.com
St. Albert brings its cheese curds to Marion Dewar Plaza.
Poutine last weekend, and more starting today at the St. Albert’s Cheese Ottawa Poutine Fest, featuring international recipes and local beer, live music and judging by the mayor, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Marion Dewar Plaza,on all weekend. ottawapoutinefest.ca
Learn about Camels’ digestive systems at Animals Inside Out.
Not to put you off the poutine: In new exhibit Animals Inside Out, real animals were preserved through plastination — replacing all the liquids with polymer — to help give incredibly accurate anatomy lessons describing why animals are suited to their environments by emphasizing a particular part of each animal, be it musculature, digestive or cardiovascular system, on until Sept. 20, Canadian Museum of Nature. (The museum says the show is educational and suitable for all ages.) nature.ca
Who killed Spalding Gray? links the last moments of the famous monologist with performer and writer Daniel MacIvor’s darkest days in a brutally truthful one-man show, 8 p.m., to May 2, NAC. Contains adult subject matter. Tickets: $39, part of Ontario Scene. nac-cna.ca
Saturday, May 2
The Main Street Farmers Markets is moving closer to the mammoths.
The Main Farmers Market opens at its new location at the Canadian Museum of Nature, bringing fresh local vegetables and other treats to downtown — and maybe dress the woolly mammoth statues in kale?, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 240 McLeod St. mainfarmersmarket.org
Georgia’s country singer-songwriter Luke Bryan brings his aw-shucks, normcore show That’s My Kind of Night to the Canadian Tire Centre, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $59.75-$79.75. capitaltickets.ca
Meanwhile award-winning rapper Shad, and the new voice of CBC’s show Q, performs at the Bronson Centre, 8 p.m. Tickets: $22. spectrasonic.com
The 613 Night Market Spring Edition is on at Shaw Centre on May 2.
The 613 Night Market is a street food extravaganza, transforming the Shaw Centre into a lamplit avenue showcasing local food, goods and more, 4 p.m. to midnight. Tickets: Entrance $10 in advance, $15 at the door; food $2-$5 — cash only. (Organizers promise they’ve organized many more bars for this event.) eventbrite.ca
Big Loser trainer Jessie Pavelka is the keynote speaker at Activate Fitness Festival.
Help out at the Record Breaking Boot Camp or learn about the latest fitness trends at the two-day Activate Fitness Festival, featuring a talk from the Biggest Loser’s Jessie Pavelka, kids’ activities, assessments, stress managing tips and more, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., EY Centre. Tickets: $13.99/day, $24.99/weekend. VIP and elite training workshops are also available. www.activateexpo.ca
This 1937 Ford looks as if it is from the future.
There’s over 100 classic and custom rides to drool over at the Ottawa AutoRama, and even some for the kids to climb, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., EY Centre. Tickets: $12, $8 ages 7 to 17, free for 6 and under. www.ottawautorama.ca
The Ottawa Police are holding a women-only PREP test workshop for women seeking to join the forces, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Algonquin College. Register at surveymonkey.com.
Do I Have To Do Everything My F***king Self? is a no-holds barred, unpredictable, one-woman show featuring high kicks, electro-pop and tales of growing up queer with drag persona Regina, 7:30 p.m., NAC. Part of Ontario Scene. Tickets: $25. nac-cna.ca
All the senses will be thrilled at The Maharaja’s Ball, a celebration of Indian spices, dance and handicrafts at this fundraising dinner in support of the Sens Foundation, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Shaw Centre. Tickets: $250. sensfoundation.com
Having an event? Send the information to kendemann@ottawacitizen.com by 8 a.m. Monday, two weeks before the event begins. Photos are welcome. @keendemann